Director of Spears Events; HR Meeting​/Event Planner III

Job Description - Director of Spears Events (HR

Title:

Meeting/Event Planner III) (COX)

Job Description

Director of Spears Events (HR

Title:

Meeting/Event Planner III) - ( COX )

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

The William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the SMU Cox School of Business, made possible by the largest gift from a non-alumnus in the history of SMU, has a mission to catalyze the next generation of entrepreneurs and build a lifelong community of experience, relationships, and resources. Through our flagship programs, including the Spears LAUNCH accelerator, Spears Speaker Series, Hilltop Founders Pitch, and Spears Internships, we help student founders grow, succeed, and meet their full potential.

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

Reporting to the Executive Director of the Spears Institute, the Director plays a pivotal role in positioning the Spears Institute as a leading Institute for corporate national and potentially international entrepreneurial leadership events. This individual will provide advanced event support and project management to strengthen the viability and impact of these events on entrepreneurial leadership. The Director will serve as a connector for the Spears Institute events across key areas within the Institute, the Cox School as well as the University.

The scope includes flagship SMU/Cox programs such as the Dallas 100, Southwest Venture Forum and the Spears Demo Day. The Director will also manage strategic partnership events to ensure seamless execution of partnership-related activities.

Create and execute strategies that elevate Spears Institute's reputation as a premier partner for entrepreneurship leadership events. Manage logistics for Institute events, partnership-related events, projects and engagements.

Strategic planning:
Helping create and translate strategic plans into actionable event campaigns and projects. This includes developing promotional plans and collateral while ensuring that all event campaigns are executed on schedule and meet quality standards. The role requires collaboration with internal stakeholders to align all event and sponsorship initiatives.

Event logistics:
Maintains calendars, project trackers, and documentation for external events and sponsor ships. Includes providing performance reporting to the Executive Director and identifying opportunities to improve processes, workflows, and operational efficiencies. These efforts ensure that event activities are organized, data-informed, and aligned with broader Institute objectives.

Cross-functional collaboration & project management:
Coordinate with internal stakeholders to align strategic partnerships with SMU Cox goals. Provide project management support for strategic initiatives and special events tied to partnerships. Identify opportunities for process improvements and implement best practices in business development/prospecting support and CRM utilization.

Evening and weekend hours will be required to oversee events, workshops, meetings and networking engagements.

Travel will be required for events, conferences,…