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:PurposeUniversity 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.
ResponsibilitiesDevelop 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 RequirementsApplicants 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 consistent attendance is required in this job.
- Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University Development Office does not sponsor work visas for this position.
- This position is based in Austin, Texas.
Required Materials- Resume/CV
- 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
- Letter of interest
- A portfolio or examples of previous work that demonstrate their creative point of view and experience developing physical environments or experiences.
Importantfor applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.
Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.
Employment Eligibility:Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.
Retirement Plan Eligibility:The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.
Background Checks:A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.
---- 
