Associate Director of Events

PACIFIC UNIVERSITY • Forest Grove, OR

6d • $58,000 - $65,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director of Events leads the planning, creative design, and execution of the university’s most visible and mission-critical Advancement events, including galas, presidential events, campaign-related events, donor stewardship gatherings, and namings and dedications. As part of the University Advancement team, this role also partners with campus colleagues to support major campus-wide events such as commencement, lectures, and community-facing events. The Associate Director operates with significant autonomy and accountability, working closely with University Advancement leadership and colleagues, the President’s Office, and senior campus stakeholders to translate institutional priorities into high-impact, hospitality-driven experiences that strengthen relationships, build community, and elevate the university’s brand.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and a minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in event management, hospitality, development, alumni relations, communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing complex, high-visibility events, including donor, stewardship, or signature events with senior leadership involvement.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple large-scale events simultaneously, oversee timelines, budgets, vendors, and logistics, and exercise sound judgment in high-stakes, real-time decision-making.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with senior leaders, campus partners, donors, and external stakeholders.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to represent the university professionally and with warmth.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends and provide on-site leadership for major events.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse constituents, including students, employees, volunteers, faculty, alumni, donors, and community partners.
• Strong verbal, written, and visual communication skills, with the ability to represent the university in a professional, welcoming, and mission-aligned manner.
• Demonstrated ability with project management, event management, and CRM/project management platforms (e.g., Airtable, Asana, Trello, Cvent, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or similar systems).
• Experience managing event budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships.
• Proven ability to organize work, manage multiple projects and timelines, and coordinate complex processes across stakeholders.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and sound judgment in problem-solving and decision-making.
• Ability to clearly communicate policies, processes, and expectations to a wide range of internal and external audiences.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in higher education, advancement, fundraising, or a comparable mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading signature events such as galas, presidential events, campaign events, donor recognition programs, and namings or dedications.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies across age groups, cultures, and backgrounds.
• Prior training or professional experience in hospitality, guest experience design, or service excellence.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff, student employees, or volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Leads the creative vision and experience design for the university’s highest-profile Advancement and signature events, including galas, presidential events, campaign-focused events, donor stewardship gatherings, namings and dedications, and other high-visibility moments.
• Develops event concepts that elevate the university’s brand, mission, and storytelling, creating experiences that are memorable, emotionally resonant, and relationship-centered.
• Partners with University Advancement leadership, the President’s Office, and campus stakeholders to design event experiences that support fundraising, stewardship, and campaign objectives.
• Ensures events reflect a strong hospitality lens, prioritizing how guests feel before, during, and after each experience.
• Provides end-to-end leadership for assigned signature events, from concept development and planning through execution and post-event follow-up.
• Oversees all logistics for complex, high-stakes events, including venues, production, catering, AV, décor, run of show, guest flow, accessibility, and on-site experience.
• Serves as the lead on-site manager for major events, ensuring seamless execution, high-touch hospitality, and real-time problem-solving.
• Establishes event standards, templates, and best practices for signature Advancement events.
• Designs and manages high-touch experiences for donors, trustees, university leadership, and distinguished guests.
• Partners with development officers, alumni relations, and corporate relations to ensure events advance donor cultivation, stewardship, and campaign goals.
• Works closely with the President’s Office and senior leadership to ensure alignment on event goals, messaging, protocol, and hospitality standards.
• Anticipates and plans for VIP needs, protocol considerations, and relationship moments.
• Manages complex event budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with Advancement priorities.
• Leads vendor selection, contract negotiation, and relationship management for signature events.
• Develops and manages detailed project plans, timelines, and production schedules for multiple concurrent high-profile events.
• Ensures delivery of all contractual obligations and service standards.
• Serves as a strategic partner to Development, Alumni Relations, Marketing & Communications, and campus leaders to integrate events into the broader engagement, storytelling, and fundraising ecosystem.
• Collaborates with Facilities, Public Safety, other campus departments, and external partners to ensure safety, accessibility, and operational excellence.
• Partners with the University Advancement team to support select major campus-wide events (e.g., commencement, lectures, community-facing events), contributing expertise in hospitality, experience design, and execution while maintaining primary responsibility for signature Advancement events.
• Advises campus partners on event experience design for donor-facing and campaign-related moments.
• Evaluates signature events using qualitative and quantitative measures, including guest experience, engagement outcomes, and fundraising or stewardship impact.
• Uses data, feedback, and observation to continuously refine event formats, hospitality practices, and creative approaches.
• Stays current on trends in hospitality, experience design, donor engagement, and event innovation, bringing fresh ideas into the Advancement events portfolio.
• Provides mentorship, guidance, and creative direction to Assistant Director(s), coordinators, and event staff supporting signature events.
• Contributes to the development of campus-wide event frameworks, playbooks, and standards in partnership with University Advancement leadership.
• Supports select campus events or Advancement initiatives outside of signature events as needed during peak periods.
• Represents University Advancement in cross-campus event planning conversations and committees as appropriate.
• Participates in professional development and networks related to advancement events, hospitality, and experience design.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of University Advancement and institutional priorities.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off (for vacation, holidays—including winter break—and sick leave)
• Medical coverage with alternative care options (with in-network services covered at 100% after payroll deduction)
• Comprehensive dental and vision plans
• Generous retirement contribution after one year of service with no match required
• Free mental health appointments
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependent child(ren) who meet eligibility requirements
• On-campus benefits, including free access to our sports facility and library
• Discounts on campus food, bookstore purchases, clinic services, and outdoor program gear rentals (including kayaks, snowshoes, and bikes)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level