Senior Director, Operations & Arts Experience

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 202,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford Live at Stanford University seeks a Deputy Director to act as the senior operational and administrative leader, translating institutional strategy into effective plans and exceptional patron experiences. You will manage production, operations, ticketing, and front-of-house teams, and collaborate across university units.

The role requires strong leadership, financial stewardship, and ability to guide cross-functional teams through complex events and growth periods, with on-campus work

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in arts administration or public venues.
• Experience managing large operating budgets and multi-source forecasts.
• Strong governance, planning, and project-management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Familiarity with venue operations, ticketing, and audience services.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and translate goals into actionable plans.
• Oversee annual operating budget and multi-year financial planning.
• Lead staff development, recruitment, and organizational culture.
• Direct patron experiences, ticketing, and front-of-house operations.
• Oversee venue operations, production collaboration, and event readiness.
• Engage donors, alumni, and external partners in engagement strategies.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Financial Oversight

People Leadership

Operations Management

Stakeholder relations

Event management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree in arts administration

Job description

Stanford Live at Stanford University seeks a Deputy Director to act as the senior operational and administrative leader, translating institutional strategy into effective plans and exceptional patron experiences. You will manage production, operations, ticketing, and front-of-house teams, and collaborate across university units.

The role requires strong leadership, financial stewardship, and ability to guide cross-functional teams through complex events and growth periods, with on-campus work