Senior Director of University Events

Department Yearly unrestricted fundraising Position Summary The Senior Director of University Events provides strategic and operational leadership for the Office of University Events (OUE), leading a multidisciplinary team responsible for event planning and management, communications, audiovisual support and MSU Denver-owned facilities coordination. The position sets the vision for the office, develops staff at varying stages of their careers and ensures the team delivers consistent, high-quality service across its portfolio. Serving as the senior events liaison to the President's Office and University Communications and Marketing, the Senior Director translates institutional priorities into polished, audience-centered event experiences. The role requires sound judgment, executive presence and the ability to navigate complex expectations, advise senior leaders, reconcile competing priorities and maintain trusted relationships while protecting operational feasibility and institutional standards. The Senior Director establishes university-wide event protocols and a comprehensive support infrastructure for campus partners, positioning OUE as the institution's central resource for event strategy, standards, consultation and professional development. The position retains strategic oversight of CAVEA and other assigned university event venues while delegating routine deployment and day-to-day execution to designated staff. Duties and Responsibilities 30% Office Leadership, Staff Development and Operations - Provide strategic leadership and direct management for six full-time employees and student employees whose responsibilities span event planning and management, communications, audiovisual services, facilities coordination and financial operations. - Establish a clear office vision, annual priorities, service expectations, decision-making practices and performance measures aligned with university and University Advancement goals. - Provide individualized supervision, coaching and professional development appropriate to employees at different career stages, while building leadership capacity and succession readiness across the team. - Foster an inclusive, collaborative and accountable culture that values service, creativity, operational excellence, communication and continuous improvement. - Align staffing, workflows and resources across functional areas; clarify roles and escalation paths; and ensure coordinated delivery during periods of high volume or complexity. - Oversee the OUE budget, revenue and expense accounts, vendor relationships, contracts, acquisitions, equipment and other operational resources. - Assess office performance and service delivery using relevant feedback, operational data and event outcomes; communicate results and improvement priorities to university leadership. 25% Presidential and University-Wide Event Leadership - Serve as the primary events liaison to the President's Office and University Communications and Marketing for presidential-level, university-wide and other high-visibility events. - Translate leadership goals into cohesive event strategy, guest experience, messaging, production plans and operational requirements. - Advise senior leaders with discretion and diplomacy, anticipate needs, surface tradeoffs, resolve competing expectations and recommend practical solutions that protect the event objective, audience experience and institutional reputation. - Lead the strategy and executive-level coordination for high-profile events and ceremonies, including Commencement, presidential engagements, signature speaker programs, campaign and donor events, university updates and selected leadership summits. - Provide senior-level oversight of event concepts, run of show, production, staging, logistics, accessibility, hospitality, communications, contingency planning and post-event evaluation, while assigning execution respon ibilities to the appropriate staff. - Coordinate with campus departments and external partners to ensure roles, approvals, timelines and decisions are clear and aligned. 20% University Event Protocols, Standards and Experience - Develop, document, implement and continuously improve university-wide event protocols, standards and decision frameworks that create a consistent and welcoming attendee experience. - Establish clear expectations for event intake, planning, approvals, accessibility, brand alignment, safety, security, dignitary and VIP engagement, communications, production, hospitality, risk management and post-event assessment. - Partner with the President's Office, University Communications and Marketing, Facilities, Information Technology, Athletics, Auraria Campus and other stakeholders to align protocols with university policies, brand standards and operational requirements. - Serve as the university's senior subject-matter resource for event protocol, etiquette, precedent and complex or sensitive event decisions. - Create tools and quality-control practices that reinforce consistency while allowing appropriate flexibility for different event audiences and objectives. - Monitor emerging needs and lessons learned, then update standards and training to strengthen the university's reputation and reduce institutional risk. 15% Campus Partner Support and Event Community Development - Design and lead a comprehensive support infrastructure for campus partners who plan or sponsor events, including consultation, templates, planning tools, training, office hours, referral pathways and shared resources. - Reimagine and lead the Events Coalition as an active campus community of practice focused on professional development, coordination, problem solving, knowledge sharing and consistent standards. - Create differentiated levels of support based on event scope, complexity, audience, risk and institutional visibility so campus partners understand available services and responsibilities. - Build relationships with event planners and operational partners across the university, identify recurring barriers and strengthen cross-campus coordination. - Provide guidance that enables campus partners to produce effective events while maintaining appropriate OUE oversight for high-profile, high-risk or institutionally significant programs. - Support an intentional university-wide event calendar and coordination practices that reduce conflicts and improve institutional planning. 10% Strategic Oversight of CAVEA and Assigned Event Venues - Provide strategic oversight for CAVEA operations, service standards, scheduling priorities, technology, financial performance and long-term positioning. - Set goals, policies and accountability measures for internal use and external rentals, while delegating routine scheduling, production and day-to-day execution to designated staff. - Partner with OUE team members, Facilities, Information Technology and other stakeholders on maintenance, lifecycle planning, equipment, technology and capital needs. - Review venue utilization, revenue, expenses, customer feedback and operational risks; establish priorities for reinvestment and service improvement. - Represent MSU Denver in relevant Auraria Higher Education Center event and venue coordination efforts and advise on the development or renovation of university event spaces. Position Competencies - Champions CADRE values-based leadership and creates a positive workplace culture, by setting expectations, eliciting feedback and coaching across departments, ensuring accountability and excelling in conflict management. - Aligns operations across teams by optimizing resources, maintaining compliance, and empowering leaders to deliver consistent, measurable outcomes. - Translates University strategy into coordinated action by guiding decision-making, prioritizing initiat