Assistant Director, University Events

Seattle University; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle University seeks an Assistant Director of University Events to professionally plan, produce, and analyze flagship events that advance the university’s mission. You will manage in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats, coordinate program content, and lead guest experiences with a focus on donor engagement, alumni relations, and campus milestones.

Reporting to the Sr. Director, you will coach speakers, craft briefs, and manage budgets, vendors, and teams across diverse groups while upholding

Qualifications

• Experience planning and coordinating large-scale university events.
• Ability to develop event vision, goals, and messaging.
• Strong vendor management and stakeholder collaboration.
• Proven leadership in diverse and inclusive teams.

Responsibilities

• Plan, produce, and analyze signature university events.
• Oversee in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats.
• Lead speaker coaching, briefs, and scripts.
• Coordinate catering, venue, AV, staffing, and budgets.

Skills

Team Collaboration

Communication

Ethics & Integrity

Flexibility & Innovation

Inclusion & Diversity

Results Orientation

Job description

Months Per Year:

12

Work Model:

Hybrid Work Eligible

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

• Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.
• Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.
• Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.
• Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.
• Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.
• Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Job Description Summary

Responsible for the project management of the university's signature events, this position professionally plans, produces, and analyzes key events hosted by Seattle University to further the university's educational mission, strategic, and business plans. The Assistant Director of University Events oversees all elements of in-person, hybrid, and virtual event management including but not limited to vision and goal setting, audience development, guest management, event marketing, programming and script development, speaker coaching, production specifications, coordination of catering and beverage service, venue and vendor management, and event staffing. Supporting University Events strategic planning, the Assistant Director develops and refreshes event management protocols and procedures, leads event debriefing, and produces comprehensive post-event analysis.

Position Description

Reporting to the Sr. Director of University Events, the Assistant Director of University Events project manages fundraising, cultivation, engagement, and stewardship events to engage, deepen relationships, and recognize Seattle University constituents including but not limited to alumni, donors, faculty, staff, students, parents, and friends. This role is responsible for using expertise to partner with internal clients and subject matter experts to successfully implement impactful, engaging events that elevate the image of Seattle University. This role is responsible for the coordination of Seattle University's most critical mission-driven VIP engagements including but not limited to events sponsored by the Offices of Advancement, the President, the Provost, and the Board of Trustees.

The Assistant Director will demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities, be mission-centered, have an open, creative problem-solving approach, strong relationship-building skills, and a strong understanding of and experience with building and supporting diverse and inclusive teams. Expert knowledge of event planning and coordinating, program development, and event production is necessary. The position requires a collaborative, resourceful and strategic thinker.

Essential Job Functions

The Assistant Director of University Events has the following areas of responsibility:

Event Planning and Coordination

• Responsible for high level professional production of signature university events to cultivate new donors, steward existing donors, engage students, faculty, staff and alumni, and strategically raise and increase support for the university's mission and programs.
• Collaborate with university leaders, development officers, alumni engagement officers, and subject matter experts to develop event vision and goals, messaging, team roles and responsibilities, program outlines, and communication timelines.
• Leverage project management tools to develop accurate event/project timelines and budgets, coordinate with on- and off-campus partners to manage venue contacts, catering partners, entertainment, parking, A/V, and other event logistics.
• Lead event program development, draft speaker briefs, identify and interview potential program speakers, coach program speakers, write talking points and/or scripts, and act as stage manager as assigned.
• Working with the Sr. Director for University Events and University Marcom tea