Director of PAE Events

University System of Georgia; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 83,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Tuition Assistance Program

Job summary

Augusta University seeks a Director of PAE Events to lead donor and alumni engagement through strategic event design and execution. You’ll steer a small team, align events with fundraising goals, and collaborate with university leadership to deliver transformative experiences.

The role emphasizes KPI-driven leadership, partner management, and innovative formats while ensuring fiscal responsibility and high-quality donor experiences across AU’s engagement portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and 5 years of experience in event planning and execution.
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators for the events portfolio, including ROI metrics, donor engagement scores, pipeline advancement, and participation rates.
• Leads strategic innovation in event design through best practices, new technologies, and creative formats to continuously elevate AU's donor and alumni experiences.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with PAE's development, campaign, alumni engagement, and donor engagement teams to ensure events support fundraising goals and priorities while maintaining institutional standards.
• Directs the integration of events strategy with broader PAE initiatives.
• Oversight of Event Planning and Execution; Co-leads the strategic conception, planning, and oversees the execution of signature events.
• Reviews and authorizes event budgets, maintain fiscal responsibility while maximizing impact.
• Leads strategic vendor partnerships by establishing preferred partner relationships, negotiating master agreements, and ensuring vendors align with PAE's quality standards.
• Conducts debriefs of major events to capture feedback and drive improvement.
• Responsible for personnel management including hiring, training, setting goals, and providing feedback for the PAE Events team.
• Organizes workflows and ensures that all employees understand their duties and delegated tasks.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Budget management

Communication skills

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 12,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today. Our mission and values https://www.augusta.edu/about/mission.php make Augusta University an institution like no other.

Augusta University's distinct characteristics in education and research include real-world experiences and community engagement, as well as a culture of building community, corporate and government partnerships that address health, security, economic and societal concerns locally and across the state.

Our Health Sciences Campus: 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912

Job Summary

The Director of PAE Events serves as both a strategic leader and implementer within PAE, responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and quality standards for AU's comprehensive portfolio of donor, alumni, and campaign events. This position provides oversight of all PAE events, leading through strategic planning, innovation, and data-driven decision making to advance the university's philanthropic and engagement goals. The director leads a small team ensuring each event serves as a transformative experience that deepens donor engagement and inspires increased philanthropic support. Working collaboratively with all PAE leadership/departments, academic units, and the President's Office, this role shapes how AU recognizes, cultivates, and celebrates its philanthropic community while positioning the university as a leader in donor engagement experiences.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Leadership and Strategy

• Establishes and monitors key performance indicators for the events portfolio, including ROI metrics, donor engagement scores, pipeline advancement, and participation rates.
• Leads strategic innovation in event design through best practices, new technologies, and creative formats to continuously elevate AU's donor and alumni experiences.
• Builds and maintains strategic partnerships with PAE's development, campaign, alumni engagement, and donor engagement teams to ensure events support fundraising goals and priorities while maintaining institutional standards.

Event Planning and Implementation

• Directs the integration of events strategy with broader PAE initiatives.
• Oversight of Event Planning and Execution; Co-leads the strategic conception, planning, and oversees the execution of signature events.
• Reviews and authorizes event budgets, maintain fiscal responsibility while maximizing impact.

Leads strategic vendor partnerships

• Leads strategic vendor partnerships by establishing preferred partner relationships, negotiating master agreements, and ensuring vendors align with PAE's quality standards.

Team Management and Direction

• Conducts debriefs of major events to capture feedback and drive improvement.
• Responsible for personnel management including hiring, training, setting goals, and providing feedback for the PAE Events team.
• Organizes workflows and ensures that all employees understand their duties and delegated tasks.

Other

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and 5 years of experience in event planning and execution.
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in planning and executing large-scale events with VIP presence.
• Demonstrated experience in developing KPIs and metrics for events.
• Comfort interacting with C-suite leaders and major donors.
• Advanced knowledge of event production, management, and industry best practices.
• Understanding of donor engagement and stewardship principles.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES

• Ability to manage multiple events simultaneously with tight timelines and high expectations.
• Ability to coordinate across multiple teams.
• Ability to tailor event experiences for high-value individuals and broad audiences.
• Ability to manage complex projects from conception through execution with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively with senior university leaders, donors, alumni, volunteers, and external partners.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to anticipate challenges, identify solutions, and adapt quickly to changing priorities.
• Strong organizational, budget management, and project leadership skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across a broad group of stakeholders.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and travel as required.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of event planning principles, practices, and industry standards.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies and event production processes.
• Knowledge of event technologies, registration platforms, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

SKILLS

• Strong communication skills.
• Strategic thinking and long-term planning skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational, budget management, and project leadership skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Shift/Salary/Benefits

Shift: Days/M-F (work outside of normal business hours will likely be required of an employee in an exempt level position)

Pay Band: B15

Salary Range: $82,800/annually - $105,600/annually

Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint) of the position.

Recruitment Period: 9/11/26 - Until Filled

Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees.

Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.

Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.

If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.

Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle.

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.

Other Information

This position is also responsible for promoting a customer-friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients, students, faculty, and employees. "Augusta University is a patient-and family-centered care institution, where employees partner every day with patients and families for success."

Augusta University is a tobacco-free environment, and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.

Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.