Job Information
Boston University ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT & CAMPAIGN EVENTS, Development & Alumni Relations, Alumni Engagement in BOSTON, Massachusetts
Our Mission
We in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where it’s not just about a job, but a career and a community.
Now, our Alumni Engagement team an Assistant Director who will assist in the development of key alumni and donor events.
Alumni Engagement at Boston University
The Alumni Engagement team is dedicated to understanding alumni, strengthening pride and awareness, and facilitating ways to grow and sustain the base of alumni engaging with and supporting Boston University. The team has oversight of alumni digital strategy, alumni experience operations, and measuring engagement—through both attitudinal and behavioral dimensions—of more than 350,000 alumni across the globe. This team works in close collaboration with colleagues in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations, and across departments and schools at Boston University.
Assistant Director, Development & Campaign Events
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Assistant Director, Development & Campaign Events will participate in the development and execution of campaign events and experiences while collaborating with DAR Major Gift development team to implement donor-focused events. Additionally, the incumbent partners with the full Development & Campaigns Event team as well as other internal partners on the necessary elements for a successful event and donor experience.
Responsibilities:
Development Events
The incumbent will collaborate with Major Gift staff to ensure that all centralized development events and meetings advance Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) strategies and other organizational objectives.
Plan and implement events, that range in scale from intimate dinners to large initiatives, for the engagement, cultivation, recognition, and stewardship of major and prospective donors.
Implement the tactical and logistical details such as collateral, venues, catering, audio-visual, registration, transportation, hotel room blocks, etc.
Based on post-event statistics/analysis, propose new ideas to improve event planning and effectiveness.
Special Initiatives & Campaign Support
In partnership with the Executive Director and other DAR partners, implement special projects that directly impact the growth of the alumni engagement and giving.
This role will work directly in support of campaign events, stewardship, benchmarking, and project management. These projects can include, but are not limited to the creation of a virtual program series, faculty engagement programs for alumni and donors and articulates the impact of the events/engagement based on post-event statistics.
Strategize about and taking a leadership role in the implementation of systems to support streamlined and coordinated event and engagement efforts.
Other duties as assigned.
Vendor Management
Serve as the point person for vendors, including negotiate and secure vendor contracts and catering rentals, approve and track budgets and facilitate vendor payments, etc.
Required Skills
A cover letter is required for consideration.
Bachelor’s degree and three to five years’ professional event planning experience managing in-person and virtual events.
Experience conceptualizing and executing complex events, preferably in a higher education/development setting
Experience developing and formalizing processes and procedures.
Highly developed project management skills.
Strong organizational abilities.
Attention to detail and the ability to handle multiple and varied tasks independently in a fast-paced environment, while also working collaboratively to maintain relationships with internal departments, vendors and clients.
Experience forecasting and managing a budget.
Experience engaging and managing independent consultants and outside vendors.
Effective written and oral communication skills, with the ability to listen and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization.
Ability to engage and influence people, using tact and diplomacy, and maintaining a high level of confidentiality.
Superior customer service skills.
Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and some weekends, as needed.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other DAR events and alumni engagement technologies
But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:
Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a team.
Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.
If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply. If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.
To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/.
Please note all newly hired staff and faculty will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement (https://www.bu.edu/hr/hr-covid-19-resources/vaccine-required-for-faculty-and-staff/) within 30 days of date of hire. You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption (instructions (https://www.bu.edu/hr/hr-covid-19-resources/upload-your-covid-vaccination-documentation/) ). For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Resources (https://www.bu.edu/buohc/covid-19/) site.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.
Required Experience