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 responsibilities 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 initiatives, and adjusting plans to drive long-term progress.
• Builds cross-functional partnerships, sharing information widely and facilitating dialogue to break down silos and advance University goals.
• Creates a positive workplace culture of belonging by embedding equitable leadership and talent processes, fostering feedback and holding leaders accountable.
• Drives innovation by aligning initiatives to University priorities, anticipating change, and empowering leaders to implement sustainable improvements.

Core Leadership Priorities:

People and Team Leadership

• Build an accountable, collaborative and service-oriented team equipped to deliver complex events across multiple functional specialties.

Executive and Institutional Partnership

• Serve as a trusted, solutions-oriented advisor to the President’s Office, University Communications and Marketing and senior university leaders.

Consistent Event Experience

• Create and steward protocols that produce a recognizable, accessible and high-quality MSU Denver experience for every audience.

Campus Event Support

• Develop scalable consultation, tools, training and peer connections that help campus partners plan and deliver stronger events.

Strategic Venue Oversight

• Set direction and accountability for CAVEA while empowering staff to manage routine scheduling, production and operational delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in event strategy, event management, hospitality operations or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience supervising professional staff, including demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and developing employees at varying career stages.
• Demonstrated experience advising or partnering with executives and senior leaders in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, diplomacy and discretion; manage competing priorities; and navigate complex stakeholder expectations.
• Experience developing and implementing protocols, standards, procedures or service models across teams or an organization.
• Experience planning or overseeing high-profile, large-scale or institutionally significant events.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate expectations and recommendations clearly to varied audiences.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, contracts and acquisitions.
• Demonstrated commitment to accessibility, inclusive practices and exceptional service.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends and respond to event-related needs outside standard business hours, as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education, government, a public institution or another complex, highly matrixed organization.
• Experience working directly with a president, chief executive, cabinet or senior leadership team.
• Experience building or significantly improving a centralized event support model, standards program or community of practice.
• Venue management or rental-program oversight experience.
• Working knowledge of event production and audiovisual systems sufficient to guide strategy, staffing and investment decisions.
• Experience using assessment, customer feedback or performance measures to improve event services.
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) or comparable credential.

Our Commitment to CADRE:

At MSU Denver, we are committed to our CADRE values: Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, and Excellence. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all community members are valued and belong. Our dedication to breaking down barriers to education, fostering open dialogue, and promoting world-class scholarship ensures that we provide exceptional services and innovative learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.

Schedule Information

Full-time, 40 hours per week

Exempt

Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Evenings and Weekend Work: As needed for events

Schedule: This position is in-person with limited hybrid flexibility.

Travel: As needed for events

Salary for Announcement

Under Colorado law, MSU Denver is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The anticipated hiring range is $93,850 - $115,000.

This position is paid monthly and is eligible for MSU Denver benefits.

Instructions to Apply

For full consideration, please submit the following documents:

Resume

Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

Professional references and their contact information will be requested from the finalist/s. At least one reference provided must be a supervisor (either current or former).

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire.

Deadline

Applications accepted until position filled; priority given to applications received by Monday, November 9th, 2026.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting Representative

Sophia J Montano

Posting Representative Email

[email protected]

Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.   

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.