Program & Event Manager, Darden School of Business

The Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Program & Events Manager at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business will oversee select programs and events across the centers, handling invitations, catering, space, transportation, AV needs, and other logistics. You will collaborate with faculty and partners to ensure smooth delivery and outcome alignment.

Ideal candidates are outgoing, organized, and service oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines and travel as needed for off-site

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least two years of relevant experience required.
• Higher education experience preferred.
• Strong planning, organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate programs from scheduling to de-briefing for conferences and events.
• Engage with faculty and stakeholders to address logistics.
• Cultivate vendor relationships and negotiate pricing.
• Coordinate travel, catering, space, and audiovisual needs.
• Prepare reports and maintain project records.

Skills

Event planning

Project management

Communication

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Photoshop

Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Canva

Acorn

Job description

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business seeks a Program & Events Manager to join its team in Charlottesville, Virginia. This shared-services role supports Darden's Centers of Excellence, including the Batten Institute, Institute for Business in Society, Mayo Center for Asset Management, and LaCrossInstitute for Ethical AI in Business.

Reporting to the Director of Shared Services, the Program & Events Manager works independently and closely with others to manage the successful delivery of select programs and events across the centers. Responsibilities include managing invitations, catering, space, transportation, audiovisual needs, and other event logistics while collaborating closely with colleagues and partners.

The ideal candidate is outgoing, entrepreneurial, flexible, and highly organized, with excellent communication skills and professionalism to engage effectively with a wide range of constituents.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate programs as requested and organize the entire cycle (scheduling, planning, implementation, and de-briefing) of conferences and other events, ensuring effective collaboration across a wide range of constituencies.
• Engage regularly and at a high level with key stakeholders, including faculty at Darden, while simultaneously solving logistical challenges.
• Cultivate relationships with vendors in hospitality, representing Darden with professionalism and negotiating fair prices. Oversee the work of third parties as required.
• Coordinate logistics and travel, while also traveling to support off-site events as requested.
• Perform a range of specified administrative and/or operational support activities for the Centers of Excellence and help with special projects related to faculty initiatives.
• Develop, prepare, and present reports; maintain comprehensive project records, and statistical information related to past events and programs.
• Identify and learn new technology tools to support events and project organization.
• Assist with communications and outreach to promote events.
• Oversee event management platforms, such as Eventbrite, for a variety of programs and events.
• Oversee the purchasing and procurement of items needed for large scale events.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least two years of relevant experience required. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of degree requirement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong event planning and project management skills, with a focus on customer service.
• Higher education experience, working with academic programs preferred.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal relationships and teamwork skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgement.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and solve challenges as they arise.
• High level of competency in Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Competency in Adobe (e.g., Photoshop), Salesforce (e.g., Marketing Cloud) and/or similar web, communication, and design tools (e.g., Canva, Acorn) is preferred.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

About the Darden School of Business

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business prepares responsible leaders through unparalleled, transformational learning experiences.

Darden offers the Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, Executive MBA, M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA), Ph.D., and Executive Education & Lifelong Learning. Darden's faculty is renowned for teaching excellence and consistently ranked among the best in the world for bringing out the best in learners.

Darden has Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Washington, DC metropolitan region, with representation in Shanghai, China, and Mumbai, India. UVA Darden's Sands Family Grounds in Rosslyn, Virginia, serves as the home of the School's professional degree programs and provides a dynamic environment for working professionals, employers, alumni, and executive learners.

Darden's global community includes approximately 1,250 degree-seeking students, 4,000 Executive Education participants, 20,000 alumni across 90 countries, and millions of online learners.

Driven by innovation and a bold vision reflected in the brand mantra, 'Not business school as usual,' Darden continues to strengthen its professional degree portfolio while expanding opportunities for students and employers through world-class degree programs and lifelong learning.

At Darden, we believe our greatest strength is our people. We strive to create an environment where every member of our community can learn, grow, contribute, and do their best work.

Successful candidates will demonstrate integrity, curiosity, accountability, respect for others, and a commitment to excellence. These community norms shape how we collaborate, serve one another, and advance Darden's mission. If these values resonate with you, we encourage you to apply and become part of our community.

Position Type & Work Location

• This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.
• This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after October5, 2026.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• Background checks, pre-employment health screenings, and drug screenings will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA's third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, [e-mail].

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.