Overview
Director, Strategic Events, TEX-E Jobs in Houston, TX at TEX-E The Texas Exchange for Energy and Climate Entrepreneurship
Title: Director, Strategic Events, TEX-E
Company: TEX-E The Texas Exchange for Energy and Climate Entrepreneurship
Location: Houston, TX
About TEX-E
TEX-E (Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy) is a nonprofit initiative uniting leading Texas universities and energy stakeholders to foster energy innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development. Through student programs, events, and partnerships, TEX-E helps accelerate the energy transition by empowering the next generation of energy entrepreneurs.
Who You Are
You do whatever it takes to get the job done right — nimble, flexible, and scrappy when plans change at the last minute, and relentlessly outcome-driven when it counts most. Every moving piece stays on schedule under your watch, so nothing slips through the cracks. You work openly and collaboratively, communicate with transparency, and bring the confidence to make the call and lead in the room without waiting for permission. People light up when they see you coming — you make every sponsor, student, and teammate feel genuinely seen and valued. You hold a clear vision for where TEX-E is headed, and you build toward it in the work you do today.
Position Overview
The Director, Strategic Events owns TEX-E's event strategy and execution end to end, and is the organization's lead voice on program and event operations. This role reports to the Executive Director and works in close partnership with the TEX-E Fellowship Program Manager — providing meaningful support across fundraising, communications, and stakeholder engagement — while holding full ownership and decision-making authority over how TEX-E's events and student programs come together. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, decisive operator: creative, organized, detail-oriented, and energized by leading (not just supporting) high-stakes, high-visibility programming in a mission-driven environment.
This position is a full-time temporary role with the opportunity to transition to a regular staff position after three months based on performance.
Key Responsibilities
Event Leadership & Student Program Management
- Lead planning and execution of all TEX-E events, including TEX-E Fellows recruiting, internship application and selection, student pitch competitions, workshops, and networking sessions — serving as the organization's owner of program and event strategy.
- Own the flagship annual events held each August, October, and March, from concept through post-event debrief, with full authority over format, vendors, and budget.
- Direct all event logistics — venue selection, catering, registration, communications, run-of-show coordination, and day-of execution — as the final decision-maker on event operations.
- Partner directly with university stakeholders and student leaders to shape programming and engagement strategy, representing TEX-E as the primary point of contact for event-related matters.
- Own event budgets, attendance tracking, and outcomes reporting, using data to continuously improve program quality and ROI.
- Build and maintain the processes, templates, and systems that let TEX-E's event portfolio scale as the organization grows.
Fundraising and Development Support
- Support the Executive Director in managing a growing sponsor and donor portfolio.
- Draft materials for sponsorship proposals, grant attachments, and partner communications.
- Maintain donor and contact records in TEX-E's CRM; track contributions and acknowledgments.
- Coordinate sponsor benefits — including branding, deliverables, and recognition — as the on-the-ground owner during events.
- Own ongoing stewardship of TEX-E's corporate sponsorships — including renewal check-ins, recognition touchpoints, and relationship continuity between events — so sponsor relationships stay warm year-round rather than only around event cycles. New sponsor and grant prospecting remains with the Executive Director; this role owns the relationship once a sponsorship is secured.
- Assist in compiling fundraising metrics and reporting for board and funder updates.
Communications and Operations
- Collaborate with TEX-E's marketing contractor to promote events, sponsorships, and student stories.
- Manage event timelines and shared calendars to ensure alignment across TEX-E programs.
- Support general office operations and special projects as assigned by the Executive Director.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required; relevant entrepreneurship engagement a plus.
- 5+ years of experience leading event planning or program management, with a track record of owning events end to end rather than assisting on them.
- Passion for entrepreneurship, the student journey, education, and the future of energy innovation.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to lead multiple concurrent projects.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident interacting with diverse stakeholders and comfortable being the final decision-maker in the room.
- Comfortable using CRMs (e.g., Salesforce), Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Canva, project management tools, and social media.
- Flexible and resourceful, with a willingness to do what it takes to ensure successful events and partner experiences.
- Takes initiative, follows through on commitments, and holds themselves accountable for high-quality outcomes.
- Brings energy and focus to a high-velocity environment, leading and prioritizing concurrent projects with composure and clarity.
Travel: Occasional in-state travel to university campuses in Texas; evening and weekend hours will be required during peak events.
Why Join TEX-E
This role is an opportunity to work on the front lines of energy innovation, connecting students, startups, and industry partners driving real change. TEX-E offers a collaborative, professional work environment with opportunities for professional growth. TEX-E is growing, and there is significant career progression opportunity for the successful candidate.
Location: Houston, Texas
Term: Full-Time role after a three-month evaluation period
Reports to: Executive Director
Key Partnership: Works in close, ongoing collaboration with the TEX-E Fellowship Program Manager
Medical and other employee benefits are available upon conversion to a full-time role following the three-month evaluation period.
Start Date: September 2026
