Associate Vice President, University Events

🔍 Office of External Relations, Stanford, California, United States

New

📁: Communications

📅   : 3 hours ago Post Date

📅   : 108507 Requisition #

Main Work Location: Stanford Historical Campus

Schedule: On-site with flexibility to occasionally work remotely

Stanford’s Office of External Relations aligns the work of Stanford’s externally facing teams. The unit includes the Office of Community Engagement (OCE), which works across units to foster collaboration on and off campus. The Office of Special Events & Protocol (OSEP), a part of OCE, is responsible for the production, design, and implementation of many of the university’s ceremonies and high-profile special events, including Family Weekend and Commencement. OSEP also advises on high-impact event planning, including guiding adherence to university event policies and protocol for dignitary visits and other special 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.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Why Stanford is for you:

Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:

Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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