Assistant Director, High-Impact Special Events

Macalester College; United States; Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance for dependents

Retirement plan contributions

Health insurance

Job summary

Macalester College is seeking an Assistant Director of Special Events to oversee planning for high-level campus and off-site events, including presidential engagements and reunion activities.

The role collaborates with campus liaisons to align event strategy with fundraising goals, manages logistics, registrations, and materials, and supports event success with detailed planning and on-site problem-solving.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree required.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in staging and coordinating special events, conferences, or meeting planning and/or administrative support.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and manages the implementation of assigned events, reducing potential problems through strategic planning and ensuring that tactics are completed successfully.
• Organizes and produces information for various projects, events, and reports; prepares and distributes event planning documents at planning meetings.
• Maintains event files, procedures, and manuals.
• Assists staff, faculty, and alumni with logistics for out-of-town events, including venue identification, vendor negotiations, event contracts, and communication with the event lead.
• Occasional travel to serve as the point person for off-site events.
• Implements events within budget and oversees payment processes.
• Oversees Presidential Events logistics and event implementation within the President’s home and Briggs House.
• Coordinates other projects and provides progress updates to the Director of Special Events.
• Engages in Macalester’s culture of diversity and inclusion.

Skills

Independent work

Team leadership

Event planning

Communication skills

Organization

Education

Associate’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Docs

CRM databases

Job description

Macalester College is seeking an Assistant Director of Special Events to oversee planning for high-level campus and off-site events, including presidential engagements and reunion activities.

The role collaborates with campus liaisons to align event strategy with fundraising goals, manages logistics, registrations, and materials, and supports event success with detailed planning and on-site problem-solving.