Assistant Director, Event Operations

Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) has built a global reputation based on its immersive and innovative management programs. We provide students a transformative leadership experience, pushing the boundaries of knowledge with faculty research, and offering a portfolio of entrepreneurial and non-degree programs that deliver global impact. We invite you to be part of our mission of developing innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change lives, change organizations, and change the world.

Success at the GSB is defined by The GSB Way - a commitment to shared purpose, community, and excellence in all that we do. We seek individuals who elevate themselves and those around them through the practice of academic candor, generous collaboration, and bringing curiosity and rigor to solving meaningful problems. At the GSB, impact means taking ownership, and contributing to a purpose-driven, collaborative, and high-performing community in service to the institution’s mission.

The Event Operations team within the Facilities & Hospitality department of Stanford Graduate School of Business seeks an experienced and highly skilled Assistant Director to lead and guide event teams charged with producing high-quality events. In this role, serve as project leader on complex or large-scale events, provide training and guidance, drive process improvements, and maintain relationships with internal and external partners. This position takes a leadership role in mentoring staff and managing a portfolio of events and projects, working with a diverse constituency of staff, faculty, and students to produce logistically precise events.

This position will be part of a highly collaborative team. It is essential to have excellent judgment, integrity, flexibility, and creativity, as well as a positive attitude, the ability to collaborate and consult, and a good sense of humor. If you are an experienced event manager with outstanding event planning and leadership expertise, ready to take on new challenges in higher education, this position is for you.

The GSB campus properties include the Knight Management Center and GSB Residences on 19.5 acres with nearly 700K sq. ft. of buildings that support academic and administrative functions, student and executive residential experiences, and food service programs. The Schwab Residential Center is a 24-hour, 7-day/week residence and conference center.

Your primary responsibilities include:

• Serve as project lead of multiple activities, scope out project tasks/team assignments, and guide the team to create work plans and schedules, monitor progress, and meet milestones.
• Operate as account manager on deliverables, program metrics, and status reports.
• Oversee the management of event teams and production consultants to produce quality, multi-faceted events and productions. Provide guidance and policy interpretation.
• Oversee and develop strategies for event management, client relations, vendor oversight, virtual/hybrid events, and on-site event production.
• Recommend and schedule programs and events into appropriate GSB venues and recommend alternative non-GSB venues. Resolve scheduling conflicts and optimize venue reservations.
• Work cross-departmentally to prepare and manage complex event budgets. Work with event owners to manage program budgets.
• Establish and maintain relationships with internal and external GSB and university partners. Act as department representative at cross-departmental project meetings.
• Train and oversee event staff and other support staff, students, and contingent staff.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.
• Superior project and event management skills.
• Ability to manage a diverse team of staff and contingent labor, holding them to deadlines and the highest quality output.
• Demonstrated experience with financial management of complex event budgets requiring excellent analytical skills.
• Extreme attention to detail and deadlines; ability to prioritize and manage complex workflows.
• Excellent communication, time management, and customer service skills. Must be well organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness.
• Demonstrated high level of confidence in making strategic decisions, good judgment, and innovative and creative problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional hospitality skills with the ability to cultivate partnerships.
• Ability to interact and successfully collaborate with a broad spectrum of contributing groups and customers.
• Proficient in managing virtual and hybrid events including Zoom meetings and Webinars and/or willingness to learn.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and knowledge of cloud applications such as Google suite. Willingness to learn department reservation system and other applications.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• This is a fully onsite position with the potential to work remote one day per week.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• Experience in venue management
• Please submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application.