Director of Special Events

ABOUT PARK AVENUE ARMORY
Part American palace, part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory is
dedicated to supporting unconventional works in the visual and
performing arts that need non-traditional spaces for their full
realization, enabling artists to create, students to explore, and
audiences to experience epic and adventurous presentations that
cannot be mounted elsewhere in New York City. Park Avenue Armory
provides opportunities for employees to enrich and develop their
love of the arts while contributing their specific skills,
expertise, and talents. www.armoryonpark.org

ABOUT THE POSITION
Working in conjunction with the Armory’s Chief Development Officer
and the larger Development team, the Director of Special Events
leads the fundraising, planning, design, and execution of high-end
events for major donors, sponsors, and members of the Armory, most
importantly the high-profile annual Gala that hosts up to 700
donors. This position is a full-time role, and primary
responsibilities include strategic fundraising for 4-6 benefit
events annually, designing, managing, and executing 50-70 events
per year, project and deadline management, team management, and
building strong relationships with Board members, donors, and other
stakeholders.

The Director leads a small but entrepreneurial Special Events
team, which manages and supports opening nights and events for
member groups and artists, the annual Gala, Snowflake Lounge, and
benefit dinners. This position oversees a Special Events
Manager.

Due to the nature of this role and interaction with
staff across the organization, this is a fully on-site role.
Regular evening and some weekend work is required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Design and oversee the Armory’s fundraising events that raise
over $3 Million including an annual Gala, holiday family
fundraiser, and production-specific benefit events; the Gala is a
collaborative project involving the full organization and is led by
the President.
• Manage a portfolio of cultivation and private events including
the Armory’s membership groups: participating in conceiving the
events, leading the logistics of these events, and overseeing the
execution of them along with the additional Special Events
staff.
• Coordinate all back-office administration items including
contracts and agreements with vendors and those throwing the events
(for private events)
• Manage invitation strategy and implementation for all major
events, oversee and approve communication and marketing materials,
and event follow-up to achieve desired outcomes.
• Along with the Development leadership, galvanize support for
fundraising events by building special engagement with committee
leadership, event leadership, and the committees themselves.
• Proactively use Tessitura (the fundraising CRM) to store
fundraising and events data.
Thompson Arts Center at Park Avenue Armory tendersglobal.net 643 Park Avenue New
York, NY 10065
• Directly supervise at least one staff member, as well as
contractors and vendors, to build a dynamic events team, including
managing schedules, assigning projects and tasks, and ensuring work
is completed in a professional and timely manner.
• Perform other responsibilities as needed and directed, including
but not limited to working other events and programs and staffing
the patrons table during performances.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to
perform each essential function to a high professional standard.
Ideal candidates will be organized, motivated, high-energy,
hands-on self-starters who work well within a fast-paced
environment.
• Knowledgeable advocate for the arts with exceptional planning and
organizational skills. Results and detail-oriented with the ability
to set and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of fundraising cultivation, solicitation, and
stewardship strategies and techniques
• Ability to engage diplomatically with and engender the trust of
donors, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to move initiatives forward without all the answers
upfront.
• Flexible and adaptable work style with the ability and
willingness to work nights and weekends as necessary, manage
competing demands, and work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, and proactively manage
multiple priorities and projects with tight and changing
deadlines.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and excellent written and verbal
communication skills
• Sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion in handling
confidential information and sensitive matters.
• Strong proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, including
Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as in internet
research; Tessitura experience is a plus.
• This position requires on-site presence 5 days a week, plus
weekends and evenings as necessary.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
• 8+ years’ experience in non-profit fundraising events for at
least 500 guests, preferably in creative and dynamic settings, or
the equivalent combination of education, training, and transferable
experience to successfully perform essential functions of the
job.
• A bachelor’s degree is desirable, but experience is the most
important qualification.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY &
INCLUSION
Research shows that women and people from traditionally excluded
groups often apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the
qualifications. We recognize that it is highly unlikely that
someone meets 100% of the qualifications for a role. If much of
this job posting describes you, then please apply for this
role.

Park Avenue Armory provides equal opportunity to all employees and
applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion,
creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age,
mental or physical disability, pregnancy, alienage or citizenship
status, marital status or domestic partner status, genetic
information, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender
identity, HIV status, military status and any other category
protected by law in all employment decisions, including but not
limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and
apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading,
transfer, lay-off and termination, and all other terms and
conditions of employment.