Strategic Associate Director, Event & Venue Ops

Trustees of University of Pennsylvania; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton San Francisco) is seeking an Associate Director, Event and Venue Operations to develop and execute comprehensive event strategies across multiple venues. The role oversees planning, production, client relations, and on-site execution, coordinating vendors, space readiness, and budgets to ensure high‑quality Wharton events.

The position requires hands-on leadership, strong communication, and the ability to balance long-term planning with detailed on-site

Qualifications

• Experience in planning and delivering large-scale events.
• Ability to manage vendors, budgets, and client relations.
• Hands-on operations with a focus on reliable event delivery.

Responsibilities

• Event Strategy Planning and Execution: Under the direction of senior leadership, develop and execute the strategy, planning, production, and delivery of events serving faculty, students, alumni, partners, and external clients.
• Serve as the primary client contact from initial concept through post-event closeout, translating program objectives into detailed timelines, staffing plans, communications, production requirements, and contingency plans.
• Direct space setup, vendor activity, live execution, troubleshooting, teardown, and follow-up. Remain visible and hands-on during events.
• Establish, implement, and monitor event standards that support Whartons academic, research, alumni, student, and professional-development priorities.
• Deliver

Skills

Event planning

Client service

Vendor management

Budget management

On-site execution

Marketing

Revenue generation

Job description

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton San Francisco) is seeking an Associate Director, Event and Venue Operations to develop and execute comprehensive event strategies across multiple venues. The role oversees planning, production, client relations, and on-site execution, coordinating vendors, space readiness, and budgets to ensure high‑quality Wharton events.

The position requires hands-on leadership, strong communication, and the ability to balance long-term planning with detailed on-site