Executive Director of University Events

University of Texas; Austin, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin seeks an Executive Director of University Events to lead a high‑profile events team responsible for presidential, ceremonial, development, student experience and campus‑wide programs. You will set strategy, manage budgets, coordinate with campus leaders, and drive excellence across the end‑to‑end event lifecycle.

The role requires deep event expertise, exceptional people leadership, and the ability to guide complex plans through creative concept to production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible professional event experience, including leading complex, high‑profile events.
• Minimum seven years of progressive people-management experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management and employee development.
• Experience leading professional event teams and managing work through others.
• Significant experience across the full event lifecycle, including creative development, design, production, operations and logistics.
• Experience managing significant event budgets, vendors, contracts, staffing and production schedules.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team responsible for planning and producing a broad portfolio of high‑profile university events.
• Manage and develop experienced event professionals, including project managers, producers, coordinators and production and operations staff.
• Set priorities, expectations and standards for the team.
• Review event plans and determine whether the creative, production, operations, logistics, staffing, timelines and budgets, contracts, vendors and resources.
• Work directly with university leaders and campus partners on complex and high‑profile events.
• Put practical processes and tools in place that help the team plan well, communicate clearly and stay ahead of deadlines.
• Review event and team performance and make changes when something is not working.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Event management

Budget management

Team development

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

12 years of progressively responsible professional event experience

7 years of progressive people-management experience

Job description

Executive Director of University Events

Hiring Department: University Development Office
Position Open To: All Applicants
Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40
FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA
Earliest Start Date: Immediately
Position Duration: Expected to Continue
Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS

General Notes About The University of Texas at Austin

What starts here changes the world. The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, ranks among the best universities in the world. With 76 programs ranked in the top 10, UT Austin is the #1 public university in Texas and the #7 public university in the nation. Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader supporting more than 55,000 students, 4,750 faculty, 15,000 staff and top national programs across 18 colleges and schools. Amid the backdrop of Austin, Texas, a city recognized for its creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the University provides a place to explore countless opportunities for tomorrow’s artists, scientists, athletes, doctors, entrepreneurs and engineers. Learn more about UT’s mission and values and leadership.

Why Join Texas Development?

The University of Texas at Austin is a thriving hub of learning and discovery that anchors our city and enables excellence and innovation on the highest level. And it’s only possible because generous supporters believe in the power and promise of our state’s flagship university to change the world. With more than $6 billion raised in the What Starts Here campaign, Texas Development is quickly becoming one of the best fundraising programs in public higher education.

Benefits

The University provides a competitive benefits package that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services. Texas Development supports growth by offering professional development opportunities that help every team member accomplish their goals, enrich their skillset and deepen their engagement with UT.

Purpose

The Executive Director of University Events leads the team responsible for planning and producing many of The University of Texas at Austin’s most visible and high‑profile events, including presidential, ceremonial, development, student experience and campus‑wide programs. This role requires deep event expertise and strong people leadership. The Executive Director leads experienced event professionals, sets priorities and standards, manages workloads and performance, reviews event plans, identifies problems early and keeps work moving. The right candidate is an accomplished event professional who understands the full event lifecycle, from creative concept and design through production, operations and logistics. They must have the experience and judgment to look at an event plan, know what is missing, ask the right questions and raise the quality of the work. They must also be an excellent manager who can give clear direction and feedback, develop people, address performance issues and get results through others. The Executive Director reports to the Chief Experience Officer and leads the Event Management function within University Events & Experience. Usual office environment with evening, weekend, and extended hours as required by the event calendar.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team responsible for planning and producing a broad portfolio of high‑profile university events.
• Manage and develop experienced event professionals, including project managers, producers, coordinators and production and operations staff.
• Set priorities, expectations and standards for the team.
• Review event plans and determine whether the creative, production, operations, logistics, staffing, timelines and budgets, contracts, vendors and resources.
• Work directly with university leaders and campus partners on complex and high‑profile events.
• Put practical processes and tools in place that help the team plan well, communicate clearly and stay ahead of deadlines.
• Review event and team performance and make changes when something is not working.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Salary

OPEN

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible professional event experience, including significant experience personally leading complex, high‑profile events.
• Minimum seven years of progressive people‑management experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management and employee development.
• Experience leading professional event teams and managing work through others.
• Significant experience across the full event lifecycle, including creative development, design, production, operations and logistics.
• Experience revieing the work of other event professionals, identifying gaps and determining whether plans are ready for execution.
• Experience reviewing the work of other professionals, identifying gaps and determining whether plans are ready for execution.
• Experience managing multiple complex events at the same time.
• Experience working directly with senior leaders and high‑profile guests.
• Experience managing significant event budgets, vendors, contracts, staffing and production schedules.
• Strong judgment and the ability to make decisions when circumstances change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends and extended hours as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience across a range of event types and settings, including executive or VIP events, ceremonial events, donor experiences, large‑scale events, travel or destination experiences, conferences, athletics‑related events or other complex live experiences.
• Experience leading managers, producers, project managers and other professional event staff.
• Experience taking over an existing team, identifying where improvement is needed and raising performance.
• Experience in higher education, live event production, experiential events, advancement, hospitality, agency or another complex event environment.
• Experience working with senior executives, donors, board members, elected officials or other high‑profile guests.
• Knowledge of protocol, risk management, accessibility, contracting, procurement and public safety coordination.

Working Conditions

This is an on‑site position (40 hours per week) and the schedule will vary based on university and department schedules, and with the types of events scheduled and operational functions. Work late evenings and some weekends for scheduled events. Hours are subject to change. Works in standard office conditions, in a shared office environment, with repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation. May work in all weather conditions. Regular and consistent attendance is required in this job.

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University‑Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I‑9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E‑Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E‑Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E‑Verify is 854197. For more information about E‑Verify, please see the following: E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF] Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and other campus security and safety requirements. If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031. The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.

Start Here, Change the World At The University of Texas at Austin

Named by Forbes as one of America's Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you're at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world‑changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000+ students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world.

Comments and Inquiries

Email comments to [e-mail]. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. Additional information for applicants can be found on the Human Resources web page: Applying for Employment. For more job information, call the Human Resource Service Center at [phone], or toll‑free at [phone]. UT Austin is a Tobacco‑free Campus.