Strategic Director, University Events

St. John's University; Hempfield Township (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Tuition remission

403(b) plan

Paid time off

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

St. John's University is seeking an Executive Director to provide strategic direction and executive oversight for all presidential-level and major university events, including commencements.

The role reports to the Vice President and University Secretary and leads cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, on-time events while safeguarding the University’s reputation. The successful candidate will build a governance-intensive framework, manage budgets, and coordinate with academic and

Qualifications

• Demonstrated governance mindset and decision rights across a complex organization.
• Proven ability to lead high-visibility institutional initiatives and committees.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills at the executive level.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate between the Office and the Office of the President to translate priorities into an event portfolio.
• Lead a high-functioning leadership team and ensure plan execution with timelines and deliverables.
• Oversee strategy, scripting, guest experience, and messaging for events.
• Plan and execute select institutional events with direct executive involvement when needed.
• Manage budgets, vendor relationships, and cross-unit dependencies.
• Lead post-event evaluations and ROI-driven portfolio optimization.

Skills

Executive leadership

Governance mindset

Diplomatic skills

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Communication

Budget oversight

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

St. John's University is seeking an Executive Director to provide strategic direction and executive oversight for all presidential-level and major university events, including commencements.

The role reports to the Vice President and University Secretary and leads cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality, on-time events while safeguarding the University’s reputation. The successful candidate will build a governance-intensive framework, manage budgets, and coordinate with academic and