College Events and Protocol Director - Franklin & Marshall College

Franklin and Marshall College; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 66,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Medical insurance

Tuition benefits

Paid vacation

Holiday closures

Job summary

Franklin & Marshall College is seeking a College Events & Protocol Director to provide strategic leadership for major college ceremonies, presidential events, and institutional initiatives. The role reports to the Vice President of Communications and Marketing and collaborates with campus partners to uphold brand standards and a dignified attendee experience.

The position oversees governance, risk management, and logistics while coordinating events at Nevonia and other campus venues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in event management or related field.
• At least 5 years in project management and executive event planning.
• Experience directing large-scale ceremonial and executive events.
• Ability to lead across campus stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Proficiency with Google Suite.
• Valid driver's license and background checks.

Responsibilities

• Direct strategic planning, coordination, and execution of major college ceremonies.
• Lead events for the President and high-profile institutional initiatives.
• Establish event governance, protocols, and standard operating procedures.
• Manage budgets, vendor contracts, and post-event evaluations.
• Coordinate cross-departmental teams and master calendar alignment.
• Ensure brand standards, accessibility, and risk management across events.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Event planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in event management or related field

Master's degree in communications or related field

Tools

Google Suite

Job description

Franklin & Marshall College, founded in 1787, is a residential college dedicated to excellence in undergraduate liberal arts education. The college thrives on forward-thinking growth, guided by a comprehensive new strategic plan currently under development. This vision animates dynamic new programs like the Venture and Impact Studio, which fosters student entrepreneurship, and the Mehlman Leadership and Performance Institute, which develops the next generation of leaders. Located in the city of Lancaster, the College integrates with the broader community, with the most recent example being a landmark eight-year partnership anchoring the college's baseball program at the professional Lancaster Stormers stadium.

Exceptional Employee Benefits

• generous 10% employer retirement contribution
• comprehensive medical, dental, and life insurance coverage plans
• valuable tuition benefits for eligible dependents
• generous paid vacation allocations
• recognized holiday closures

To learn more about Lancaster, please go to https://landinlancasterpa.com

Job Description:

Franklin & Marshall College is recruiting for afull-time College Events & Protocol Director.

• Location:F&M Campus -Lancaster, PA
• Classification:Full-time, Exempt
• Schedule:40 hours, Monday - Friday. Will require evenings and weekends.
• Reports to: Vice President of Communications and Marketing.
• Department: Office of Communications and Marketing
• Approved Annual Salary Range: Approved up to $73,500.00 annually

Job Description:

The College Events and Protocol Director provides strategic vision, executive leadership, and comprehensive management and coordination for major college-wide ceremonies, high-profile institutional events, all presidential events, and strategic initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President for Communications and Marketing, this role ensures all events reflect the College's mission, brand standards, and level of excellence while providing a dignified experience for all attendees.

The Director establishes and manages campus-wide event governance, protocols, and standard operating procedures. Exercising dotted-line functional authority over event planning personnel across all academic and administrative units, the Director oversees cross-departmental coordination, master calendar alignment, risk management, and brand execution across all campus events. The Director also personally coordinates events for the Office of the President, including events at Nevonia, the president's residence.

Essential Functions:

• Ceremony and Institutional Event Management: Direct the strategic planning, coordination, and execution of College ceremonies and presidential events, including Commencement, Convocation, December graduation, Board of Trustees meetings, ancillary/advisory board meetings, various ceremonies and celebrations, and events at Nevonia, the president's house. Manage logistics and maintain a direct, hands-on presence for execution, run-of-shows, seating, staging, audiovisual production, catering, vendor contract negotiations, and post-event assessments.
• Presidential events and VIP Protocol Liaison: Serve as the chief liaison between Communications and Marketing, the Office of the President, Advancement, and hosting units for events involving executive leadership. Lead operational execution, protocol guidelines, run-of-shows, and host logistics for events involving the President, Trustees, distinguished donors, and external dignitaries, while collaborating with the Strategic Communications Director on event briefings, talking points, speeches, and messaging.
• Campus Event Governance and Dotted-Line Leadership: Serve as the functional leader and central authority and facilitator for event planners across all units of the College. Establish college-wide event standards, best-practice toolkits, and training; maintain oversight of the institutional master event calendar to eliminate scheduling conflicts, promote sustainable, eco-friendly event practices when possible, and align college brand messaging.
• Budget and Vendor Management: Develop and manage operating budgets associated with signature ceremonies and institutional events, monitoring expenditures and negotiating high-value contracts with key campus vendors (e.g., printing, catering, security, florists, rental companies).
• Event Operations, Safety, and Compliance: Serve as the primary operational partner to Dining Services, Facilities, ITS/AV, Public Safety, and Accessibility Services to establish emergency action plans, weather contingency plans, and ADA compliance standards for major public gatherings.
• Team Recruitment and Leadership: Recruit, train, mentor, and manage event support teams, including student workers, staff partners, and volunteers, fostering professional development and high service standards.
• Institutional Representation: Represent the priorities of the Communications and Marketing division and executive leadership by serving on designated College committees.
• All other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, with preferred specialties' in event management, hospitality, communications, public relations, business administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of progressive project management, executive event planning, and institutional protocol experience.
• Demonstrated experience directing large-scale ceremonial, high-profile, and executive events.
• Demonstrated capability to exercise matrixed leadership, establish timelines, and build effective relationships with campus stakeholders.
• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Google Suite Products (Docs, Gmail, Sheets, Slides, Drive)
• Evidence of a commitment to community & belonging.
• Valid driver's license.
• Successful interview.
• Successful completion of background checks.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in communications, marketing, higher education administration, or related discipline.
• Prior professional work experience supporting executive leadership or central communications within a higher education environment, ideally at a small liberal arts college.
• 7 or more years of experience in high-level event management and institutional governance.

Additional Information:

Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of reference checks, a criminal background verification, and verification of credentials. The College will coordinate these verifications.

Full-time members of the Franklin & Marshall College professional staff receive competitive starting pay and a comprehensive benefits package that includes health coverage, dental, vision, generous retirement savings plan contributions, education benefits for employees, spouses and dependent children, and enjoy access to all College facilities including dining venues to suit all tastes, recreation and fitness facilities, and libraries, plus access to College performances, lectures, and events. To learn more about our Benefits Page .

Franklin & Marshall College is committed to having an inclusive campus community where all members are treated with dignity and respect. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, the College does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of gender/gender-identity, sex, race or ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran's status, genetic information, family or marital status, sexual orientation, or any other protected class.