Associate Director for Public Programs and Engagement.

Dartmouth College; Hanover (NH); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH seeks an Associate Director for Public Programs and Engagement to lead complex events and programs, reporting to the Dickey Center Director. You will partner with campus colleagues and external partners to design experiences that advance center priorities and engage diverse audiences.

The role requires strategic thinking, cross‑functional leadership, and a commitment to inclusive programming.

Qualifications

• Six to ten years of progressively responsible experience in strategic event planning and public programming.
• Ability to translate priorities into high-impact programming.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving in complex situations.
• Experience coordinating across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Professional interaction with senior leaders, guests, faculty, staff, students, vendors, and communities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and changing schedules.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication.
• Ability to lead and coordinate work of others.
• Handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, and event technology.
• Willingsness to work evenings and weekends.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.

Responsibilities

• Strategically partner with Center leadership to shape public programs.
• Translate priorities into compelling program concepts and experiences.
• Coordinate cross-functional planning with campus partners and vendors.
• Lead event planning groups and set milestones.
• Manage relationships with speakers, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Oversee budgets, vendor agreements, and operational workflows.
• Establish program assessment practices to measure reach and impact.
• Support evening and weekend events.
• Supervise staff within the events team.

Skills

Event planning

Public programming

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Communication

Team leadership

Attention to detail

Discretion with confidential info

Spreadsheet/databases

Evening/weekend availability

Inclusive programming

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Details

Posting date 10/05/2026

Closing date Open Until Filled

Position Number 1129717

Position Title Associate Director for Public Programs and Engagement

Hiring Range Minimum $75,000

Hiring Range Maximum $90,000

Union Type Not a Union Position

SEIU Level Not an SEIU Position

FLSA Status Exempt

Employment Category Regular Full Time

Scheduled Months per Year 12

Scheduled Hours per Week 40

Location of Position Hanover, NH

Remote Work Eligibility? Onsite only

Is this a term position? No

If yes, length of term in months. NA

Is this a grant funded position? No

Position Purpose

The Associate Director for Public Programs and Engagement provides leadership and delivery for complex, high-profile events and programs. Reporting to the Dickey Center Director, this role serves as a strategic thought partner to Center leadership and works across the Center, Dartmouth, and external partner organizations to develop and deliver a portfolio of programs that advances Center priorities, strengthens the Center’s visibility and impact, and engages diverse audiences.

Required Qualifications

Bachelors or equivalent combination of education and experience

• Six to ten years of progressively responsible experience in strategic event planning, public programming, program management, project management, engagement, or a related field, including experience leading complex, high-profile, or large-scale events and programs.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically about programs and events and translate institutional or organizational priorities into compelling, high-impact programming.
• Strong judgment and demonstrated ability to assess complex situations, identify opportunities and risks, make informed recommendations, and solve problems creatively.
• Experience working effectively within a complex organization and coordinating across multiple teams or stakeholder groups.
• Ability to interact professionally, diplomatically, and effectively with a wide range of constituents, including senior leaders, external guests, faculty, staff, students, vendors, and community members.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex priorities, establish timelines, meet deadlines, and adapt effectively to changing schedules and circumstances.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with a high degree of accuracy and follow-through.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, exercise sound judgment, and solve problems creatively.
• Ability to lead and coordinate the work of others in support of shared goals.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets, databases, and other technology used to support event planning, project management, communications, and reporting.
• Ability and willingness to work regular evening events and occasional weekends, as required.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and effectively engaging with a diverse community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education or another complex, decentralized organization, including experience collaborating with faculty and students.
• Familiarity with Dartmouth College, the Dickey Center for International Understanding, or comparable academic and public programming environments.
• Demonstrated interest in international affairs, global issues, or related programming.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries Sharon Tribou-St. Martin, Associate Managing Director

Department Contact Phone Number [e-mail]

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title Victoria Holt, Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.

Background Check

Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

Driving Requirement

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? Preferred, but not required

Special Instructions to Applicants

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Key Accountabilities

Program Strategy and Partnerships

• Serves as a strategic thought partner to the Dickey Center Director and Center leadership in shaping the Center’s public programs and engagement strategy.
• Translates Center priorities and emerging opportunities into compelling program concepts, formats, and experiences that are relevant to diverse audiences and align with Center goals.
• Shapes program formats and audience engagement strategies in partnership with program leads to strengthen participation, visibility, institutional value, and long-term impact.
• Cultivates and manages relationships with campus partners, faculty, students, external organizations, speakers, vendors, and community stakeholders to expand the reach and effectiveness of Dickey programming.
• Serves as a primary liaison for program and event coordination across internal teams, campus partners, vendors, and external stakeholders, ensuring clarity of roles, effective communication, and alignment around shared objectives.
• Leads cross-functional planning processes to coordinate programs with broader institutional calendars, strategic priorities, academic activities, and major campus initiatives.
• Convenes and facilitates event and program planning groups, as appropriate, establishing clear objectives, decision-making processes, responsibilities, milestones, and measures of success.
• Identifies opportunities for collaboration, co-sponsorship, and strategic partnership that increase the Center’s reach, resources, and institutional impact.

Percentage Of Time 40

Event Operations and Assessment

• Leads the planning and operational delivery of high-profile, complex, and large-scale programs and events, ensuring alignment among program objectives, audience needs, institutional priorities, and desired outcomes.
• Providing oversight of programs and events from concept development through assessment, ensuring consistently high standards of quality, hospitality, relevance, and impact.
• Serves as the principal point of contact for speakers, senior leaders, guests, partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Leads event logistics, including venue coordination, run-of-show development, vendor management, travel, catering, audio/visual needs, photography, and on-site execution.
• Develops and manages event planning systems, staffing plans, timelines, and operational workflows to support efficient execution across events of varying scale and complexity.
• Manages program and event budgets and vendor agreements, with accountability for fiscal stewardship and operational effectiveness.
• Establishes and leads program assessment practices that measure reach, engagement, quality, and impact and translate findings into recommendations for future programming and resource allocation.
• Identifies opportunities to improve systems, processes, and participant experiences and leads implementation of continuous improvements across the events portfolio.
• Supports programs and events that regularly occur in the early evening and occasionally on weekends.
• Supervises staff within the events team and provides strategic direction, coaching, and support to ensure effective planning and execution across the Center’s public programming portfolio.

Percentage Of Time 40

Communications and Audience Engagement

• In collaboration with the Dickey Center Communications Manager and Central Communications, develops and executes integrated communications, marketing, and audience engagement strategies that advance program objectives, strengthen the Center’s visibility, and broaden participation.
• Oversees the quality, consistency, and strategic alignment of promotional and event-related materials across print, digital, social, web, and other audience-facing channels.
• Manages public-facing event communications and audience touchpoints, including website content, calendar listings, registration platforms, event collateral, invitations, participant communications, and related storytelling.

Percentage Of Time 20

• Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all.
• Performs other duties as assigned.