Job Type
Full-time
Description
JOB SUMMARY:The Director, Garden Events leads the vision, strategy, and management of innovative garden events and signature experiences to increase visitation, generate revenue, and enhance the Dallas Arboretum's position as a premier botanical garden and cultural destination.
Reporting to the Vice President, Sales & Garden Events, the Director serves as the organization's project lead for seasonal and year-round garden events, guiding these projects from conception and development through implementation and performance.
This position provides leadership for planning, operations, staff, budgets, partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver innovative seasonal and year-round experiences that advance the Arboretum's mission and strategic priorities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:Strategic Leadership and Program Development
- Lead the strategic development and delivery of the Arboretum's garden-events portfolio from concept development through close out.
- Create innovative events that complement and support festivals, exhibitions, and seasonal displays.
- Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, and implementation strategies that align creative vision with operational requirements.
- Serve as the primary project manager for garden-event initiatives, establishing milestones, managing risks, and ensuring accountability across participating departments.
- Facilitate project meetings, coordinate decision-making, and keep the Vice President, Sales & Garden Events informed of project status, emerging risks, resource needs, and significant issues requiring executive decision-making.
- Build relationships with entertainers, artists, chefs, sponsors, and community partners.
- Support sponsorship-activation opportunities through garden-event programming.
- Evaluate industry trends and recommend new garden event experiences that increase attendance and repeat visitation.
Event Development and Partner Relations
- Participate in the development of garden-event concepts and implementation strategies, providing operational guidance that supports successful execution while preserving creative intent.
- Serve as the primary liaison with caterers, vendors, and other partners throughout the cycle of garden events, fostering productive relationships and ensuring clear communication, alignment, and successful event delivery.
- Oversee vendor and partner performance, ensuring contractual obligations, deliverables, and project milestones are achieved.
- Help ensure garden events deliver and are engaging, accessible, and high-quality guest and member experiences while supporting the Arboretum's mission and strategic priorities.
- Partner with Marketing, Horticulture, Development, Operations, Guest Experience and other internal stakeholders to execute high-quality events.
Budget and Performance Management
- Develop, administer, and monitor project budgets, schedules, and timelines, ensuring responsible stewardship of organizational resources.
- Oversee procurement, contract administration, project documentation, and reporting.
- Maintain accurate project records and prepare project updates and budget reports for organizational leadership.
- Conduct post-event evaluations to assess project outcomes (on time and within budget), identify lessons learned, and recommend improvements for future garden events.
- Ensure events support the Arboretum's brand, mission, and revenue goals.
Departmental Leadership
- Supervise garden-events activities and establish priorities, workflows, and project management standards.
- Evaluate departmental processes and implement continuous improvements that strengthen organizational effectiveness and project delivery.
- Lead special projects and other initiatives as assigned by the Vice President, Sales & Garden Events.
- Collaborate with internal teams and departments to coordinate logistics, event operations, communications, facility needs, staffing and guest experience.
- Measure garden-event program successes and recommend continuous improvements.
Requirements
Skills and Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Business, or Certified Event Planner.
- Minimum of 7+ years of applicable experience, including supervisory or team leadership experience, producing garden events, public events, festivals, or destination programming.
- Proven ability to supervise teams, develop staff, and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation.
- Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional projects involving budgets, schedules, and external partners.
- Experience in budget management and long-term planning.
- Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, consultants, artists, and other external partners.
- Experience in a public garden, museum, cultural institution, visitor attraction, performing arts organization, or similar experiential environment preferred.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training preferred to assist in the management, organization, and prioritization across multiple concurrent initiatives.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project management software.
- Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by Arboretum and garden-event schedules.
- Ability to successfully complete all pre-employment requirements, including a background check and drug screening.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
- Excellent organizational ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Key Competencies and Preferred Skills- Accountability
- Cross functional collaboration
- Communication
- Influence without authority
- Planning and execution
- Strategic problem solving and sound decision making
- Project leadership
- Creative and strategic thinker
- Data-informed evaluation and continuous improvement.
- Project leadership and budget management.
- Commitment to the mission and values of the Dallas Arboretum.
To help you stay energized, engaged, and inspired, the Arboretum offers a wide range of benefits, including comprehensive healthcare, a 401K, and Paid Time Off (PTO).
