Senior Event & Hospitality Manager (Catering & VIP Events)

Senior Event & Hospitality Manager (Catering & VIP Events)

The Senior Event & Hospitality Manager (Catering & VIP Events) reports to the Director of Stanford Catering within Stanford Dining, Hospitality & Auxiliaries (SDHA) and serves as the lead responsible for the planning, execution, and overall delivery of Stanford's most complex, high-visibility, and institutionally significant catering and hospitality events. This role holds full ownership of Stanford's "Big 5" and other flagship campus events, as well as events involving senior university leadership, including the President, Provost, Board of Trustees, Deans, senior faculty, and distinguished external guests. These events represent the university at the highest level and require exceptional judgment, discretion, and precision.

The Senior Event & Hospitality Manager (Catering & VIP Events) is accountable for translating event objectives into fully integrated execution strategies across culinary, service, operations, and logistics. The role ensures that all events are delivered with consistency, operational excellence, and a level of hospitality that reflects Stanford's standards and reputation. Working across internal teams and campus partners, this role aligns stakeholders, removes operational barriers, and drives accountability for performance. The position is ultimately responsible for delivering seamless, high-quality event experiences that meet institutional expectations and contribute to the university's broader mission and engagement goals.

JOB PURPOSE:

Lead and manage event teams charged with producing high-quality events. Serve as project leader on complex, large-scale events, including responsibility for financial management. Provide training and guidance to colleagues.

CORE DUTIES*:

• Deliver exceptional high-profile event execution by successfully planning and executing Stanford's most visible and complex events, achieving defined targets for service quality, stakeholder satisfaction, and operational excellence.
• Own end-to-end event performance and accountability by maintaining full responsibility for all aspects of event delivery, including planning, execution, financial outcomes, and post-event evaluation.
• Lead senior stakeholder engagement and alignment by effectively managing relationships and expectations with university leadership, campus partners, and external clients, ensuring events meet strategic priorities and objectives.
• Ensure operational excellence in complex environments by consistently delivering high-quality events that exceed standards for hospitality, food quality, presentation, and service, while successfully navigating dynamic conditions.
• Achieve financial performance targets by developing and managing event budgets, optimizing labor and resource utilization, and delivering events within established financial parameters.
• Serve as project manager of multiple activities, scope out project tasks/team assignments and guide team to create work plans and schedules, monitor progress, and meet milestones.
• Oversee the management of event teams and/or production consultants to produce quality, multi-faceted events and productions.
• Establish and maintain relationships with internal and external university partners.
• Act as department representative at cross-departmental project meetings.
• Operate as account manager on deliverables, program metrics, and status reports.
• Work cross-departmentally to prepare and manage complex program budgets.
• Recommend and schedule events into appropriate off-campus and on-campus venues.
• Oversee registration strategy and logistics.
• May hire and oversee support staff, students and contingent event staff.
• Train and supervise junior event planners in proper execution and implementation of events.

* - Other duties may also be assigned

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Superior project and event management skills.
• Ability to manage a diverse team of staff and contingent labor, holding them to deadlines and the highest quality output.
• Demonstrated experience with financial management of complex event budgets requiring excellent analytical skills.
• Extreme attention to detail and deadlines; ability to prioritize and manage complex workflows.
• Excellent communication, time management, and customer service skills. Must be well organized and detailed oriented.
• Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness.
• Demonstrated high level of confidence in making strategic decisions, good judgment, and innovative and creative problem solving skills.

Certifications and Licenses:

• Valid Non-Commercial Class California Driver's License.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Frequently stand/walk, sit, perform desk-based computer tasks, and use a telephone.
• Occasionally kneel/crawl, twist/bend/stoop/squat, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, and grasp forcefully, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 21-40 pounds.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a California Non-commercial Class license and drive day or night.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• May require some travel and working evenings and weekends.

WORK STANDARDS:

• When conducting university business, must comply with the California Vehicle Code and Stanford University driving requirements.
• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide,

The expected pay range for this position is $80k-100k per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. 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.

Why is Stanford 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 enriches 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 course auditing. 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 accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

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.