Managing Director of Events & Exhibits

The University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, is one of the nation’s premiere university-based public gardens and a treasured community resource. Located in Chaska, MN, the Arboretum spans 1,200 acres featuring 49 display and specialty gardens and draws approximately 700,000 visitors annually alongside 35,000 household memberships. The Arboretum offers a diverse range of educational programs and seasonal public events, including the Spring Flower Show, Maple Fest, Apple Fest, and Winter Lights. Additionally, private rentals for both personal and organizational events contribute significantly to its revenue and community engagement efforts. Experiencing significant growth in recent years, the Arboretum is committed to innovating and expanding its event portfolio in alignment with its mission of community connection and environmental education.

This is a 12-month, full-time position located at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving on the Arboretum’s Leadership Team, the Managing Director of Events & Exhibits plays a key strategic and operational leadership role. This role is responsible for the centralized management of the Arboretum's public festivals, special exhibits, and private group rentals. The Managing Director ensures the delivery of a seamless, high-quality portfolio of experiences that reflect the Arboretum’s mission, connecting guests, members, donors, clients, partners, and the broader community. The successful candidate will oversee the full event lifecycle—from creative design and planning through execution and evaluation—while emphasizing operational excellence, accessibility, and community impact.

Functioning as a collaborative leader, the Managing Director will work closely with department heads and subject matter experts across the organization to visualize the portfolio and build consensus. The position involves hands-on event execution leadership, managing a dynamic team consisting of full-time, part-time, and temporary employees while fostering a culture of respect, safety, clear communication, excellent customer service, and teamwork. The Managing Director also provides departmental support for related major events and conferences. Active participation on Arboretum-wide committees and contributing to future strategic planning initiatives are additional responsibilities.

This position requires expertise in event strategy and portfolio oversight with a focus on developing and championing a coordinated vision that elevates the Arboretum’s mission and inspires diverse audiences. The Managing Director will direct excellence in planning, execution, and evaluation of events, in partnership with the marketing and communications teams to promote offerings and maintain an annual event calendar that balances operational capacities across departments. The role demands financial and operational oversight including budget management, vendor and contract administration, and ensuring compliance with health, safety, accessibility, data privacy, and university policies. Leadership responsibilities extend to managing and mentoring a team of event project managers, fostering volunteer involvement, encouraging cross-functional collaboration, and building relationships with sponsors, partners, and community organizations to support inclusive programming.

The role is ideal for a strategic, outcomes-driven leader with a collaborative approach, demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion, and the ability to anticipate challenges and respond under pressure. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and non-traditional hours is essential to oversee the full spectrum of events effectively. This position is an exciting opportunity to lead the evolution of a world-class event portfolio within an esteemed cultural and educational institution, making a significant impact on community engagement and public programming at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.