Director, Garden Events

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).

The mission of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is to be a garden for all that enriches lives through beauty, learning, and connection. The Arboretum is a world-class sanctuary where people and plants flourish in the natural environment.

The Dallas Arboretum is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, military or veteran status, genetic characteristics or disability unrelated to job performance.