Sr. Manager II, Events - Knoxville, TN

American Cancer Society, Inc.; Tennessee; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off

Medical, dental, retirement benefits

Wellness programs

Job summary

The American Cancer Society is seeking a home-based role based in Knoxville, TN, responsible for leading strategy, planning, and execution of a $750,000+ event fundraising portfolio. The role drives revenue growth through advanced relationship management and volunteer leadership development.

Starting pay ranges from $70,000 to $80,000 with consideration of experience and geographic factors. Benefits include PTO, medical, dental, retirement, and development programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent experience.
• 2 years successful experience in fundraising and relationship development.
• Advanced relationship-building and donor engagement skills.
• Ability to develop and implement growth strategies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Builds and elevates relationships with high-impact donors, sponsors, and volunteer leaders to drive increased revenue and retention.
• Leads complex event portfolios, ensuring strong execution, financial performance, and participant experience.
• Develops and implements strategies to grow revenue, expand donor pipelines, and increase long‑term engagement.
• Aligns event partners and participants to broader cultivation strategies, advancing movement through the donor pipeline.
• Analyses performance trends and identifies opportunities for growth and optimization.
• Provides guidance and leadership to peers or project teams as needed.

Skills

Fundraising portfolio management

Donor engagement

Relationship building

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better serve our communities. The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

This position is a home-based role with the expectation that the selected candidate resides in Knoxville, TN. Responsible for leading the strategy, planning, and execution of a $750,000+ event fundraising portfolio. Drives revenue growth through advanced relationship management, strategic donor engagement, and volunteer leadership development. Expands impact by strengthening pipelines and aligning event fundraising with broader organizational priorities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Builds and elevates relationships with high-impact donors, sponsors, and volunteer leaders to drive increased revenue and retention.
• 35% Leads complex event portfolios, ensuring strong execution, financial performance, and participant experience.
• 20% Develops and implements strategies to grow revenue, expand donor pipelines, and increase long‑term engagement.
• 20% Aligns event partners and participants to broader cultivation strategies, advancing movement through the donor pipeline.
• 10% Analyzes performance trends and identifies opportunities for growth and optimization.
• 10% Provides guidance and leadership to peers or project teams as needed.
• 5%

EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Degree Required: Bachelors in related field and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred Degree: Certificate(s) or License(s): None
• Years of experience: 2 years successful experience in fundraising and relationship development
• KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:
• Demonstrated success managing larger, more complex fundraising portfolios.
• Advanced relationship‑building and donor engagement skills.
• Ability to develop and implement growth strategies.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to influence without authority and lead through others.
• Strong financial and performance management skills.
• Ability to identify and act on opportunities to expand impact.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

Travel varies depending on the portfolio assignment and event staffing model Must be able to attend evening and weekend meetings, events and programs either remotely or in‑person depending on the portfolio assignment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Some lifting may be needed as part of event set up activities

The starting rate is $70,000 to $80,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

• ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills.
• Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits.

We are a proud equal opportunity employer. At the American Cancer Society, our employees are the soul of our lifesaving mission to save lives. Our employment opportunities are as diverse as our people and include every discipline found in other business enterprises. As an organization, we adhere to a set of core values that help inform all our decisions. But what really sets us apart is that the work we do has global impact -- and every passionate, dedicated American Cancer Society team member contributes to each groundbreaking achievement we make.