Strategic Lead, University Ceremonies & Events

St.-John; New York (NY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

St.-John University seeks a Senior Associate Director to lead the planning and execution of its most visible ceremonial events, including commencements and convocations. You will own end-to-end event management for a defined portfolio and work closely with the Executive Director to align with presidential priorities and institutional standards.

The role requires 7–10 years of experience in ceremonial or institutional events, exceptional organization, and strong collaboration skills to manage

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field.
• 7–10 years of experience in ceremonial or institutional events.
• Proven ability to lead complex, high-visibility events.
• Strong organizational, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as event manager for ceremonial and academic events including commencements.
• Coordinate planning and execution for assigned events across all workstreams.
• Develop run-of-show documents, staffing plans, and VIP protocols.
• Lead on-site execution and vendor coordination.
• Provide updates to senior leadership on event readiness and outcomes.
• Collaborate across University offices to ensure policy and protocol compliance.

Skills

Ceremonial/events planning

Project management

Budget management

Vendor coordination

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Job description

St.-John University seeks a Senior Associate Director to lead the planning and execution of its most visible ceremonial events, including commencements and convocations. You will own end-to-end event management for a defined portfolio and work closely with the Executive Director to align with presidential priorities and institutional standards.

The role requires 7–10 years of experience in ceremonial or institutional events, exceptional organization, and strong collaboration skills to manage