Associate Vice President, University Events
Position Summary
The Associate Vice President for University Events will play a pivotal role in shaping the vibrant events structure and culture on campus. Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Community Engagement (within the Office of External Relations), this newly established position is crafted for a strategic events leader eager to make an impact within a decentralized higher education event landscape. The Associate Vice President for University Events will shape and orchestrate the university's most significant events - the convenings, ceremonies, and signature community celebrations that bring together the Stanford community in service of the academic mission. This includes Convocation, Family Weekend, and Commencement, among other events. Working in close partnership with academic and administrative leaders and a team of events professionals, this role brings systems, solutions, creativity, and interdisciplinary connections needed to make complex, high-visibility events both streamlined and successful. By furthering strong stakeholder relationships, shared standards and playbooks, and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, this visionary leader ensures that Stanford's major events reflect the university's values of excellence, openness, and optimism.
In this role you will:
- Lead the university's strategy for major events, advancing a shared vision for how Stanford's most significant gatherings support the academic mission, strengthen community, and reflect the university's values. Build on insights from task forces and discovery efforts to continually improve how complex events are planned and delivered.
- Strengthen coordination across Stanford's decentralized events ecosystem, aligning stakeholders, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and ensuring excellence in the planning and execution of high-impact events across campus.
- Establish systems that support visibility and alignment for major events, including strengthening the university's high-impact events calendar and convening cross-campus partners to coordinate resources, anticipate challenges, and ensure successful execution.
- Lead and oversee the Office of Special Events and Protocol (OSEP), working with the Executive Director and team to successfully produce several of Stanford's largest ceremonial events, special convenings, and high-level dignitary visits, while fostering a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Cultivate a university-wide community of practice for events leadership, serving as a trusted advisor to academic and administrative leaders, strengthening shared standards and playbooks, and encouraging collaboration across schools and units. This may include a visible presence at key events and on high-volume event days when multiple events are occurring on campus.
- Will oversee the university's Agent program that engages and trains staff Agents to steward events consistent with Stanford's commitments to free expression and university policy while minimizing disruption.
- Serve as an events liaison to the Offices of the President and Provost, ensuring alignment with university leadership priorities and providing guidance on the planning and execution of high-impact events.
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
- Bachelor's degree and ten years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
- Senior leadership experience in complex, decentralized organizations, ideally within higher-education, with demonstrated success guiding cross-unit collaboration, leading change management, and advancing solutions with an innovation and growth mindset.
- Proven success leading large-scale, high-visibility events, including establishing strategy, setting priorities, working with high-profile guests and dignitaries, and guiding teams and partners to deliver high-impact experiences.
- Exceptional relationship-building and diplomatic skills, with a record of navigating complex organizational environments while building trust and alignment across diverse academic, administrative, and external stakeholders.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate strategically to build alignment, shape culture, and support university priorities.
- Strong judgment in managing the operational and policy considerations associated with major events, including the ability to interpret policies, anticipate and manage risk, and coordinate effectively with safety, security, communications, and administrative partners.
- Experience overseeing budgets and negotiating vendor contracts, stewarding resources to align with university priorities.
- Proficient computer skills and demonstrated experience with office software, communication applications, and working knowledge of event software.
The expected pay range for this position is $238,934 to $286,090 per annum.
Main Work Location: Stanford Historical Campus
Schedule: On-site with flexibility to occasionally work remotely
