Strategic Leader, University Events & Experience

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

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.