Executive Director of University Events and Operations

Executive Director of University Events and Operations - Fairfax, Virginia, United States - Virginia, United States

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Executive Director of University Events and Operations

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Executive Director of University Events and Operations

• 10004109
• Fairfax, Virginia, United States
• Virginia, United States
• Office of University Branding
• Default
• Faculty (Salaried)
• George Mason University

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Department: Office of University Branding

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Motor Vehicle Records Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Office of University Branding at George Mason University is responsible for telling the Mason story. Relying on a team of highly skilled communicators and marketing professionals, the department builds awareness and support for the university, develops and protects the brand, and shares important and timely information with the Mason community and its external partners.

About the Position:

The Executive Director of University Events and Operations provides senior operational, strategic, and policy leadership for University Events and Operations. Serves as the institutional authority for event systems, scheduling governance, operational standards, and cross-functional coordination. Ensures university events advance institutional priorities, comply with policies and regulatory requirements, mitigate risk, support leadership continuity and succession planning, and deliver a consistent, high-quality experience across all event types.

This position is open to current employees only. External applicants will not be considered.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Institutional Governance

• Provides executive-level leadership and institutional oversight for university-wide event operations, including event scheduling and space management systems (25Live), operational standards, and service delivery models;
• Serves as the institutional authority for event-related governance, policies, procedures, and practices impacting academic, administrative, and external-facing units; and
• Develops and implements university-wide policies and strategic plans related to events, space utilization, operational readiness, and institutional preparedness.

Event Scheduling and Space Management

• Provides executive oversight of university-wide event scheduling and space utilization systems, including institutional governance of 25Live; and
• Establishes standards for space use, setup requirements, documentation, workflows, approval pathways, and utilization practices to ensure scheduling accuracy, effective space use, continuity of institutional knowledge, and a consistent client experience across all schools, departments, and recognized student organizations.

Operational Oversight, Systems Governance, and Analytics

• Oversees the design, governance, and continuous improvement of systems and processes that support scalable, compliant, and consistent event operations;
• Owns institutional governance of the event scheduling database (25Live), including system configuration standards, training models, user access protocols, data integrity, documentation, and reporting; and
• Develops and manages performance metrics, analytics, and utilization reports used by senior leadership to evaluate effectiveness, inform planning, forecasting, policy decisions, and long-term operational sustainability.

Cross-Functional Coordination and Service Provider Oversight

• Serves as the executive liaison between University Events and Operations and campus service providers, including facilities, public safety, parking, technology, catering, and Event Services;
• Establishes coordination frameworks, escalation protocols, accountability standards, and continuity plans to ensure operational readiness for routine, high-profile, high-impact, and high-risk events; and
• Ensures alignment between event operations, service providers, and institutional priorities.

Customer Service Standards and Institutional Representation

• Defines and oversees the university's event service delivery model;
• Establishes customer service standards, performance metrics, and training expectations to ensure a consistent, professional, scalable, and policy-compliant client experience that is not dependent on individual role holders; and
• Represents the university professionally in internal and external event-related engagements.

Risk Management

• Provides executive oversight and decision-making authority for complex, high-impact, or high-risk events, in coordination with public safety, risk management, facilities, and executive stakeholders; and
• Establishes preparedness frameworks and response protocols to mitigate institutional, reputational, and operational risk.

Major Events, Special Projects, and Organizational Leadership

• Provides leadership for major university events, initiatives, and signature institutional programs as assigned;
• Leads organizational change efforts, process improvement initiatives, and special projects that strengthen operational resilience, institutional readiness, and long-term continuity; and
• Participates in long-range planning and organizational development initiatives to ensure future-state readiness for university events and operations.

Personnel Management, Leadership Development, and Succession Planning

• Provides leadership for staff development, performance management, and organizational capacity-building;
• Supports institutional succession planning and leadership continuity within University Events and Operations;
• Establishes delegation models, cross-training strategies, and leadership development frameworks to ensure continuity of operations during leadership transitions, extended absences, or organizational change; and
• Documents and standardizes systems, decision frameworks, and institutional practices to preserve institutional knowledge and reduce reliance on individual contributors.

Executive Support and Organizational Alignment

• Serves as operational leader in direct support of the Associate Vice President, enabling effective delegation, leadership continuity, and operational resilience;
• Provides continuity of operational leadership while the AVP focuses on institutional strategy, executive engagement, and external relations; and
• Ensures alignment of event operations with broader institutional goals, governance structures, and strategic priorities.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Considerable demonstrated experience in events management (generally 5+ years);
• Typically, 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in event management, operations, or a related field;
• Extensive knowledge of organizational planning and resource management;
• Knowledge of university event spaces and policies related to events;
• Knowledge and expertise in software configuration and security;
• Skill in effective and respectful verbal, written, and interpersonal communication;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and outlook calendar system;
• Proficiency and administration of the university scheduling software, 25live;
• Ability to demonstrate significant attention to detail and perform work with a high degree of accuracy;
• Ability to multi-ask and prioritize daily activities; ability to remain organized while working on multiple, simultaneous projects;
• Ability to troubleshoot problems independently and perform duties with changing priorities;
• Valid driver"s license: must currently possess an appropriate, active, valid motor vehicle operator's license that meets all of GMU's requirements for operating state vehicles and equipment under Mason's Vehicle Use Policy 1411 https://universitypolicy.gmu.edu/policies/vehicle-use/. The Office of Risk Management reserves the right to review the driver's licenses and Motor Vehicle Reports (MVRs) of all candidates selected with employment contingent upon a favorable review;
• Resource 25 (25live) training required before hire (refresher training throughout the year); and
• Mason 101.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field;
• Typically, 3-5 years of leadership experience supervising staff and/or leading cross-functional teams;
• Demonstrated experience developing or implementing policies, procedures, or operational frameworks;
• Experience managing complex, high-profile events or programs within a large or decentralized organization;
• Experience with risk management, compliance, and/or institutional policies related to events or space use;
• Familiarity with using data, reporting, or analytics to support decision-making and improve operations; and
• Proven ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders and manage competing priorities.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Executive Director of University Events and Operations at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information and submit a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: May 21, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: June 29, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Each agency within the Commonwealth of Virginia is dedicated to recruiting, supporting, and maintaining a competent and diverse work force. Equal Opportunity Employer

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