Director of Operations

Apply now Job no: 538319
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Executive/Director/Management, Recreation/Event Services
Department:  - PC-PHILLIPS CENTER

Classification

Title:

Director of Operations

Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and four years of appropriate experience or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and six years of experience

Job Description:

The University of Florida Performing Arts (UFPA) invites applications for the position of Director of Operations. This is a unique opportunity to provide senior operational leadership for a nationally recognized performing arts program at one of the country’s top public universities, while shaping exceptional experiences for artists, patrons, students, and the broader community.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Operations plays a critical leadership role overseeing event operations, venue management, safety and security, and a large, diverse workforce across UFPA’s multiple performance venues. This position is ideal for a collaborative, strategic, and highly organized arts operations professional who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and is excited to lead complex live events at scale.

The University of Florida, the state’s flagship institution, is a top-ranked public research university located in Gainesville, Florida. With 16 colleges, a major academic health center, and championship-winning athletics, UF is a leader in education, research, and innovation. Its 2,000-acre campus integrates historic charm with state-of-the-art facilities and preserved natural spaces, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Ranked 7th among U.S. public universities in the 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, UF continues to drive advancements across multiple fields.

With over 60,000 students, 32,000 employees, and a $10 billion annual budget, UF is among the largest and most well-funded universities in the nation. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), UF boasts 6,600+ faculty, including National Academy members and award-winning scholars. In 2024, UF research expenditures surpassed $1.26 billion, demonstrating a strong commitment to discovery and technological advancement.

The university leads in artificial intelligence education, incorporating AI into 200+ courses taught by 350 faculty, supported by Hi Per Gator , the most powerful university-owned supercomputer in the U.S.

University of Florida Performing Arts (UFPA) is one of the country’s leading university presenters, dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural hub for world-class performances and artistic experiences for the University of Florida campus and the North Central Florida community. More than just a “presenter”, UFPA believes the performing arts are for everyone, offering a diverse season of music, dance, theatre, and spoken word that inspires, educates, and connects audiences while reflecting the richness of global artistic expression.

Performances take place across several distinctive venues: the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, featuring a 1,700-seat mainstage theatre with reception foyers and an intimate UpStage cabaret setting; the Squitieri Studio Theatre a black box style theatre with approximately 200 seats; the historic University Auditorium, celebrated for its acoustics with seating for around 840 ; and the Baughman Center, an elegant serene space accommodating about 96 guests for smaller events and community gatherings.

As a dynamic university unit, UFPA supports academic programming and fosters meaningful engagement through the arts, welcoming both campus and community audiences. Patron experience, accessibility, and hospitality are central to UFPA’s mission, which also includes a strong commitment to community engagement through arts education, school partnerships, and outreach programs that bring creativity directly to students and area residents. UFPA’s mission is to bring moments of meaning to life.

The Director of Operations…