Assistant Director- Constituent Events - (496628 )

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Houston System is seeking a strategic leader for Constituent Engagement to guide a broad program of donor, alumni, and university events. You will shape goals, monitor progress, and ensure alignment with a multi-year mission.

Responsibilities include directing budgets, coordinating campus partners, and advancing engagement priorities through thoughtful event strategy and outcomes. A strong track record in higher education or fundraising is preferred.

Qualifications

• Requires a 4-year degree or equivalent in-depth training.
• Minimum 3 years directly related experience.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership for a comprehensive portfolio of high-profile donor, alumni, presidential, and university events that advance institutional, fundraising, stewardship, and engagement priorities.
• Leads signature events from concept through evaluation, establishing event strategy, desired outcomes, audience experience, project plans, and measures of success.
• Advises university and division leadership on event strategy, protocol, hospitality, executive engagement, and opportunities to strengthen the donor and alumni experience.
• Directs cross-functional teams and campus partners, ensuring clear roles, accountability, communication, and alignment across all phases of event planning and execution.
• Develops and implements event standards, operational processes, performance metrics, and continuous improvement strategies that enhance efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and the overall quality of the events program.

Education

4-year degree or equivalent

Job description

Department: ConstituentEngagement Salary: Commensurate withExperience/Education

Description

Directs an ongoing university program to ensure that prescribed activities are carried out in accordance with its mission and/or specified objectives. Prepares short- and long-term goals and objectives.

1. Plans, develops and administers methods, strategies and procedures for meeting program objectives; directs and oversees the daily activities of staff members.
2. Prepares and monitors the annual budget and ensures that expenditures are within budget allocation.
3. Directs and coordinates personally, or through subordinate personnel, activities concerned with carrying out the objectives of the program.
4. Directs the preparation of and reviews reports and records of activities to ensure progress is being accomplished towards specified program objectives; modifies or changes methodology as required to redirect activities and attain objectives.
5. Analyzes trends within program areas, maintaining expert awareness of program information and change needs.
6. Formulates, implements, and maintains appropriate policies and procedures concerning program administration.
7. Manages and administers grant for program, including meetings, communication coordination, scholarships and other operations.
8. May prepare or participate in the preparation of proposals to obtain grants from state and federal agencies, and private foundation sponsors.
9. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

MQ: Education: Requires a thorough understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical or professional discipline; or the basic knowledge of more than one professional discipline. Knowledge of the discipline is normally obtained through a formal, directly job-related 4-year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth specialized training program that is directly related to the type of work being performed.

Experience: Requires a minimum of three (3) years of directly job-related experience.

- Department is willing to accept education in lieu of experience.

- Department is willing to accept experience in lieu of education.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership for a comprehensive portfolio of high-profile donor, alumni, presidential, and university events that advance institutional, fundraising, stewardship, and engagement priorities.
• Leads signature events from concept through evaluation, establishing event strategy, desired outcomes, audience experience, project plans, and measures of success.
• Advises university and division leadership on event strategy, protocol, hospitality, executive engagement, and opportunities to strengthen the donor and alumni experience.
• Directs cross-functional teams and campus partners, ensuring clear roles, accountability, communication, and alignment across all phases of event planning and execution.
• Develops and implements event standards, operational processes, performance metrics, and continuous improvement strategies that enhance efficiency, fiscal responsibility, and the overall quality of the events program.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in donor engagement, donor stewardship, fundraising, alumni relations, or higher education advancement is strongly preferred

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security-sensitive and will require a criminal history check.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions.