Senior Director of Gators VIP - Gators VIP

Senior Director of Gators VIP Experience – Gators VIP Experience

Job Category: Ticket Sales, Revenue, and Marketing

Requisition Number: FULLT
002405

• Posted:
  July 1, 2026
• Full‑Time
• On‑site

Gainesville, 121 Gale Lemerand Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

The University Athletic Association at the University of Florida is searching for a Senior Director to lead the new Gators VIP Experience department, responsible for elevating the end‑to‑end experience for donors, partners, and premium clients across all Gators Athletics programs. Oversees hospitality, gifting, procurement, and experience strategy to ensure consistency, efficiency, and excellence across all revenue‑generating units for the UAA.

This position requires strong leadership, administrative, interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills; demonstrated ability to build and scale teams; manage relationships with clients and account management; familiarity with college sports; organization, detail orientation, and self‑motivation; and ability to work independently and collaboratively. The role includes non‑standard work hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight travel for select away games and premier events.

• Vertical Leadership – Builds and leads the Gators VIP Experiences vertical, establishing standards, processes, and long‑term strategy.
• Account Management Cooperation – Works alongside account management of various verticals to ensure delivery of elite‑level experiences associated with Florida Gators Athletics and serves as internal point of coordination for partner, donor, and premium client experience delivery.
• Streamline Processes – Transfers currently disparate processes between business verticals into a comprehensive synergistic experience strategy.
• Platform Generation – Collaborates with Donor, Partnership, and Premium leadership to assist in development of sellable platforms to generate revenue.
• Hospitality & Gifting – Oversees all hospitality programming, gifting strategy, and stakeholder touchpoints across Gators Athletics.
• Procurement Management – Manages procurement workflows (e.g., signage, gifting, event materials, field logos, premium assets) to ensure consistency and cost efficiency.
• Cross‑Department Collaboration – Partners closely with Partnerships, Premium Seating, and Development leadership to support their business goals.
• Resource Planning – Develops and executes a staffing plan to support the vertical, including future hiring of managers and coordinators.
• Experience Strategy – Creates a unified experience strategy that enhances retention, satisfaction, and revenue growth across all groups.
• Performance Measurement – Tracks KPIs tied to business health, YOY revenue performance, and client satisfaction.
• Venue Relations – Develops relationships with venues to activate and entertain Florida Gators stakeholders across the state and beyond; creatively leverages newly developed on‑site entertainment spaces.

This posting will remain open until a qualified candidate is chosen.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in appropriate area of specialization*
• Six years of experience in event management, premium experience, donor relations, or partnership management*
• Experience managing procurement, hospitality, or large‑scale client programs and associated budgets
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications:

• Eight or more years of experience in event management, premium experience, donor relations, or partnership management

* An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted in lieu of listed requirement.

Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, life, LTD, AD&D, pension (upon eligibility), tuition assistance, athletic event tickets, employee events and recognition programs, and possible relocation assistance. Competitive compensation commensurate with candidate’s previous experience and qualifications.

Interviews may be conducted prior to the closing date, but no offer will be extended until after the position closes. Upon offer, the candidate must complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification Form I‑9 and background screening, present acceptable documentation for identity and authorization to work in the United States, and the university is an at‑will employer separate from the University of Florida and not a state employer.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE A DRUG FREE TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.