Senior Manager, Development Events

The Juilliard School•New York, NY

6d•$75,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Development Events serves as a lead producer for Juilliard’s portfolio of high-impact development events, overseeing 15–20+ programs annually with a primary focus on the Membership event season and key signature events such as the Scholarship Donor Luncheon. Reporting to the Director of Special Events and collaborating closely with the Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Programs, this role leads event concept development, production planning, and execution in partnership with the Office of the President, artistic and divisional leadership, and Development colleagues. The Senior Manager is responsible for end-to-end event management, including creative ideation, logistics and operations, budget oversight, vendor and venue coordination, and day-of execution, ensuring each event reflects Juilliard’s artistic excellence and stewardship priorities. The role emphasizes proactive planning, clear communication, and meticulous attention to detail, from production timelines and stakeholder updates through post-event evaluation and reporting. In addition, the Senior Manager collaborates with the Communications and Marketing team to shape event messaging and materials, supports the production of Juilliard’s annual gala benefit, and engages confidently with trustees, major donors, and guest artists in high-profile settings. This position requires a strategic, collaborative, and highly organized professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and brings both independent initiative and a strong team-oriented approach to advancing Juilliard’s Development goals. The salary for this role is $75,000-$85,000 annually. Working at Juilliard Founded in 1905, The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education. The school’s mission is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors from around the world so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens. Excellence and professionalism are important guides in how we go about our work, but we also connect to the mission as individuals in the workplace. We thrive because of our variety of backgrounds and our ability to be open and honest, and we also thrive because we enjoy each other’s company. We believe that each employee has the responsibility to help shape the Juilliard organizational culture, and we provide opportunities to participate in team-building throughout the year. Our organizational values focus on community and culture. We encourage you to read more about how we achieve our mission on our website, juilliard.edu.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) and at least 5–7 years of experience coordinating events, with particular interest or experience in areas such as donor relations, stage management, house management, and/or performance production.
A master of organization, with meticulous attention to detail and excellent written communication skills.
Extremely adept in tracking, balancing, and forecasting annual expense budgets as well as individual event budgets.
Strong interpersonal communication skills and professional demeanor, particularly in dealing with Board members and other VIP donors and guests.
Comfortable and confident in leading meetings and speaking to your ideas and event plans/details.
Ability to work well with all levels of employees, with sound judgment and an open, collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to the broader organization.
Thrives in a team-oriented and interactive environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Zoom.
Ability to work evenings, late nights, and/or weekends, as needed, and possible travel.
This is a hybrid position with an expectation to work in person at least three days per week, with increased on-site presence—including full weeks—as needed in the lead-up to major events.
Effectively coordinate across internal and external stakeholders to navigate competing schedules and priorities, while anticipating challenges, making independent decisions, remaining flexible, and managing multiple projects at various stages in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Previous event experience in a non-profit, higher education, and/or arts organization strongly preferred.
Previous experience in producing original event programming with an eye for artistic/performative elements and a keen sense of event flow strongly preferred.
Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge database (or other CRM platform).
Familiarity with email campaign platforms (e.g., Pardot, Eloqua, Constant Contact, Mailchimp).
Familiarity with event-planning software (e.g., Social Tables, Zkipster, All Seated).
Familiarity with the performing arts and/or performance process.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director of Special Events, and with input from the Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Programs, serve as the lead producer for 15–20+ events annually, with a primary focus on Juilliard’s Membership event season, as well as key signature events such as the Scholarship Donor Luncheon.
Lead event ideation in collaboration with the Office of the President, divisional and artistic leadership, and colleagues in Development—particularly those in Annual Giving and Membership—to shape event programming and artistic content.
Manage all event logistics and operations, including vendor selection, contracts, payments, venue booking, catering, rentals, and décor.
Collaborate with the Director of Special Events on budget management and reconciliation.
Plan well in advance of each event by establishing detailed production timelines, tracking key milestones, and providing regular updates to leadership and collaborators.
Oversee day-of event execution, including staff assignments, facilities setup, event flow, and on-the-ground coordination to ensure seamless delivery at the highest standard.
Lead post-event wrap-up, including debriefs with stakeholders, vendor reconciliation, and reporting on event outcomes, impact, and key takeaways.
Collaborate with Communications and Marketing, along with Development colleagues, to craft event messaging and produce invitations, reminders, thank-you notes, signage, and visual assets for both print and digital use.
Support the Director of Special Events in producing Juilliard’s annual gala benefit, ensuring all components are executed with care, quality, and attention to detail.
Interact confidently and professionally with trustees, major donors, and guest artists, demonstrating discretion, maturity, and ease in high-profile and high-pressure environments.
Support additional events, projects, and departmental initiatives as assigned by the Director of Special Events and the Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Programs, demonstrating both independent initiative and a collaborative, team-oriented approach.