Assistant Director, Membership Experience and Events

Chapman University; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Chapman University is seeking an Assistant Director of Membership Experience and Events to oversee growth of membership groups, enhance constituent engagement, and lead event planning and fundraising efforts on campus.

The role collaborates with volunteer leaders, University Advancement colleagues, and campus stakeholders to advance philanthropic support through strategic administration, communications, and program development. This is a full-time, on-campus role based in California.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of three years professional experience in event planning in a nonprofit or higher education setting.
• Volunteer management experience required; experience with governing boards strongly desired.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with others.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Knowledge and skill to develop collateral and other materials, with an ability to manage social media platforms.
• Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy and maintain a high level of confidentiality and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the staff liaison for university-affiliated membership groups and their volunteer leadership boards, committees, and members.
• Drive group development and growth through membership recruitment and retention best practices, and fundraising and engagement-focused programming.
• Collaborate with University Advancement colleagues and campus stakeholders to identify opportunities to increase membership and align philanthropic interests with priorities.
• Advise volunteer leaders in board development, succession planning, governance best practices, and alignment with university priorities.
• Provide operational oversight of membership group financial activities and manage contracts, budgets, and revenue tracking.
• Ensure gifts and financial transactions are documented and compliant with university policies.
• Coordinate meetings, prepare materials and communications, and maintain membership records and data.
• Meet established membership and engagement goals as determined by AVP and leadership.

Skills

Event planning

Volunteer management

Communication

Project management

Budget monitoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title: Assistant Director, Membership Experience and Events

Position Type: Regular

Job Number: SA92224

Full or Part Time: full-time 40 hours weekly

Fair Labor Standard Act Classification: Exempt

Anticipated Pay Range: $78,000-$82,000

Pay Range Information: Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate ofthe compensation range for this position. This range takes intoaccount a variety of factors that are considered in makingcompensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and otherbusiness and organizational needs. Salary offers are determinedbased on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience, aswell as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipatedpay range is not a promise of a particular wage.

Job Description Summary

The Assistant Director of Membership Experience and Events leadsthe day-to-day management and growth of Chapman University’sphilanthropic membership support groups, including Women of Chapmanand Town & Gown. The position partners with volunteer leaders, University Advancement colleagues, and campus stakeholders to growmembership, strengthen and enhance the constituent experience, andadvance philanthropic support through effective groupadministration, fundraising, events, and communications. The Assistant Director reports to the Assistant Vice President of Constituent Engagement and is a member of the Engagement and Volunteerism team.

Responsibilities

Membership Experience and Administration

• Serve as the staff liaison for university-affiliated membershipsupport groups and their volunteer leadership boards, committees,and members, including: Women of Chapman and Town & Gown.
• Drive group development and growth through membershiprecruitment and retention best practices, and fundraising andengagement focused programming.
• Collaborate with University Advancement colleagues and campusstakeholders to identify and leverage opportunities to increasesupport group membership among constituents and align philanthropicinterests with institutional priorities.
• In partnership with the AVP, support and advise volunteerleaders in board development, succession planning, governance bestpractices, and alignment with group mission and universitypriorities.
• Provide operational oversight of membership group financialactivities, partnering with Advancement Operations to managecontracts, expense requests, reconciliations, budget and revenuetracking, and financial reporting in accordance with universityfiscal policies.
• Ensure membership group gifts and related financialtransactions are appropriately documented and processed, partneringwith Gift Administration as needed to ensure compliance withuniversity gift acceptance policies.
• Provide comprehensive administrative and operational supportfor assigned membership groups, including coordinating board andcommittee meetings; preparing meeting materials, mailings, andmember communications; maintaining membership records and data;managing membership renewals; and tracking committee priorities andaction items to ensure timely follow-up and completion.
• Meet established membership and engagement goals as determinedby the AVP and University Advancement leadership.

Event Management and Fundraising

• Manage an assigned portfolio of events, including support groupevents and programs, from planning through execution and follow-up,including budgets, venue and vendor coordination, invitations andregistration, briefing materials, and on-site execution andcoordination.
• Lead and support volunteer event committees, partner withchairs and members to establish priorities, coordinate planning,facilitate decision-making, and ensure successful execution.
• Develop and implement event fundraising strategies inpartnership with volunteer leaders and University Advancementcolleagues, including sponsorships, underwriting, in-kind gifts,and other philanthropic support, while ensuring alignment with giftadministration and stewardship policies and best practices.
• Partner with the AVP, Prospect Management and Research, andfrontline fundraisers to strategically develop invitation lists andto identify prospective event hosts and sponsors.
• Support university-wide signature events and advancementinitiatives as directed by the AVP .
• Meet established event revenue and fundraising goals asdetermined by the AVP and University Advancement leadership.

Strategic Communications

• Partner with Strategic Marketing and Communications ( SMC ) to develop communications and marketing strategies for assignedsupport groups, creating compelling content that inspires actionand drives membership, engagement, and philanthropic support.
• Execute communications and marketing strategies across digitaland print channels, including email, web, social media, printmailings, and other promotional materials.
• Share timely information on membership support group events,programs, and initiatives with University Advancement colleaguesand campus partners.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of three years professionalexperience in event planning in a nonprofit or higher educationsetting; experience planning and executing fundraising eventsstrongly preferred.
• Volunteer management experience required; experience withgoverning boards strongly desired.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonalskills, with the ability to collaborate effectively withothers.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, withexceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Knowledge and skill to assist in the development of collateraland other materials, with an ability to manage social mediaplatforms.
• Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy and maintain a highlevel of confidentiality and customer service.

Desired Qualifications

• Ability to prepare, monitor and reconcile budgets andexpenses.
• Has a working knowledge of Chapman University policies andprocedures.

At Chapman University, we believe collaboration thrives throughin-person engagement. This position is fully on campus, andemployees work alongside colleagues, faculty, students, and staffeach day to support our vibrant university community.

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that providesequal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless oftheir protected characteristics. All qualified applicants andemployees are encouraged to apply and will receive considerationfor employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex,sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, nationalorigin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mentaldisability, medical condition, military and veteran status, maritalstatus, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristicprotected by state or federal law.

Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currentlyauthorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completionand outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning tothe Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.