Associate Director of the Sesquicentennial (112822)

Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) supports Johns Hopkins’
focus on research, teaching and patient care, and its role as a
national and global leader in higher education. We create and
foster enduring relationships that result in advocacy and
philanthropic support for Johns Hopkins University & Medicine;
strengthening the institution through partnerships with donors,
alumni, volunteer leaders, faculty, students, staff, and
patients.

 
Johns Hopkins University supports a flexible work
model that includes four different work modalities. This role has
an on-site work arrangement with an onsite presence of 4 days per
week. The manager will confirm the team’s core onsite days where
the majority/all team members will work in the office. Employees
who travel on university business can count those days towards
their onsite days.
 

The Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of Johns Hopkins is an
important milestone. One that will celebrate the legacy of our
achievements, underscore our current Ten for One Strategic Plan,
and build on the momentum of our new comprehensive Campaign. The
Johns Hopkins 150th will celebrate our rich history, promote the
present strategy, and envision the future of Johns Hopkins
University and Medicine.

 

Everyone in every corner of the institution – faculty, staff,
students, alumni, grateful patients, volunteers, community members
and friends – will be given a variety of opportunities to
participate in the celebrations and to learn more about this great
institution and its impact on the world. Awareness and
participation are our two primary goals while also providing
integration with the University’s fundraising campaign. We will
build and implement a plan for comprehensive saturation of 150th
content, promotion, and engagement at every level of every
department, in every school, and on all campuses.

 

This position offers an opportunity to be part of an exciting
celebration – Johns Hopkins University Sesquicentennial. The role
is suited for someone who thrives in a startup environment, has
strong diplomatic and collaborative skills, understands board
dynamics, leadership management, understands the complex
central-decentralized landscape of Johns Hopkins University, and
whose talents combine entrepreneurial creativity with meticulous
attention to detail.

 

This is a highly visible position that is responsible for
supporting the AVP’s activities around Sesquicentennial Advisory
Board and volunteer development, university-wide leadership and
divisional meetings, and working with the outside vendor regarding
timeline and deliverables.

This position will support the Associate Vice President (AVP)
for the Sesquicentennial Celebration in executing the
university-wide engagement strategy for the Sesquicentennial.

 
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate, develop, and staff the Sesquicentennial Advisory
  Board and activities related to the Sesquicentennial. The Advisory
  Board will include students, faculty, staff, grateful patients,
  donors, community partners, and alumni.
• Partner with university stakeholders and divisional leadership
  to schedule activities and programming around the
  sesquicentennial.
• Plan and execute three proposed university-wide events: the
  sesquicentennial year kick-off celebration, the sesquicentennial on
  Founders Day, and the closing event. These events are tentatively
  scheduled for September/October 2025, February 2026, and
  September/October 2026.
• Present the Sesquicentennial Celebration to members of a
  broader community, including university-wide leadership,
  development professionals, donors, advisory board members and their
  staffs, volunteers, etc.
• Support and collaborate with the AVP of the Sesquicentennial
  Celebration on the following projects:
• Schedule meetings with university leadership and the
  Sesquicentennial Advisory Board.
• Draft agendas, prepare presentations and materials, capture
  notes and next steps, manage and coordinate follow-up communication
  including thank-you letters when appropriate.
• Draft standard and personalized communications on behalf of the
  AVP for the Sesquicentennial.
• Manage highly confidential and sensitive materials that often
  require independent judgement and action.
• Partner with the outside consultant to prepare presentations
  and materials for university leadership meetings.
• Work closely with the Project Manager to implement production
  timelines, ensuring all events are executed to the highest degree
  of excellence, accuracy, professionalism, and customer
  service.
• Independently develop invitation lists for each university-wide
  event, based on planning discussions and pre-determined goals, and
  share with the AVP for the Sesquicentennial.
• Draft and finalize invitations, and other event materials
  including online event engagement platforms while maintaining
  continuity and consistency of the university’s brand.
• Track attendance, guest lists, and seating assignments.
• Support the research, identification, cultivation and
  solicitation of VIP participants.
• Partner with the Development and Alumni Relations Campaign
  Office regarding the kickoff event in September/October 2025, which
  will also include a public launch of the fundraising campaign.
• Prepare briefings for special events, specifically for the
  President, Provost, Deans, and other leadership, including
  producing initial drafts, overseeing creation of all collateral
  materials and remarks. Manage attendees listing and bios, and
  securing approvals according to university protocols.
• Conduct research on vendors, venues, and other event aspects as
  needed. Source vendors as needed and maintain positive vendor
  relationships.
• Oversee the final event arrangements with the Sesquicentennial
  coordinator by conducting walk-through with caterer and other
  vendors as required. Determine necessary venue preparation,
  catering schedule, rental drop-off/pick-up, entertainment, dcor,
  parking and public safety, communications, multimedia needs,
  equipment needs, and other issues.
• Enter relevant data into the central Client Relationship
  Management (CRM) system. Retrieve and analyze reports obtained from
  same.
• Partner with the AVP to develop and create the final report and
  gather all materials that need to be submitted to the University
  Archives.
• Serve as a central liaison with a warm and confident manner to
  help colleagues across the university, in particular Donor and
  Alumni Relations (DAR), understand the programming and external
  outreach of the Sesquicentennial Celebration, and the opportunities
  they provide for the university as a whole.

 

This position may require evening and weekend
work.

This is a three-year assignment that ends
December 31, 2026.

This is a hybrid role that is expected to
work onsite at least four days each week.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Four years related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for experience to the
  extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Skilled at working with diverse groups of people.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, mission-focused nonprofit
  environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative team
  while showing strong initiative to reach individual goals, as well
  as support overall team goals.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work on multiple projects and
  events simultaneously.
• Ability to ‘manage up’ and support leadership/Board members and
  ‘manage’ colleagues across the institution in achieving projects on
  deadline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and superior
  attention to detail.
• Must be able to work in a dynamic environment and, possess high
  levels of creativity and energy.
• Ability to lift boxes etc. as needed for event set-up and
  break-down.

 

All applicants are expected to uphold the university’s core
values which includes diversity and inclusion. All staff treat
people with dignity and respect by being fair and consistent. We
demonstrate an open-minded approach to understanding people
regardless of their race, gender, age, national origin, religion,
ethnicity, disability status or other characteristics. We show
respect for the beliefs and traditions of others; encourage and
promote practices that support cultural diversity; and discourage
behaviors or practices that may be perceived as unfair, biased, or
critical toward people with certain backgrounds.