Director of University Events

The Operations and Advancement team oversees a strategic selection of campus enterprises and responsibilities, including: Facilities Management, all construction projects, and the campus physical plant; Auxiliary Services; Marketing, Communication, and Community Relations; Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives, and the Denver-based Advancement team, which includes Alumni Affairs and University Licensing. This diverse portfolio allows our teams to imagine long-term partnerships; support a campus master planning initiative; establish new fundraising opportunities as long-term drivers for new and evolving academic and student experiences; and message and share CSU Pueblo’s statewide engagement and impact to stakeholders in Denver and beyond. Our team's objective is to build and strengthen CSU Pueblo’s ten initiatives of Vision 2028, and support the campus ecosystem, as we work toward achieving the three wildly important goals of the university: elevating the appeal of campus, enhancing student success, and developing our people.

Description of Job

The Director of University Events is a revenue-creator. This individual establishes and manages processes and procedures for promoting and hosting events, including conferences, meetings, educational conventions, performances, film screenings, lectures, receptions, and more at the CSU Pueblo campus. The position provides vision, supervision, leadership, and event management for an active, year-round operation supporting a variety of conference and event services including logistical management, facility rental, registration services, and financial administration for both CSU Pueblo and non-CSU Pueblo programs. The position also markets and promotes events to optimize the use of the CSU Pueblo campus facilities.

The position manages external partnerships, works closely with Auxiliary Services and food service and catering partners, the Facilities Management team (including the Coordinator of Scheduling), University Advancement (including Alumni Affairs), Athletics, Residence Life and Housing, and other departments, ensuring best-in-class sales and management of events to meet sustainability goals, and managing budgets and contracts to keep the CSU Pueblo events and facilities running smoothly. The Director of University Events develops short- and long-term event management and marketing protocols. The CSU Pueblo campus has a one-of-a-kind collection of indoor and outdoor amenities—including numerous classrooms, an arena, residence halls, the new Patio at the Student Center, athletics venues, and a state-of-the-art ballroom for events. The campus currently hosts dozens of events, opportunities through which this position will drive enrollment and community engagement. The unique position requires both creativity and attention to detail and provides opportunities to demonstrate expertise in both. This is an exempt salaried position that requires performance of duties during regular working hours as well as during extended evening and weekend hours for events scheduled at the campus.

Primary Duties

• Events Sales and Marketing Process Start-up
  • Create and implement process for events management from initial contact of event host through event evaluation. 
  • Determine appropriate technology to support events management, including booking, invoicing, space management, IT and AV support, etc. in collaboration with Auxiliary Services, Facilities Management, and Vice President of Operations and Advancement teams. 
  • Continuously evaluate processes and procedures, with goal of continuous process improvement.
• Ongoing Events Management
  • Manage events from initial host contact through event evaluation. 
  • Manage billing, contracts, legal requirements, and budgets related to CSU Pueblo events. 
  • Negotiate, execute, and oversee the fulfillment of contracts for event services with third-party (and on-campus) vendors/support services, as needed. 
  • Collaborate with IT (others) to ensure appropriate technology support for events, including virtual or hybrid components.
• Events Sales, Marketing, and Promotion
  • Create events marketing strategy, in collaboration with Operations and Advancement leadership team, to optimize use of CSU Pueblo facilities by external groups and partners.  
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Communications, and Community Relations (MCCR) team to create and implement marketing strategies for CSU Pueblo external/internal community events (e.g., existing engagement opportunities or all community events) to drive attendance and sponsorship.  
  • Collaborate with the CSU Pueblo Advancement team members and MCCR to create marketing collateral, rate sheets, etc. to support and facilitate event booking.  
  • Collaborate with the CSU Pueblo Advancement team members and MCCR, create media and communications strategies around events and programs.  
  • Create marketing and communications strategies and materials to support CSU Pueblo programs and offerings, including ongoing and one-time educational offerings, courses and programs – when possibility of external or revenue-generating opportunities exist
• Strategic Planning, Personnel Management, and Budgeting 
  • Oversee hiring, management, and evaluation of positions that report to Director of University Events, as needed.  
  • Where applicable, oversee the development of business cases for potential new revenue generation and/or cost containment opportunities, and assists with the evaluation of risks, rewards, and impacts of strategic decisions.  
  • Monitor and evaluate the performance of the various components of events and revenue generating activities and hold vendors and managers accountable for their strategic plans and associated performance of their respective business units.  
  • Assist the Auxiliary Services Director with revenue forecasting.   
  • Organize Events staff scheduling, monitor hours, and submit payroll/overtime requests as required to all impacted departments.
  • Coordinate and plan all scheduling with Facilities Management team and campus Scheduling Coordinator.

Ancillary Duties

• Leadership of, attendance at, and participation on various campus committees (and meetings), as approved or requested by VP of Operations and Advancement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university
• Demonstrated/proven understanding of regional event planning nuances and needs of the community
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work well with a diverse population of students, employees, leadership, and high-profile community members
• Excellent communication skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to successfully manage multiple projects with competing priorities and timelines
• Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule, including some early mornings, nights, and weekends
• Ability to lift 25 pounds (tables and chairs, event set-up, etc. with assistance)
• Five years of professional experience in event management or event sales/marketing with independent decision-making authority
• Experience with event and promotion support technology (e.g., CRM database, project management software, business analytics) and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Outlook, Excel, Word
• Experience managing a wide-range of conferences and/or event types, including events with over 500 participants
• Experience with event planning and budgeting
• Demonstrated experience with southern Colorado event management
• Proven experience working with food vendors and outside partners and stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree from accredited college or university
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Demonstrated strong administrative skills and attention to detail, including managing vendors, contractors, and related budgets 
• Proven ability to manage conflicts and crisis situations
• Ability and desire to work independently and be self-motivated
• Demonstrated success providing a high level of service to a variety of populations
• Ability to advance the Spur campus and CSU System’s commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Ten years of professional experience in event management or event sales/marketing with independent decision-making authority
• Demonstrated experience with venue sales and marketing
• Demonstrated experience supervising two or more employees
• Experience at a university or non-profit with event sales and marketing

Supplemental Information

All interested candidates must apply through the on-line application system.No other format of application materials will be accepted. Applicants must attach the following to the online application:

1. a letter of intent (cover letter);
2. a current resume or CV;
3. an unofficial transcript;
4. and three professional references with contact information

Applications submitted without the required attachments above will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the selection process. Once submitted, applicants will not be able to make changes or add information to their application packet, with the exception of their personal contact and demographic information.

Early submission of application materials is encouraged. Screening of application materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

About Colorado State University Pueblo
Colorado State University Pueblo is a comprehensive state university with an enrollment of 4,000 students. CSU Pueblo provides relevant professional coursework and superior instruction with a small professor-to-student ratio for an ever-changing global economy.  Students can choose from 28 undergraduate programs with 70 fields of study in the College of Science and Mathematics, the Hasan School of Business, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the College of Education, Engineering, and Professional Studies and 10 graduate programs.

CSU Pueblo is equally committed to serving the diverse population of the region; this emphasis is reflected in the demographic characteristics of the student body. Because more than 25 percent of our students are Hispanic, the Federal Government has designated CSU Pueblo an Hispanic Serving Institution.  Besides reflecting our commitment to serve this critically important and rapidly-growing segment of the student population, that designation also allows the University to compete for certain federal grant funds to support its ability to better serve all students.  The university also seeks to provide a rich and diverse cultural environment that allows freedom of expression within a spirit of civility and mutual respect.  The public service expected of all members of our community benefits our society - local and global - and builds our sense of citizenship.

Among its unique features, CSU Pueblo is one of seven schools in the nation to offer a degree in mechatronics, which combines electrical and mechanical engineering. The Hasan School of Business ranks among the top 15 percent of all business schools internationally with graduate and undergraduate programs in business administration accredited by the AACSB International Board of Directors. The College of Education, Engineering and Professional Studies houses an undergraduate engineering program that was ranked in the nation's top 100 by U.S. News and World Report.  CSU Pueblo has an ever-changing campus landscape that features a newly renovated Library, a new general academic classroom building, and a newly renovated and expanded student center.

At CSU Pueblo, Student Life offerings have increased significantly with the transition of the campus from a commuter environment to a more traditional collegiate experience.  Competing at the NCAA Division II level, CSU Pueblo is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and offers 22 varsity intercollegiate sports and also has active intramural and club sports teams that allow students to get involved in campus life.

About Pueblo, Colorado 
The city of Pueblo is a historically and culturally rich, diverse city of more than 100,000, located in the southern part of the state along the Arkansas River near the Wet Mountains and the majestic Sangre de Cristo range. Pueblo enjoys ideal year round climate with four distinct mild seasons, crisp mountain air and 300+ days of sunshine per year. Pueblo attracts outdoor enthusiasts to a full slate of summer and winter recreational activities, encompassing water sports at Lake Pueblo, biking or running along Pueblo's beautiful river trail system, golfing, tennis, hiking or skiing in the mountains to the west.  The region is heavily agricultural, with large and small-scale farming and ranching, and a diverse mix of service, manufacturing, and technology industries.

CSU Pueblo is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final candidates being considered for employment. Background checks may include, but are not limited to, criminal history (felony and misdemeanor), national sex offender search, and/or motor vehicle history. Candidates who are extended an offer of employment must submit to and pass a background check prior to beginning employment. Some positions depending on the job duties may be required to complete a DMV and/or credit check.

The university reserves the right to check additional references, with prior notification given to the candidate.

Note: The successful candidate must provide official transcripts of academic work completed and, under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations, be able to submit evidence of the ability to accept work in the U.S. by the day employment begins.

It is the policy of Colorado State University Pueblo to provide reasonable accommodations for employees and applicants with disabilities.  If you need accommodations, please contact the Human Resources at (719) 549-2441 or hr@csupueblo.edu.

In compliance with the Clery Act of 1990, the University's annual security report is available at: https://www.csupueblo.edu/campus-safety. 

Colorado State University Pueblo is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Additionally, the University complies with all other relevant, federal, state, and local laws regarding employment practices.