Director, Facilities & Events Operations

The University Student Centers (USCs) cultivate a vibrant, inclusive community in which students learn and thrive at the University of Delaware. As part of the Division of Student Life, the Trabant University Center and the Perkins Student Center serve as the social and educational epicenters for the campus, providing vibrant and intentionally planned engagement opportunities that support USCs learning outcomes, but also those of the Division of Student Life and the overall educational aims of UD, as articulated by the General Education purposes and objectives.

The USC team affords every student a path to contribute to the campus community and heighten their sense of belonging and well-being through on‑campus employment opportunities, nationally recognized leadership development programs, over 350+ Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) and dynamic and engaging campus events and traditions. The unique cross‑functional nature of the department, which includes facilities, events, student organizations, and leadership programs, necessitates that each professional staff member pursues cross‑unit collaborations and partnerships, and serves some cross‑functional duties and roles such as opening/closing the facility based on event coverage, rotating evening duty, serving as a professional advisor to RSOs, and providing programmatic support for department and divisional events.

Collectively and through collaboration, USC’s team members play a critical role in actualizing the Division of Student Life’s mission and vision.

GRADE: 33E

Under the limited direction of the Executive Director, the Director for Facilities & Event Operations (DFEO) serves as a critical Division of Student Life (DSL) and University Student Centers (USCs) leader. As such, the DFEO is responsible for the strategic leadership of three campus facilities: the Perkins Student Center, Trabant University Center, and Warner Hall, totaling 254,000 square feet, 12,000+ annual reservations, welcoming more than 2.7 million visitors, and operating 7 days/week.

The centers host more than 7,000 annual events in which university administrators, government officials, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and corporate representatives are in attendance.

• Lead day‑to‑day direction, leadership, coordination, and fiscal management of facilities, including policy, staff, services, programs, budget, marketing, technology, and facility oversight. Ensure event operations and scheduling processes are aligned and integrated across facilities.
• Responsibilities include oversight of the WVUD radio station, The Review newspaper, Information/Retail Desk Sales, Vendor Program, Hen Zone Game Room, and a state‑of‑the‑art Esports arena and Auxiliary Arena.
• The DFEO develops emergency action plans, and a schedule for repairs, replacement, major and minor renovations, as well as new construction, to ensure that the spaces provide dynamic and vibrant programming and learning environments for students as well as efficient and effective spaces for the university and outside community. In the event of a campus, state, or national emergency, both USCs serve as 24‑hr.
  
  areas of refuge for the campus community.
• The DFEO serves on the Senior Leadership Team of the USCs, assuming key roles in department decision‑making through a participative leadership approach to meeting the department's mission and goals. As part of the cross‑functional nature of this department, the DFEO not only handles the event and facility‑related matters associated with Perkins, Trabant, and Warner Hall but also serves as an advisor to student organizations and supports colleagues in the development and implementation of large‑scale programs and events.
• The DFEO develops strategic, collaborative partnerships with other university departments in Student Life and across the university, including Facilities, Public Safety, Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, Purchasing / Accounting / Business, Dining Services, Conference Services, and the Lerner Business School (Vita Nova restaurant) in the delivery of excellent services and programs.
• Lead staff teams in developing collaborative facilities…