Senior Event Operations Manager

Senior Manager, Event Operations

Autodesk is seeking a Senior Manager, Event Operations to lead the operational strategy, planning, and execution of Autodesk University (AU) - our growing annual flagship global customer conference that currently unites over 12K+ designers, engineers, partners and innovators from around the world.

This role is at the heart of our event ecosystem - the operational hub that connects internal workstreams, agency partners, and executive stakeholders. We're looking for a seasoned operator with 8-10+ years of experience producing large-scale global conferences, managing eight-digit budgets, and orchestrating complex cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate is a high-performing, humble leader, someone with executive acumen, operational excellence, and the ability to "read the room." They bring structure, calm, and clarity to complexity; they know how to drive accountability, build relationships, and keep teams focused on the goal.

Responsibilities

Lead and orchestrate the full operational lifecycle of Autodesk University-from initial planning through post-show reconciliation-including venue management, logistics, housing, registration, F&B, production operations, and sustainability initiatives

Serve as the connective tissue across cross-functional internal teams (content, brand, comms, digital, finance, procurement, legal, and IT) and external agency partners-ensuring alignment, accountability, and clarity on deliverables

Own the master timeline and drive progress through weekly core team planning meetings, setting agendas, capturing decisions, and ensuring follow-through across multiple workstreams

Manage complex, multi-million-dollar budgets with rigor and foresight-forecasting accurately, finding efficiencies, and ensuring resources are optimized for maximum impact

Partner with senior executives and cross-functional leaders to communicate program status, surface decisions, and synthesize information succinctly and professionally

Champion continuous improvement-driving innovation in systems, tools, and process design to evolve how Autodesk delivers large-scale experiences year over year

Foster strong, transparent relationships with vendors and agency partners, setting clear expectations and maintaining accountability across all aspects of delivery

Lead on-site operations with calm, confident decision-making, managing teams, timelines, and executive experiences under pressure

Model a "no ego, no drama" mindset-creating a culture of collaboration, accountability, and fun

Minimum Qualifications

8+ years of large-scale event operations or production experience, preferably with a global technology brand or agency

Proven track record managing complex, high-budget events (eight-digit+ portfolios) with excellence and precision

Expertise in timeline and milestone management, including facilitating weekly core planning meetings and building clear operational frameworks

Strong executive communication and presence-able to synthesize complexity into clarity for senior audiences

Deep experience managing cross-functional alignment and collaborating across diverse internal teams and external partners

The Ideal Candidate

A strategic operator who thrives in complex environments and makes order out of chaos

A collaborative leader who builds trust quickly and leads with empathy and accountability

A clear communicator who distills complexity for executives and drives alignment across teams

A calm force under pressure who sets the tone, keeps perspective, and makes others better

A team-first, no-ego professional who takes pride in shared success-and has fun doing it