Director, Advancement Events

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2024-19350
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Alumni Relations and Development

Overview

Reporting to the Deputy Vice President for Alumni Engagement
(DVP), the Director, Advancement Events (“Director”) is
responsible for managing the overall strategic quality and tactical
efficiency of programs and operations across a broad spectrum of
alumni and donor engagement events that support the University’s
highest priorities. These events can range from small gatherings to
large-scale conferences with multiple components and complex
programming designed to increase interest in volunteerism, advocacy
and philanthropy. The Director is a member of the Alumni Engagement
senior leadership team and directly interfaces with Advancement
colleagues as well as with University administration, University
trustees, alumni, donors, prospects, volunteers, faculty, students,
campus partners and vendors.

Princeton University Advancement’s mission is to inform, involve
and inspire Princeton’s global community of alumni and friends to
serve the University and its mission. We rely on strong
partnerships with our volunteers and campus partners. Our strategy
emphasizes the long view, honoring the relationships nurtured by
those who came before us and empowering those who come after us to
successfully build on our efforts.

Princeton University is a vibrant scholarly community with a
longstanding commitment to service. Chartered in 1746, Princeton is
the fourth-oldest college in the United States. As a world-renowned
research university, Princeton pursues the highest levels of
excellence in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and
understanding. It is distinctive among research universities in its
dedication to undergraduate teaching. The University enrolls
approximately 5,200 undergraduate students and 2,600 graduate
students. It has more than 940,000 alumni around the world.

Responsibilities

Department Management

• Direct the administrative and functional operation of the
  events.
• In partnership with the DVP, develop and manage the
  departmental budget (currently 1.5M) using University resources
  effectively and efficiently to accomplish the mission of the office
  in the highest quality manner and direct financial reporting.
• Direct accounts payable processing of event expenses ranging
  from 1.5-3M dollars.
• Manage staffing resources and assignments, drive proactive task
  management and generate timely communication to relevant event
  partners and leadership.
• Lead, manage and coach a professional team responsible for the
  execution of alumni, volunteer and donor engagement events in
  support of the University’s highest priorities.
• Analyze data, create reports and monitor key performance
  indicators. Ensure successful implementation of new registration
  system and other event technology advancements.
• Work with direct reports on strategy and goal setting within
  their teams; recommend changes and improvements; celebrate
  achievements and set expectations for future success; Provide
  regular updates to the DVP on the progress of the above.
• Identify and develop tools to ensure comprehensive event
  planning and execution and increase overall efficiency and customer
  service. Responsible for keeping appraised of industry best
  practices and new technologies. Benchmark with peer educational
  institutions as well as in corporate and non-traditional avenues to
  inspire new, creative ideas and approaches.

Strategic Planning

• Collaborate with Advancement Senior Leadership Team (ASLT), and
  Advancement colleagues to create and deliver strategic events with
  a high standard of excellence, innovation and meticulous attention
  to detail.
• Partner with Director, Strategic Engagement Initiatives and
  ASLT Executive Sponsors to develop a long-range planning calendar
  for Advancement Event activities.
• Direct event activities and processes designed to build
  strategic alignment around goals, objectives and key
  messaging.
• The Director is a member of the Alumni Engagement senior
  leadership team and as such is expected to collaborate with
  colleagues in Advancement Communications and Alumni Engagement to
  provide optimal experiential opportunities.
• Maintain effective relationships with colleagues,
  administrators, faculty, alumni and donors of all levels. Represent
  Alumni Engagement in campus meetings.

Event Execution

• Oversee all aspects of event-based engagement execution
  including project management, event design, vendor management and
  day of event management.
• Conduct site visits and provide on-site staffing for a select
  group of high profile engagement and donor events.
• Partner with Advancement Communications colleagues to design
  and implement effective materials related to the event
  experience.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 8-10 years of professional experience in
  high-profile events management, preferably in higher education or a
  non-profit setting.
• Prior supervisory experience.
• International event planning experience.
• Demonstrated experience as a manager and supervisor of staff,
  including the ability to motivate people, build buy-in around
  organizational goals and decisions, lead teams through change,
  measure and manage performance, facilitate meetings and develop
  processes and policies designed to optimize the effectiveness and
  productivity of the office and its members.
• Exceptional customer-orientation focus and excellent written,
  oral and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to develop and foster relationships with people
  at all levels of an organization, and to collaborate and influence
  at a high level.
• Evidence of self-motivation and the ability to work both
  independently and in teams, with the highest standards of
  professionalism and performance representative of Princeton’s
  commitment to excellence.
• Excellent planning and project management skills necessary to
  set and monitor progress against goals, to develop plans and
  timelines, and to measure success toward goals.
• Ability to respond quickly to changing business needs and
  priorities and to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to produce high-quality and compelling work product
  under tight deadlines and work with a high degree of flexibility in
  a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment.
• Evening and weekend hours as well as domestic and international
  travel may be required.
• Commitment to the University Advancement’s mission of
  informing, involving and inspiring Princeton’s global community of
  alumni and friends to serve the University and its mission and to
  its guiding principles of High Performance, Innovation, Civility
  and Collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with Princeton University, its alumni and its
  traditions
• Familiarity with the principles of fundraising and the
  importance of philanthropy

Princeton University is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified
applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard
to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, national origin, disability status,
protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by
law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

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