Director of University Events

POSITION TITLE:

Director of University Events

COMPENSATION RANGE: 77,000. USD per year

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION:
Professional Administrative

DEPARTMENT:
Office of Alumni Relations

TARGET HIRE DATE: 9/1/2026

BENEFITS: UNC's Career Hub

Candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of application; UNC cannot provide H-1B sponsorship at this time.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 07/20/2026.

Position Summary:

The Director of University Events provides strategic leadership for the university events operation, ensuring events reflect the presidential standard of hospitality and university branding necessary to advance institutional priorities, align with strategic resource management, and provide a clear return on institutional investment. University events include events that (1) engage a large portion of external constituents, (2) serve to accomplish a strategic university initiative or objective;

or (3) require substantial investment of university time and funding in execution.

The Director is responsible for the strategic and operational management of the university events program, including commencement, donor events, recognition ceremonies, alumni events, and other institutionally significant events. The position develops event strategy, manages departmental resources, supervises staff, advises university leadership on the effective use of events, and collaborates with campus partners to ensure successful event execution and measurable outcomes.

University events are held on campus, throughout Colorado, and nationally, with a high degree of exposure to internal and external constituents. This position reports to the Assistant Vice President for Alumni & Community Relations and serves as a member of the university advancement events team.

Job Duties:

45% Event Leadership and Executive Event Management - Provides strategic leadership and oversight for the university events program, ensuring the events advancement institutional priorities and reflect the highest standards of hospitality and brand excellence.
* Must be willing to work evenings and weekends
* * Direct the university's biannual commencement in consultation with the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Registrar, Graduate School, and other campus partners and external vendors

* Serve as the university's primary leader for commencement planning, execution, assessment and continuous improvement

* Direct annual recognition ceremonies, major donor events, and other institutionally significant events as assigned

* Direct fundraising and alumni engagement special events in consultation with development, alumni relations and University Advancement Leadership

* Provide strategic oversight and guidance for events managed by the Assistant Director

* For all assigned events, serve as the project manager with direct responsibility for venue selection, catering, event marketing, guest communication, registration, vendor agreements, budgets, programming, technology, hospitality and décor

* For all assigned events, ensure accurate and complete event and constituent records, to include tracking of pre-and post-event communication

* For all assigned events, ensure completed event budgets, accurate financial records, and full compliance with all university, state, and foundation accounting and purchasing policies

* For all assigned events, coordinate delivery of event support and effort across advancement, conference services, facilities, procurement and other administrative units

15% Strategic Leadership and Department Planning - Develops and implements the vision, standards, policies and long-term strategy that guide the university's centralized events operation.

* Develop and implement the university events strategy in alignment with institutional and advancement priorities

* Establish and maintain event standards, policies, procedures, service models, and operational best practices

* Evaluate emerging trends, technologies and industry best practices relevant to event management, commencement production, hospitality and constituent management

* Determine staffing plans and resource allocation decisions for the university events program

* Lead unit planning, assessment and continuous improvement initiatives

* Advise university advancement staff on the effective role of events in fundraising, marketing and other institution-level campaigns

* Serve as a subject matter expert on event-related software, including understanding current use technologies and best practices as it relates to managing and marketing events

* Advise on the strategic participation of university leaders, to include drafting of speaking points, pre- and post-event communication, and VIP endorsements

* Advise on event sponsor ships, including creation of event sponsorship proposals

* Oversee annual calendar of university events and advise on the communication and marketing of opportunities to internal and external constituents

15% Staff Leadership and…