Director for Experience Design & Creative

Job Posting Title:

Director for Experience Design & Creative ----

Hiring Department:

University Development Office ----

Position Open To:

All Applicants ----

Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40 ----

FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA ----

Earliest Start Date:

Immediately ----

Position Duration:

Expected to Continue ----

Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS ----

Job Details:

About The University of Texas at Austin

What starts here changes the world.

The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, ranks among the best universities in the world. With 76 programs ranked in the top 10, UT Austin is the #1 public university in Texas and the #7 public university in the nation.

Like the state it calls home, The University of Texas at Austin is a bold, ambitious leader supporting more than 55,000 students, 4,750 faculty, 15,000 staff and top national programs across 18 colleges and schools. Amid the backdrop of Austin, Texas, a city recognized for its creative and entrepreneurial spirit, the University provides a place to explore countless opportunities for tomorrow’s artists, scientists, athletes, doctors, entrepreneurs and engineers.

Learn more about UT’s mission and values and leadership .

Why Join Texas Development?

The University of Texas at Austin is a thriving hub of learning and discovery that anchors our city and enables excellence and innovation on the highest level. And it’s only possible because generous supporters believe in the power and promise of our state’s flagship university to change the world. With more than $6 billion raised in the What Starts Here campaign, Texas Development is quickly becoming one of the best fundraising programs in public higher education.

Texas Development is a dynamic community of 500+ fundraising professionals across the Forty Acres. We strive to reach the highest levels of achievement and success in all that we do by creating meaningful and powerful experiences for our donors.

Follow your passion, grow your career and help us change the world .

Benefits

The University provides a competitive benefits package that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services.

Texas Development supports growth by offering professional development opportunities that help every team member accomplish their goals, enrich their skillset and deepen their engagement with UT.

Purpose

University Events & Experience is seeking a highly creative, experienced professional to help shape and deliver some of The University of Texas at Austin’s most visible experiences.

The Director for Experience Design & Creative will bring original ideas, strong visual judgment and sophisticated understanding of how people experience a space, event or environment. This person will develop creative concepts and lead them through execution, working across live events, environments, installations, guest experiences and special projects.

This is not a traditional event planning role. We are looking for someone who thinks creatively and visually, understands hospitality and experience, and can turn an idea into something people can see, feel and remember.

Responsibilities

Develop Original Creative Concepts

• •Develop original concepts for events, environments, installations and special experiences.
• •Bring a strong creative point of view and actively contribute ideas rather than simply executing an established direction.
• •Translate institutional priorities, stories and messages into compelling physical and live experiences.
• •Create and communicate concepts through mood boards, reference imagery, sketches, decks and other visual tools.

Design the Full Experience

• •This holistically about the guest journey, from invitation and arrival through environment, program and departure.
• •Shape the visual and experiential elements of a project, including scenic design, furnishings, lighting, graphics, signage, florals, entertainment, food and beverage, hospitality, video and other content.
• •Consider how individual elements work together to create a cohesive experience.
• •Bring a high level of taste and attention to detail to every project.

Take Ideas Through Execution

• •Move creative concepts from initial idea through design, production, installation and final execution.
• •Develop clear creative direction that internal teams, vendors, fabricators and production partners can execute.
• •Source and direct outside creative partners, fabricators, rental companies and specialty vendors.
• •Review designs, samples, materials and production details to ensure the final product reflects the approved creative direction.
• •Balance creative ambition with budget, timeline, operational requirements and feasibility.

Work Across the Experience Portfolio

• •Partner closely with the Chief Experience Office and University Events & Experience team on the University’s highest-profile experiences and special projects.
• •Collaborate with event producers, project managers, designers, communications teams and campus partners.
• •Work across events, environments, brand expression and other physical manifestations of the University experience.
• •Provide creative direction and leadership across multiple projects simultaneously.

Raise the Creative Standard

• •Help establish a consistent level of quality across University Events & Experience.
• •Identify new ideas, vendors, materials, technologies and approaches that can elevate the work.
• •Bring inspiration from hospitality, luxury experiences, entertainment, cultural institutions, retail, architecture, design and other relevant industries.
• •Provide thoughtful, direct creative feedback throughout the development and production process.

Additional duties as assigned.

Salary

$110,000.00+ depending on qualifications

Required Qualifications

• •Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• •At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in experiential design, creative direction, environmental design, live experiences, hospitality, events or a related field.
• •Demonstrated experience developing original creative concepts and carrying them through production and execution.
• •Strong portfolio showing sophisticated experiential, environmental or live work.
• •Excellent visual judgement and a strong understanding of composition, materials, color, scale and spatial experience.
• •Experience directing vendors, fabricators, designers and other creative partners.
• •Understanding of live production and the practical realities of bringing creative concepts to life.
• •Ability to manage multiple complex project, budgets and timelines.
• •Strong communication and presentation skills.
• •Collaborative, flexible and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment with high expectations and significant visibility.

Preferred Qualifications

• •Experience with high-profile events, major brands, luxury hospitality, entertainment, cultural institutions or other highly designed guest experiences.
• •Experience working on environmental or spatial design projects.
• •Experience managing significant production budgets and external creative teams.
• •Familiarity with the Austin and Texas creative, production and hospitality communities.

Portfolio Requirements

Applicants must submit a portfolio or examples of relevant work demonstrating their role in concept development, creative direction and execution.

We are especially interested in seeing work that demonstrates how you think , not simply the finished product.

Working Conditions

• •This is an on-site position (40 hours per week) and the schedule will vary based on university and department schedules, and with the types of events scheduled and operational functions.
• •Work late evenings and some weekends for scheduled events. Hours are subject to change.
• •Works in standard office conditions, in a shared office environment, with repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• •May work in all weather conditions.
• •Regular and consi