Description

Summary

The Director of Events provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all public events, festivals, programs, and special activations across Scissortail Park and Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City. This senior-level role is responsible for developing a unified, high-impact event portfolio that advances the mission, brand visibility, earned revenue, and community engagement goals of both properties.

The Director of Events oversees an event team including the Markets Manager, Event Coordinators and Event Specialists who manage the day-to-day planning and execution of individual events at each site. The Director sets vision, standards, systems, and accountability to ensure exceptional, safe, inclusive, and financially responsible events across both venues.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develops and executes a comprehensive, year-round events strategy for both Scissortail Park and Myriad Botanical Gardens that aligns with organizational mission, strategic priorities, and community needs. Events produced by the organization include our markets (farmer’s markets, night markets, etc), our festivals (Tulip Festival, Kite Fest, etc), fitness programming, concert and movie series, seasonal events (Lunar New Year, St. Patrick’s Day, etc) and more.
•  Curates a balanced portfolio of free, low-cost, and ticketed events including festivals, concerts, cultural programs, seasonal celebrations, wellness programs, and special activations across both properties.
• Establishes measurable goals for attendance, revenue, sponsorship integration, membership growth, and guest experience.
• Evaluates existing events and launches new concepts to expand audience reach, enhance quality, and increase earned revenue.
• Directly manages, schedules, and mentors the Markets Manager, Event Coordinators and Event Specialists, providing clear expectations, training, tools, and professional development.
• Assigns events and projects across both properties to ensure balanced workloads and consistent standards.
• Establishes standardized event planning processes, timelines, templates, and best practices across teams.
• Leads regular planning meetings, post-event debriefs, and performance evaluations.
•  Oversees all logistical planning and execution for events at Scissortail Park and Myriad Botanical Gardens, including: site layouts, load-in/load-out, and run-of-show schedules, permitting, licensing, and compliance with City of Oklahoma City requirements, vendor coordination, staging, audiovisual, lighting, power, and infrastructure needs, safety, security, crowd management, risk mitigation, and emergency planning, accessibility, wayfinding, signage, and works with guest services and custodial, maintenance, and horticulture teams.
• Ensures events are executed consistently, safely, and to a high standard regardless of scale or location.
• Develops and manages event budgets across both properties; ensures adherence to approved financial goals.
• Identifies opportunities for earned revenue through ticket sales, vendor fees, sponsorships, concessions, and partnerships.
• Monitors registration, ticket sales, and revenue performance; implements adjustments as needed to meet goals.
• Oversees contract negotiation and execution for performers, vendors, artists, and production partners.
• Oversees the markets at both properties with emphasis on scheduling, logistics, payment processing, and day of coordination handling.
• Collaborates with local artists, cultural organizations, and creative partners to deliver relevant and engaging programming.
• Ensures cohesive programming themes and experiences across both Scissortail Park and the Gardens while respecting the unique identity of each property.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with performers, vendors, sponsors, city partners, nonprofits, and community organizations.
• Recruits, trains, and oversees vendors, volunteers, and talent, ensuring clear communication and expectations.
• Serves as a visible representative of the organization at events and community engagements.
• Provides strategic input on marketing campaigns, event branding, and promotional timelines.
• Supports development and sponsorship efforts by integrating partner benefits into events.
• Oversees post-event reporting across both properties, including attendance, financial performance, operational notes, and guest feedback.
• Supports all other company programs as needed.

Requirements

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Markets Manager
• Events Coordinators
• Event Specialists
• Seasonal Staff

Education and/or Experience

• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience, preferably in a leadership role.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Entertainment Business, or Public Relations is preferred.

Computer Equipment and Software Requirements

• Excellent word processing skills; must have expert-level skills with MS Office, especially Excel.
• Experience in use of standard office equipment.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Valid Oklahoma Driver’s License.

Skills and Abilities Required

• The ideal candidate will be highly energetic, committed, and a sophisticated organizer, implementer, and problem-solver with experience working within a dynamic non-profit organization.
• Must have excellent event planning, administration, financial management, and personnel management skills.
• Strong management skills and the ability to motivate, excite, and educate internal and external resources. This person should also be able to inspire the staff and all others involved at the Park and Gardens to be an effective resource in growth endeavors.
• Capable of developing and implementing clear goals, systems, and priorities.
  Must be highly articulate and diplomatic with strong written and verbal communications skills. An astute, sensitive, and tactful listener.
• Closing Skills, Motivation for Sales, Prospecting Skills, Sales Planning, Selling to Customer Needs, Territory Management, Market Knowledge, Presentation Skills, Energy Level, Meeting Sales Goals, Professionalism.
• Excellent organizational skills, with emphasis on priorities and goal setting.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and statistical analysis software.
• Superior presentation and communication skills, both written and verbal.

Work Environment

Must be able to work both indoors and outdoors. Must be able to work weekends and nights. Some locations visited during the course of executing job duties may not be wheelchair accessible; Requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by event schedules.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit for extended periods.
• Must be able to bend, stoop and lift on occasions.
• Must be able to climb stairs.
• Must be able to walk from office building to Park and Garden facilities.

The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Employer does not to discriminate against any employee or job applicant because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, physical or mental disability, or age.