Executive Director of Engagement Programs (6293U) - College of Engineering

SUNY COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY - UNIVERSITY EYE CENTER; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 94,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Berkeley – College of Engineering seeks an Executive Director of Engagement Programs to lead engagement activities for alumni, donors, and corporate partners. The role drives event strategy, vendor management, and cross-unit collaboration across campus.

The position oversees a team, manages budgets, and develops programs aligning with the college’s strategic priorities and external relations goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area or equivalent experience.
• Advanced knowledge of event planning and public relations.
• Advanced knowledge of UC Berkeley campus, its mission and infrastructure.
• Advanced long-range planning, project management and organizational skills.
• Advanced interpersonal communication to build relationships.
• Strong political acumen and donor relations skills.
• Judgment and problem-solving with confidentiality.
• Ability to manage budgets and staff mentoring.
• Experience in contract negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Conceive, develop, market, implement and evaluate complex events and programs.
• Direct multiple service contractors and vendors; evaluate platforms.
• Ensure smooth-running events and resolve issues promptly.
• Develop services for alumni, corporate partners, and donors to strengthen engagement.
• Oversee design, production and inventory of marketing items.
• Serve as events consultant to college units.
• Supervise Engagement Programs team including Events Specialist staff.
• Manage annual budgets and cost centers; ensure expenditures stay within allocations.
• Develop reporting tools to measure engagement and preferences.

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Executive Director of Engagement Programs (6293U) - College of Engineering

At the University of California, Berkeley , we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth . We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and providing space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.

The College of Engineering at UC Berkeley is recognized for its educational and research excellence, consistently ranking among the top three Engineering colleges in the United States. With more than 250 regular faculty members and 6,8000 students located in seven academic departments, Engineering is the second largest college on the Berkeley campus. The College Relations office supports the College’s core projects and programs through marketing, communications, and fundraising efforts designed to reach over 70,000 alumni, friends, students, foundations, and corporate partners.

The Executive Director of Engagement Programs reports to the Assistant Dean, Administration. Responsibilities include: Planning and organizing events and programs to reach, serve and engage College constituencies. Constituencies include alumni, current students, prospective students, parents, donors, corporate partners, faculty, and staff, as well as the general public. Translates constituent needs and priorities into customized programs to create, enhance, and sustain ties with the College. Manages logistics such as facilities, registration, guest management, caterers, and vendors; event promotion; liaison with speakers; tickets, audience management activities, concessionaires, caterers, and vendors, and facility maintenance staff; or provides technical support of these activities.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: October 7, 2026 - Open Until Filled

Responsibilities

65% Constituent Engagement: Conducts comprehensive planning and management of activities designed to engage college constituent groups including; alumni, donors and corporate partners, current and prospective students, parents, faculty, and staff.

• Holds primary responsibility for the conception, development, marketing, implementation, execution, and evaluation of complex events and programs that carry significant consequences for the college’s external relations efforts.
• Directs multiple service contractors and subcontractors. Evaluates and identifies online platforms, as well as traditional vendors and services, that satisfy program needs and meet campus policies.
• Ensures smooth-running, effective events, including successfully recognizing and resolving potential and real problems in a timely manner using tact, sensitivity, discretion and political acumen.
• Develops and implements services and resources for defined constituencies– particularly alumni, corporate stakeholders, and donors – that strengthen the value of affiliating with the college.
• Oversees design, purchase and inventory of marketing and promotional items (t-shirts, pens, etc.).
• Serves as events consultant to college units.

20% Planning and Administration: Designs, develops, and through support staff, implements and evaluates programs and projects that advocate for the college and showcase college achievements.

• Supervises and manages the Engagement Programs team which includes Events Specialist 3 professionals. Responsible for assigning work, monitoring performance, conducting annual performance evaluations, and managing recruitment, onboarding, and disciplinary actions. Provides technical guidance and identifies professional development opportunities to ensure team goals are met. Mentor and/or manage less experienced events staff.
• Manages annual cost center budget. Develops and maintains comprehensive budgets for each event/activity, and ensures that costs do not exceed budgeted allocations without prior approval.
• Develops and maintains reporting tools to assess levels of engagement and constituent interests and preferences. Designs programs in line with responses and the college’s strategic priorities. Conducts benchmarking studies of comparable programs to determine best practices. Conducts thorough evaluation of all events and programs to ensure operational effectiveness as well as alignment with constituent needs.

10% Special projects and other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Advanced knowledge of concepts, principles and best practices of event planning and public relations, including design, organization and production of complex events. Knowledge and skills to apply event management principles, practices and techniques in support of effective event management, particularly high visibility, high impact, high risk events.
• Advanced knowledge of the campus, including its vision, mission, goals, objectives, achievements and infrastructure.
• Advanced long-range planning, project management and organizational skills.
• Advanced interpersonal communication skills to build and maintain relationships at all organizational levels and with a variety of publics.
• Highly developed political acumen skills and social perceptiveness to successfully meet the needs of guests and ensure guest satisfaction for fundraising events. Skill in effectively providing donor stewardship.
• Advanced judgment, decision-making and problem recognition / avoidance / resolution skills.
• Proven success in exercising sound independent judgment. Ability to maintain confidentiality, and act with tact and discretion with sensitive information.
• Advanced skill in meeting goals and objectives within budget and time constraints.
• Advanced skills in guiding and mentoring less experienced staff.
• Proven ability to view tasks from varying perspectives. Ability to integrate day-to-day operational knowledge and recommend effective short and long-term policies and procedures.
• Proven skills to apply principles of personnel management to plan, organize, motivate staff and volunteers.
• Proven experience in providing guidance and advice in all aspects of program planning, implementation and evaluation.
• Experience developing accurate program budgets; ability to forecast expenses and income.
• Proven experience and knowledge in effective contract negotiation and strategies.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $94,300 to $134,100 yearly ($7,858.33 to $11,175 monthly). This is a 100% FTE career position eligible for full benefits.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Misconduct Disclosure

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

“Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.