Officer, Special Events

Dance Ontario; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Ballet of Canada seeks an Officer for Special Events to assist in planning and executing a diverse portfolio of donor and company events. This role requires event management experience and strong communication skills, emphasizing creativity and organization in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will support various fundraising initiatives and be involved in the coordination of the Annual Gala, enhancing community engagement through arts and culture.

Benefits

Complimentary performance tickets

Qualifications

• 3 years events experience, preferably within a not-for-profit.
• Must have Smart Serve training.
• Understanding and appreciation for the arts and fundraising is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of 35-45 events for donor groups.
• Support donor committees as the Special Events representative.
• Coordinate administration and logistics for the Annual Fundraising Gala.

Skills

Communication

Organization

Creativity

Technical intuition

Education

Post-secondary education in special events, fundraising, hospitality

Tools

Microsoft Office

Tessitura

Job description

The National Ballet of Canada is one of the most exciting, innovative arts institutions in Canada, and is regularly ranked among the top ten ballet companies in the world. Established by founder Celia Franca in 1951, The National Ballet of Canada presents a full range of traditional full-length classics and has been an innovative commissioner of new contemporary work by some of the most important choreographers and designers in the world. The National Ballet is deeply committed to the values of equity, diversity and inclusion across the organization, and through community education programs that bring dance to the broadest possible community.

The Officer, Special Events is responsible for assisting and supporting the Manager, Special Events & Corporate Partnerships with the planning and execution of donor and company events, in addition to providing full support for the annual Fundraising Gala. A large part of the Officer’s position includes coordinating the MAD HOT BALLET Gala administration, acting as committee liaison and assisting on a variety of Gala-related projects.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Leading the planning and execution of an event portfolio of 35-45 events for mid to high-end donor groups throughout the year (in-person, virtual and hybrid)
• Supporting donor committees by acting as the Special Events representative at meetings throughout the year
• Assisting with company events as needed and working with the Manager, Special Events & Corporate Partnerships on best practices and administration for the department
• Supporting the Gala Committee by arranging meetings, preparing, and distributing meeting agendas and minutes, managing mailing lists, sending out invitations and tracking RSVP’s
• Playing a lead role, alongside the Manager, Special Events & Corporate Partnerships in the coordination, administration and logistics for the Annual Fundraising Gala, including, but not limited to liaising with caterers, sponsors and other vendors leading up to and on the day of the gala as well as on-site logistics, set up and tear down
• Other tasks and responsibilities as required

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary education in special events, fundraising, hospitality, or related field
• 3 years events experience, preferably within a not for profit
• Must have Smart Serve training
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Publisher)
• Experience with databases (Tessitura) considered an asset
• Must have experience with virtual events
• Understanding as well as an appreciation for the arts and fundraising within the city of Toronto, considered an asset
• A creative mindset, with the ability to think outside the box, work independently as well as part of a team and experience working with large- and small-scale budgets and resources
• Highly organized, with ability to manage a variety of tasks with multiple deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills to interact and communicate with senior donors, volunteers, National Ballet staff and board members
• Technical intuition is an asset
• Perform well under pressure and in a fast-paced environment

Work Requirements:

• Primarily work out of our main office, The Walter Carsen Centre located at 470 Queens Quay West, Toronto
• Occasional work out of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts located at 145 Queen St West, Toronto
• Standard office environment with operational hours between Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00 pm
• Evening and weekend work required based on the event and theatre schedule
• Position requires occasional moderate to heavy physical activity, ability to lift up to 30 lbs for setup and tear down of events
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking during events
• Staff are currently working in a hybrid model of office and remote work.
• Available to begin immediately

Compensation:

• Salary of $60,000 to $70,000 per annum, commensurate with experience
• Complimentary performance tickets

Qualified candidates are to forward their resume, cover letter and salary expectations as a single PDF document to [e-mail] with the subject heading:“Officer, Special Events” by no later than June 16, 2023. Resumes will be reviewed as soon as they are received.We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check. The National Ballet of Canada recognizes its heightened duty to protect employees from health and safety risks. As such, an offer of employment shall be conditional on proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with a vaccine series approved by Health Canada or the World Health Organization.

The National Ballet of Canada is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible, and equitable environment where employees feel valued and respected. We are committed to reflect the diversity of our community, our city and our country. We strive to ensure our recruitment and selection processes are bias-free. We welcome and encourage submissions from Indigenous, Black and People of Colour, the Deaf and disabled as well as individuals of all genders, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We are committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The Human Resources department will work with applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process.