Manager, Campaign Events

McMaster University; Hamilton; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

McMaster University seeks an experienced Manager, Campaign Events to lead the planning, development, and execution of a comprehensive portfolio of campaign-related events. The role focuses on advancing fundraising priorities, deepening donor engagement, and elevating campaign visibility across faculties and partners.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished event professional with strong relationship-building skills, capable of navigating complex organizational environments and aligning

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Event Management, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Fundraising, or a related field.
• Minimum five to seven years of progressive experience managing complex events and engagement programs.
• Experience working in higher education, fundraising, advancement, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement integrated event strategies that support campaign priorities, fundraising objectives, donor engagement goals, and institutional visibility.
• Translate campaign priorities into engagement opportunities that advance donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Plan and execute pillar events and faculty cultivation events in partnership with development leaders and academic leadership.
• Coordinate pan-university cultivation and engagement events to showcase McMaster's impact and priorities.
• Manage budgets, timelines, venues, production, catering, registrations, accessibility, and vendor relationships.

Skills

Event planning

Relationship management

Budget management

Vendor management

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Undergraduate degree in Event Management

Tools

CRM databases

Event management platforms

Registration systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Career Level

Minimum five to seven years of progressive experience

Job Description

About McMaster:

At McMaster University, we are driven by a shared purpose: advancing human and societal health and wellbeing. Through world-class research, transformative education, and meaningful community impact, we are addressing some of the world's most complex challenges and creating positive change locally and globally.

Consistently ranked among Canada's top universities and recognized internationally for research excellence, innovation, and student success, McMaster is home to more than 37,000 students, over 200,000 alumni worldwide, and a vibrant community of scholars, researchers, learners, and partners. From pioneering discoveries in health sciences and engineering to advancing social innovation and community wellbeing, McMaster's impact extends far beyond our campus.

As we look toward the future, philanthropy will play an increasingly important role in enabling the University's aspirations. Through strategic partnerships with donors, alumni, foundations, corporations, and community leaders, McMaster is creating opportunities to accelerate discovery, enhance student experiences, support breakthrough research, and strengthen its impact on society.

About University Advancement:

University Advancement serves as the bridge between McMaster's mission and the philanthropic community that helps bring that mission to life. Through fundraising, alumni engagement, stewardship, advancement services, and strategic partnerships, University Advancement fosters meaningful relationships that create lasting impact for the University and the communities it serves.

Guided by a commitment to excellence, collaboration, and innovation, University Advancement is building a culture of philanthropy that supports McMaster's strategic priorities and future ambitions. The division is entering an exciting period of growth and opportunity as it continues to strengthen fundraising capacity, deepen donor engagement, and position the University for future campaign success.

About the Role:

The Advancement Campaign team at McMaster University is expanding as the University is preparing for its most ambitious fundraising campaign to date. Led by the Senior Director, the team is recruiting for key roles that will support campaign success through meaningful donor engagement, strategic fundraising initiatives, and effective campaign delivery. Reporting to the Associate Director, Advancement Campaign, the Manager, Campaign Events is responsible for the planning, development, and execution of a comprehensive portfolio of campaign-related events that advance fundraising priorities, deepen donor engagement, and enhance campaign visibility.

This role serves as a key driver of campaign priorities through events and experiences that cultivate, engage, steward, and recognize donors, prospects, volunteers, alumni, and other key interested parties. The Manager will lead campaign pillar event strategies and logistics, and support faculty-specific cultivation events, pan-university engagement initiatives, and major campaign milestones, including campaign launch activities and celebrations.

Working within a highly collaborative environment, the Manager will partner closely with colleagues across University Advancement, faculties, senior leadership, advancement communications, volunteers, and external partners to create meaningful engagement opportunities that support campaign priorities.
The successful candidate is an experienced event professional and relationship builder who thrives in complex environments and is skilled at bringing diverse key interested parties together around a common vision.

Accountabilities:

• Develop and implement integrated event strategies that support campaign priorities, fundraising objectives, donor engagement goals, and institutional visibility.
• Translate campaign priorities and fundraising objectives into impactful engagement opportunities that advance donor cultivation, stewardship, and volunteer engagement.
• Design and execute strategic experiences that move donors and prospects through the fundraising pipeline and strengthen long-term relationships with the University.
• Identify opportunities to leverage existing events as a key opportunity for campaign activation and engagement strategies.
• Ensure all campaign events align with institutional priorities, campaign messaging, and brand standards.

Campaign Event Strategy and Planning

• Lead the planning and execution of campaign pillar events supporting priority fundraising initiatives.
• Develop and support faculty specific cultivation events in partnership with development leaders, faculty advancement teams, Deans, and academic leadership.
• Coordinate pan-university cultivation and engagement events that showcase McMaster's impact and strategic priorities.
• Support major campaign initiatives, including campaign launch activities, milestone celebrations, recognition events, and volunteer engagement opportunities.
• Create exceptional experiences for donors, prospects, alumni, volunteers, senior leaders, and community partners that foster meaningful engagement and philanthropic support.

Key Interested Party Engagement and Collaboration

• Serve as a central resource for campaign-related events across faculties, University Advancement, Communications, senior leadership offices, volunteers, and external partners.
• Build strong relationships with colleagues across Advancement, including Development, Donor Relations, Advancement Communications, Alumni Engagement, Bequests & Planned

Giving, and Advancement Services.

• Collaborate effectively with multiple key interested party groups to align priorities, manage expectations, and achieve shared campaign objectives.

Project Management and Event Operations

• Manage all aspects of event planning and execution, including project timelines, budgets, venue selection, production, catering, registration, accessibility requirements, transportation, risk management, logistics, vendor management, and event communications.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive critical paths for multiple concurrent events and initiatives.
• Monitor event budgets and ensure proper use of resources.
• Establish and continually improve processes, tools, and best practices for campaign event planning and delivery.
• Manage external vendors, consultants, and production partners to ensure high-quality event experiences.

Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

• Support the development of metrics and evaluation frameworks to measure event effectiveness and campaign impact.
• Analyze participation, engagement, and event outcomes to inform future strategies and continuous improvement.
• Prepare post-event reports, budget reconciliations, and recommendations for future initiatives.
• Track event outcomes and contribute strategic insights to broader campaign planning and engagement efforts.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and ongoing support to the Advancement Officer, Pan-University Events & Engagement.
  

Qualifications:

Education:

• Undergraduate degree in Event Management, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Fundraising, or a related field.
• A combination of equivalent education and relevant experience may be considered

Experience:

• Minimum five to seven years of progressive experience managing complex events and engagement programs.
• Experience working in higher education, fundraising, advancement, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations is considered a strong asset.
• Experience planning and executing high-profile events involving multiple key interested party groups and senior leadership.
• Experience supporting donor cultivation, stewardship, fundraising, alumni engagement, sponsorship, or relationship-building initiatives through strategic events.
• Experience managing significant budgets, contracts, vendors, and event logistics.
• Experience working in higher education, fundraising, advancement, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations is considered a strong asset.

Demonstrated success managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Exceptional event planning, logistics, and event execution expertise.
• Strong understanding of donor engagement, cultivation, stewardship, and fundraising best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically design events that support relationship-building and fundraising outcomes.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities, shifting deadlines, and multiple key interested parties.
• Proven ability to operate effectively in complex and evolving environments where priorities may change and ambiguity is common.
• Strong judgment and ability to build processes, recommendations, and solutions when complete information may not be available.
• Highly developed relationship management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries and foster productive relationships among diverse key interested parties.
• Demonstrated success influencing and coordinating teams without direct authority.
• Exceptional attention to detail while maintaining a strategic perspective.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to anticipate challenges and proactively develop solutions.
• Experience working with senior leaders, VIP’s, Deans, faculty members, volunteers, donors, boards, and external partners.
• Experience supporting executive-level events and VIP protocol.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, event management platforms, registration systems, and CRM databases.
• Familiarity with fundraising and advancement systems is considered an asset.
• Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of events.
  

Pay Transparency Statement

The posted hiring range represents McMaster's typical hiring range for this position. Actual starting salary will depend on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, internal equity, and market conditions.

Individuals with extensive experience, deep specialized expertise, and/or those who can demonstrate exceptional past performance, as applicable, may be hired at a higher rate within the full range, in accordance with the University compensation policies.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to [e-mail] or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.

AI Statement

McMaster and its third-party partners may use AI tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the hiring process. Please note that currently our recruitment platform does not use AI nor is it part of our current recommended recruitment process.