Head of Academic Events

About the role

The Head of Academic Events leads the strategy, planning and execution of the university’s academic events portfolio within the Office of Student and Postdoctoral Affairs. Reporting to senior leadership, this role translates institutional priorities into well‑governed, high‑quality events delivered on schedule and within budget.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and manage the annual academic events calendar, aligning each event with university and OSPA priorities.
• Define scope, scale and success metrics for all events and secure governance approvals.
• Establish and maintain frameworks, standards, templates and processes for event planning and delivery.
• Provide overall accountability for major events such as Commencement and IOAI, overseeing quality, schedule, cost and outcomes.
• Delegate detailed planning to the Associate Head while offering proportionate support to OSPA teams and academic departments.
• Maintain a portfolio risk register, implement mitigation actions and escalate material risks through appropriate channels.
• Oversee financial and commercial aspects, including budgeting, procurement and vendor management.

Required profile

• Minimum eight years of experience in large‑scale event management, preferably within an academic or research institution.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage complex stakeholder relationships.
• Strong governance and risk‑management experience, with a track record of delivering events on time and within budget.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, capable of representing OSPA in institutional forums.

Required skills

• Procurement
• Vendor management
• Event leadership
• Stakeholder management