Associate Director, IMU Events and Services

Associate Director, IMU Events and Services

The Division of Student Life is seeking candidates for the position of Associate Director of IMU Events & Services. This position is responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating all events and services for the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU), including outdoor spaces and facility reservations. This role manages client relationships, oversees outreach and internal events, and provides strategic direction for IMU Event Services.

The position also involves budget management, policy development, and participation in long‑range strategic planning.

Specific Job Duties & Tasks

Serve as manager of event services, including supervision of staff

To provide support for events and meetings for student organizations, university departments, and public groups.

To assist with marketing and attend trade shows and conferences.

To provide strategic direction to IMU Event Services and affiliated staff members

Provide extensive knowledge and event‑planning expertise regarding the Iowa Memorial Union and space reservations on the UI campus.

Meet with clients regarding event planning from reservation to implementation.

Utilize event management systems (Mazévo) and Visio planning software to manage events with accuracy and attention to detail.

Oversee all IMU outreach programs including Finals Week, Open House, Homecoming, and Values Awards.

Perform management functions such as interviewing, training, performance evaluation, and recommending promotions or dismissals.

Prepare and monitor department budgets; approve operating expenses and capital equipment requests.

Participate in long‑range planning, program review, and development of IMU policy and administrative procedures.

Collaborate with Student Life Communications to ensure a marketing plan is in place to promote event spaces and services.

The Division of Student Life is comprised of staff that embrace new ideas and thoughts, works together to keep our students safe, and provides them with life‑changing experiences. The Division of Student Life includes 15 departments that span from Recreational Services to the Office of Leadership, Service and Civic Engagement and everything in between. We believe in working together as one team to achieve our mission: fostering student success by creating and promoting educationally purposeful services and activities within and beyond the classroom.

Required Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and related facility and supervisory experience.

Considerable (3‑5 years) event related experience which includes space planning, facility logistics, event planning, customer relations, and project management.

Ability to apply organization's performance management system, practices, and tools to develop and improve individual, team, and organizational performance.

Extensive knowledge of the techniques and the ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and collaborative manner.

Extensive experience with event management and digital display systems specifically, Visix digital display, Mazévo, and Microsoft Visio software.

Knowledge of, and ability to apply, policies and practices for planning and administering a budget.

Ability to respond to crisis or concerning situations; serve on duty for incidents at night and on weekends at times.

Ability to contribute to operational (short term), tactical (1‑2 years) and strategic (3‑5 years) planning in support of the overall business plan.

Desirable Qualifications

Master's degree in Event Planning or Management, Business Administration Project or Operations Management, or an equivalent combination of education and event related experience.

Extensive knowledge of internal & external marketing strategies and ability to identify and communicate opportunities for providing new or enhanced services to clients.

Excellent communication and customer relation skills including the ability to respond promptly and courteously to clients with accurate information.

Working knowledge of and ability to use tools and techniques to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from an emergency.

Ability to apply organization’s…