Responsibilities
• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of complex external events, including regional conferences, trade shows, and partner-hosted programs.
• Act as production lead for select proprietary MBZUAI events, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with overall event objectives.
• Provide senior-level operational support to institutional events during peak delivery periods, serving as escalation point and execution backup.
• Oversee detailed production timelines, run-of-show development, vendor coordination, and on-site execution to ensure seamless delivery.
• Escalate risks, dependencies, and decisions appropriately to the Director of Events.
Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Communications, or a related field or equivalent professional experience.
• 8+ years of experience delivering complex, external-facing events, including conferences, trade shows, summits, and hosted partner programs.
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end event production, including venue sourcing, vendor management, budgets, timelines, and on-site execution.
• Experience delivering events in the UAE or region, including familiarity with local vendors, venues, permitting, protocol, and production workflows.
• Strong track record managing multiple stakeholders across internal teams, agencies, and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions and resolve issues in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
• Experience working with production vendors, AV teams, and agencies.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with event management tools and standard productivity software tools, as well as standard office productivity software (e.g., MS Office).
Preferred Qualifications
• Global event experience across multiple geographies.
• Background in higher education, technology, research, or similarly complex institutional environments.
• Background in agencies, technology, corporate, or large-scale public and cultural events.
About the Company
MBZUAI is a pioneering university focused on artificial intelligence, offering cutting-edge research, academic programs, and innovation initiatives to drive technological advancement and societal impact in the UAE and beyond.
