Director of Events

Director of Events

Department: Office of Institutional Giving and Constituent Affairs

Reports To: Executive Director of Alumni Affairs primarily; and Executive Director of Reunion

Status: Exempt Staff

The Hill School Mission

The Hill School prepares young men and women from across the country and around the world for college, careers, and life.

Within a family school environment and a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, we challenge our young people to work hard; think and reason; be fulfilled; serve the common good; and be prepared to lead as citizens of the world, uniquely guided by our motto, "Whatsoever Things Are True."

Overview The Director of Events is a leadership position in the Office of Institutional Giving and Constituent Affairs (OIG) responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of all large-scale School and constituent events annually.

These events include but are not limited to the following:

• Opening of School Weekend (August/September)
• Family Weekend (October)
• Hill vs. Lawrenceville Weekend (November)
• Alumni Winter Games (January)
• Commencement Week (May)
• Reunion Weekend (June)
• Select Speaker Receptions
• Admission Revisit Days
• Admission Open Houses
• Domestic Alumni Chapter Events
• Alumni Affiliate Group Events
• On-campus, All-employee Head of School Hosted Events (e.g., opening and closing of school parties, all-employee Holiday party, etc.)

This key leadership role requires a strategic thinker with strong leadership and organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and a passion for creating memorable experiences. The role requires an autonomous decision-maker in close collaboration with the Executive Director of Alumni Affairs.

The Director of Events collaborates closely with various school departments and teams ensuring events align with organizational goals and objectives, while also managing budgets, timelines, and vendor relationships effectively.

Responsibilities

• Event Planning
  1. Develop and execute comprehensive event strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
  2. Plan and manage logistics for all events, including scheduling, venue selection, catering, staging, décor, registrations, invitations, staffing, and event materials.
  3. Provide regular oversight and management of the OIG Event and Travel Schedule document.
  4. Oversee and manage the planning and execution of special alumni on-campus events celebrating a "life event" (e.g., weddings, funerals, baptisms/baby shower, etc.) from contract development to event staffing ensuring these events meet The Hill's high standards and serves as a vehicle to strengthen alumni ties to the School.
• Engagement Strategy
  1. Identify optimal venues to provide a memorable Hill experience, with special attention given to unique and/or unconventional settings.
  2. Research successful events and event strategies used by peer schools, colleges, and universities for implementation at The Hill.
  3. Liaise with the Communications team to design and execute specialty mailings. Example: Yield Packages for Prospective Families.
• Leadership and Collaboration
  1. Foster a collaborative environment within OIG and between OIG and other departments to ensure seamless execution of events.
  2. Coordinate with other departments (e.g., Communications, Admission, Athletics, Facilities, Security, ITS, etc.) to integrate event strategies with overall organizational goals.
  3. Attend Calendar Committee meetings and provide reporting for on-campus events.
• Budget Management
  1. Develop and manage event budgets, ensuring cost efficiency and adherence to financial guidelines.
  2. Negotiate contracts with vendors and suppliers to achieve favorable terms.
• Vendor Management
  1. Identify, contract, and manage relationships with vendors, including caterers, decorators, audio-visual technicians, and more.
• Event Execution and Evaluation
  1. Lead and oversee execution of events, troubleshoot issues, and ensure smooth day-of operations.
  2. Track event attendance in NXT.
  3. Conduct post-event evaluations to analyze successes and areas for improvement with OIG staff.
  4. Implement feedback mechanisms to continuously enhance event quality and participant satisfaction.
• Risk Management
  1. Identify potential risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate them.
  2. Ensure compliance with legal, health, and safety regulations for all events.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Event Manger or Director, with a track record of successfully planning and executing large-scale events .
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and manage volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities, with keen attention to detail.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building relationships at all levels.
• Creative thinker with the ability to innovate and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• A willingness to travel and work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, as necessary.
• Proficiency in event management software and tools for scheduling, budgeting, and communication.
• Event certifications are advantageous, but not required.

Attitude and Demeanor

The ideal candidate will:

• Publicly support the mission and vision of The Hill School in a positive and professional manner.
• Work as a dynamic team member in a professional collaborative environment.
• Think proactively and anticipate the needs of others.
• Remain calm under pressure and solve problems quickly.
• Communicate effectively with warmth, sensitivity, and understanding when dealing with colleagues, teachers, students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and guests.
• Possess a "service attitude" - a willingness to be flexible to meet the needs of the department and the School.
• Actively participate in the life of The Hill School by becoming knowledgeable about curricular and co-curricular programs, periodically volunteering to supervise student activities, and being a highly visible presence at school events, performances, exhibitions, and athletic competitions.
• Be self-motivated, extremely collaborative, and curious about people, experiences, and communications.

For more information, or to apply now, you must go to the website below. Please DO NOT email your resume to us as we only accept applications through our website.

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