Senior Director of Events in Marketing and Communications

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice Dean of Communications and Public Affairs, the Senior Director of Events, serves in a leadership role responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing a comprehensive event strategy at Columbia Business School (CBS). The incumbent has oversight of all areas of event management and plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall student and stakeholder experience by orchestrating and coordinating a wide range of events including but not limited to conferences, seminars, workshops, and ceremonies. The incumbent is responsible for the coordination of events booked in large and executive spaces, representing the School to all internal and external stakeholders interested in using CBS facilities. The Senior Director assesses and develops policies and processes related to providing event space for potential external partners.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with leadership, the Senior Director designs and implements a centralized event planning process, that aligns with the School's mission and goals. Creates policies and resources to support all School event planners. Provides training (including onboarding) to all CBS event planners to drive excellence in event execution. Develops event reporting tools with KPIs for individual departments to assess and improve their event management.

• The Senior Director convenes and guides the teams responsible for coordinating School events and consults on events including ceremonies, graduation, and dignitary visits sponsored by divisions and departments School-wide. Has full responsibility and accountability for high-profile events that provide important forums for interactions with community leaders, elected officials, volunteer organizers and business leaders.

• Serves as the venue manager for the School's event spaces, including providing complex logistical plans to CBS Operations and CU Facilities & Operations (CUFO) for all labor and custodial needs for the venues and ensuring high quality events across the school. Advise on venue enhancements and ensure facilities and technology are fully operational, coordinating with internal offices as needed to resolve any issues as expediently as possible.

• The Senior Director manages budgets and supervises budgetary planning for individual events, ensuring compliance with CBS policies and processes. Working with the Financial Planning Office, reviews expense budgets and recommends efficiencies and best practices. Ensures the timely reconciliation of event expenditures and prompt payment of expenditures by and to internal and external partners.

• Manages event staffing, liaising with Human Resources to hire and manage temporary staff, and supervising volunteers.

• Performs other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. Minimum 6-8 years of related experience required.
• Proven experience in event management. Previous supervisory/managerial experience and familiarity of budgeting and financial management.
• Experience managing multiple demands and changing priorities required.
• Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgment. Strong knowledge of all aspects of event management
• Must collaborate effectively with administrators, academic units, faculty, students and other stakeholders. Must be able to work independently and under pressure, managing multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and oral and written communication skills are essential, as is attention to detail.
• Must be proficient in MS Word and PowerPoint. Knowledge of presentation, database, and spreadsheet applications necessary.
• High level of professionalism needed. Tact, diplomacy, and the ability to exercise discretion and judgment in matters that are sensitive and confidential is required. Must be a team player and willing to work with all levels of faculty, students, and staff.
• Availability to work early mornings or evenings as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing events in a higher education environment is highly desired.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.