Associate Director of Events

Curtis; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary meals on campus

Transit benefits (SEPTA Key Advantage)

Health, dental, vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia is seeking an Associate Director of Events to plan and execute donor-focused events, with emphasis on the annual gala. You will coordinate budgets, timelines, and communications, ensuring exceptional guest experiences while supporting fundraising goals.

The role requires 3+ years in event planning or related fields, strong relationship skills, and proficiency with CRMs and Office 365. Onsite Philadelphia location with evening/weekend work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant certification preferred.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in event planning, project management, donor engagement or a related field.
• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to be diplomatic at all times and maintain a problem-solving mindset.
• Excellent communications skills across all formats.
• Clear understanding of the importance of confidentiality and adhering to the highest standards of industry ethics.
• A current interest in music, education, and/or the performing arts is helpful.
• Proficiency with using various tools related to fundraising including CRMs and the full Office 365 platform.

Responsibilities

• Project Management: Manage and execute a comprehensive annual calendar of donor and alumni events that may accompany master classes, student recitals, Curtis Symphony Orchestra concerts, and Curtis Opera Theatre performances, among others.
• Internal Event Communications: Prepare and conduct briefings for executive leadership on key event details; provide clear and timely communications to the Advancement team and other stakeholders on event timelines, guest appearances, RSVP status, and seating.
• Customer Experience Management: Ensure high-end customer service for all patrons, supporters and donors; manage staffing assignments for events.
• Collaborations and Support: Coordinate institutional calendar and schedule programming to leverage and integrate student, faculty, Curtis on Tour, and Curtis Artist Management performances to create elevated and exclusive experiences for donor audiences.
• Gala Project Management: Lead a seamless execution of the annual gala with logistics, communications, design, facilities, catering, attendee tracking, and post-event evaluation.
• Other duties and projects as assigned.

Skills

Relationship-building

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Diplomacy

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree or certification

Tools

CRMs

Office 365

Job description

Reports to: Director of Events and Corporate Partnerships

Department: Advancement

Status: Full-time; Permanent; Exempt

About Curtis

Curtis Institute of Music is the world’s premier music conservatory, centrally situated in the magnificent Rittenhouse Square neighborhood of Philadelphia. Now in its second century of training and educating the most talented young musicians to be the next musical leaders, Curtis is ready to build on its rich history of fundraising success and is poised for growth as a highly respected and compelling philanthropic destination, at the intersection of higher education and the performing arts.

Position Overview

The Associate Director of Events plays a pivotal role on the Advancement team by planning, coordinating, and executing a wide range of events aimed at cultivating relationships with donors, raising philanthropic revenue, and promoting the mission of the Curtis Institute of Music, with a special focus on an annual gala. This position requires a creative, organized, and detail-oriented individual with a background in event management, project management, fundraising and/or donor engagement.

The Associate Director of Events reports directly to the Director of Events and Corporate Partnerships and works collaboratively with the entire Advancement team and across other departments at Curtis. This is an ideal position for an experienced events professional seeking an opportunity to build upon their professional skills in a collaborative work environment with a commitment to excellence, in line with Curtis’s mission – to educate and train exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry.

Curtis offers a competitive salary and an attractive benefits package. Hire is contingent upon the successful passing of PAAct 153 and criminal (ADP) background screenings. No phone calls, please. EOE. URL: https://www.curtis.edu

• Essential Functions

  Key Responsibilities:

  • Project Management: Manage and execute a comprehensive annual calendar of donor and alumni events that may accompany master classes, student recitals, Curtis Symphony Orchestra concerts, and Curtis Opera Theatre performances, among others. Manage event budgets including tracking revenue and expenses, providing progress reports and projections, and managing all post-event financial reconciliation throughout the year.
  • Internal Event Communications: Prepare and conduct briefings for executive leadership on key event details; provide clear and timely communications to the Advancement team and other stakeholders on event timelines, guest appearances, RSVP status, and seating.
  • Customer Experience Management: Ensure high-end customer service for all patrons, supporters and donors; manage staffing assignments for events.
  • Collaborations and Support: Coordinate institutional calendar and schedule programming to leverage and integrate student, faculty, Curtis on Tour, and Curtis Artist Management performances to create elevated and exclusive experiences for donor audiences. Support the Director of Events and Corporate Partnerships as needed in all event related activity and serve as a resource for the Advancement team in developing donor engagement opportunities.
  • Gala Project Management: Work closely with the Director of Events and Corporate Partnerships to lead a seamless execution of the annual gala, which is the school’s most significant fundraising event of the year. Serve as the event project manager, responsible for logistics and daily administration, including communications and design, facilities, décor, catering, supplies and attendee tracking, among other details. Ensure a high level of donor engagement and an exceptional guest experience throughout the event. Implement effective measures for post-event evaluation to inform recommendations for future improvements.
  • Other duties and projects as assigned.
• Preferred Experience and Qualifications

  Preferred Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree or relevant certification preferred.
  • A minimum of 3 years of experience in event planning, project management, donor engagement or a related field.
  • Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to be diplomatic at all times and maintain a problem-solving mindset.
  • Excellent communications skills across all formats.
  • Clear understanding of the importance of confidentiality and adhering to the highest standards of industry ethics.
  • A current interest in music, education, and/or the performing arts is helpful.
  • Proficiency with using various tools related to fundraising including CRMs and the full Office 365 platform.
• Required Core Values
  • Pursuit of Excellence
  • Learn by Doing
  • Community
  • Collaboration
• Working Conditions and Physical Demands
  • Exertional requirements are consistent with routine office environment.
  • This is an onsite position in Philadelphia, PA.
  • Nights and weekends will be required.
  • Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire.
  • The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a background check and obtain PA Act 153 clearances.
• Compensation and Benefits
  • Gross annual salary for this position is $65,000 - 75,000, commensurate with experience.
  • The Curtis Institute of Music offers a number of perks for full-time staff including complimentary meals on campus during the academic year, and mass transit support with employer-sponsored, all-access SEPTA Key Advantage program or PATCO enrollment.
  • This position is benefits eligible. Curtis offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees including health, dental, and vision insurance, basic term life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, supplemental insurance options, and paid parental leave.
  • 401k plan participation begins after 1 year of eligible service consistent with the plan requirements.