Deputy Director, Stanford Live

Stanford University · Stanford

Work Arrangement: Please note that this position will be based on the Stanford campus and will be considered hybrid with the expectation to be on campus on average three (3) days per work week depending on events. In addition, this position may require working evenings and weekends.

Budgeted Salary: The expected pay range for this position is $201,568 - $250,000 per annum.

To be considered, please include a cover letter and resume in your online application.

Stanford University is one of the world’s premier academic and research institutions, devoting tremendous intellectual and physical resources toward the betterment of humanity. As a major Silicon Valley employer, Stanford seeks people committed to excellence and to improving our world. In turn, the university is committed to supporting its employees as they develop their careers and enrich their lives. We believe Stanford’s future success will be shaped by the diverse perspectives, unique experiences, and inclusive culture of its community.

Stanford Live presents a wide range of the finest performances from around the world, fostering a vibrant learning community and providing distinctive experiences through the performing arts. With its home at Bing Concert Hall and at the historic Frost Amphitheater, Stanford Live draws on the breadth and depth of Stanford University to connect performance to the significant issues, ideas, and discoveries of our time.

The Deputy Director is Stanford Live’s senior operational and administrative leader and a strategic partner to the Executive Director. The Deputy Director is responsible for translating institutional and artistic strategy into effective operational plans, sound financial management, high-performing teams, and exceptional patron experiences. The Deputy Director directly manages and provides strategic leadership to the Production, Operations, Ticketing, and Front-of-House teams, building and empowering strong leadership within each team while fostering communication and collaboration within these teams and across the organization.

Working closely with the Executive Director and in partnership with Stanford University colleagues—including finance, human resources, facilities, development, communications, and other Vice President for the Arts (VPA) units—the Deputy Director oversees the business and operational functions of Stanford Live. This includes budgeting and forecasting; organizational planning; staff management and culture; ticketing and audience services; front-of-house operations; venue operations; food and beverage, merchandise, and vendor relationships; and coordination with production teams, stagehands, and event crews.

The successful candidate will be an experienced arts or public-venue leader with demonstrated success managing complex live events, substantial operating budgets, cross-functional teams, and stakeholder relationships in a mission-driven environment.

In this role you will:

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Management

Serve as a principal thought partner to the Executive Director in developing, implementing, and evaluating Stanford Live’s strategic priorities, annual operating plans, and organizational goals.
Translate artistic, institutional, and audience-development goals into clear operational strategies, timelines, staffing plans, and measurable outcomes.
Lead major cross-functional initiatives, ensuring strong project management, communication, accountability, and follow-through.
Represent Stanford Live in university-wide planning and operational discussions; cultivate productive relationships with campus partners and external stakeholders.
Provide operational leadership during periods of organizational growth, change, or transition.
Act on behalf of the Executive Director, as appropriate, in internal and external meetings and events.

Financial Stewardship and Business Operations

Lead the development and management of Stanford Live’s annual operating budget in partnership with the Executive Director and VPA/University finance partners.
Oversee multi-year financial planning, forecasting, revenue and expense tracking, variance analysis, and regular financial reporting.
Establish and maintain effective financial controls, business processes, and decision-making practices that support fiscal responsibility and mission impact.
Identify opportunities to improve operating efficiency, increase earned revenue, manage costs, and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
Oversee contracting, procurement, vendor selection, and supplier relationships in accordance with University policies and best practices.
Partner with programming, production, ticketing, development, and marketing teams to assess the financial implications of artistic programming, touring, rentals, and special projects.
Ensure timely review of event settlements, financial reconciliation, and post-event performance analysis.

People Leadership, Culture, and Talent Management

Lead, mentor, and develop administrative and operations staff, fostering a collaborative, accountable, inclusive, and service-oriented culture.
Establish clear goals, expectations, performance standards, and professional-development opportunities for direct reports and operational teams.
Partner with VPA and University Human Resources colleagues on recruitment, onboarding, workforce planning, employee relations, performance management, and organizational development.
Build staffing models that support year-round operations and peak performance periods, including management of part-time, temporary, event-based, and contracted personnel as applicable.
Promote a workplace culture grounded in respect, accessibility, equity, belonging, communication, and continuous improvement.
Ensure that teams are prepared to respond effectively to operational challenges, changing event conditions, and emergency situations.

Patron Experience and Public-Facing Operations

Oversee the operational systems and teams responsible for delivering a seamless, welcoming, safe, and accessible patron experience across Stanford Live performances and events.
Provide leadership for ticketing and box office operations, including ticketing strategy, policies, customer service standards, sales reporting, and patron communications.
Oversee front-of-house operations, including ushering, audience services, accessibility accommodations, house management, and event-day customer experience.
Direct operational oversight of merchandise, concessions and food-and-beverage services, as applicable, in partnership with campus and external service providers.
Use patron feedback, sales data, service metrics, and operational observations to continuously improve the audience journey.
Ensure that public-facing operations reflect Stanford Live’s values and strengthen relationships with students, faculty, staff, community members, artists, donors, alumni, and other guests.

Venue, Event, and Production Operations

Oversee venue operations and event-readiness planning for Stanford Live’s performance spaces and related facilities, in coordination with University facilities, public safety, risk management, and external partners.
Partner closely with production leadership to ensure effective coordination among venue operations, technical production, stagehands, crews, artists, presenters, and outside vendors.
Support the planning and execution of complex performances, festivals, special events, rentals, donor events, and community programs.
Ensure appropriate event staffing, operational schedules, guest services, vendor coordination, safety planning, and contingency planning.
Maintain compliance with applicable University policies, labor agreements, safety protocols, licensing requirements, accessibility standards, and local/state regulations.
Lead operational debriefs following major events and implement improvements based on lessons learned.

Advancement, External Relations, and University Engagement

Partner with the Executive Director and development colleagues to support donor cultivation, stewardship, and events.
Participate in donor, alumni, and community-facing activities as an institutional representative of Stanford Live.
Support the operational planning and execution of donor events, alumni gatherings, campus partnerships, and special engagement opportunities.
Build strong relationships with artists’ representatives, promoters, vendors, peer organizations, community partners, and University colleagues

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree in arts administration, business administration, nonprofit management, public administration, or a related field.
Experience in a university-based arts organization, major performing arts center, multidisciplinary presenter, festival, or public assembly venue.
Experience partnering with fundraising or advancement teams and supporting donor cultivation, stewardship, and alumni engagement.
Familiarity with unionized labor environments, including stagehands, technicians, and event crews.
Experience with capital planning, facilities operations, venue renovations, or major operational transitions.
Knowledge of accessibility, risk management, emergency planning, and safety practices for public venues.
Experience using ticketing, CRM, financial-management, and event-management systems to inform strategy and operations.
Seven to ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in performing arts, live entertainment, cultural institutions, higher education, public venues, festivals, or a comparable complex, mission-driven organization.
Demonstrated experience managing operations for live events, public-facing venues, performing arts organizations, or similarly complex event environments.
Significant experience developing and managing large, multi-source operating budgets, forecasts, financial reports, and business plans.
Experience supervising, coaching, and evaluating staff, including building effective teams across multiple functions and work schedules.
Demonstrated experience with operational planning, project management, vendor and contract management, and process improvement.
Knowledge of ticketing, front-of-house, venue operations, event staffing, and audience/customer-service practices.
Strong financial, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a broad range of constituents, including artists, staff, students, faculty, donors, alumni, University leaders, community members, and external vendors.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays in support of performances and events.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
Frequently sitting.
Occasionally stand/walk, reach/work above shoulders, use a telephone, writing by hand, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds;
Rarely twist/bend/stoop/squat, sort/file paperwork or parts, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.

Positions in this job series have managerial responsibility for the administrative and operational effectiveness of non-academic University departments or programs, or for an entire organization; multiple functions and associated staff managed may include business planning, finance, facilities, human resources, information technology, compliance, and health and safety. Individual contributor positions should be assigned to the Administrative Services Administrator series.

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