Assistant Director Donor Relations And Events

SAIC

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world's most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC's undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world-as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

Basic Function:

The Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Events is an essential role in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (SAIC) Office of Advancement that enhances the overall donor experience and engagement opportunities for SAIC alumni and donors. Under guidance from the Director of Donor Relations, Advancement Communications, and Events and in partnership with the Office of Advancement and campus colleagues such as the Office of the President, Office of Student Affairs, and Marketing and Communications, and the Gene Siskel Film Center the Assistant Director supports, plans, and implements donor events such as small group dinners, donor and alum receptions, board and philanthropic council meetings, and on occasion large-scale fundraising events. The Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Events plays a pivotal role in designing and implementing events that not only engage but also celebrate the diversity of our alumni and donor community.

Responsibilities

• Manages the planning, logistics, and execution of Office of Advancement meetings and donor events including but not limited to: booking event space; developing content for event materials like invitations; tracking RSVPs, arranging food, beverage, and audiovisual equipment with internal and external vendors; and developing staffing plans

• In partnership with the Director, collaborates with Office of Advancement team members and SAIC stakeholders to identify programming goals, develop invitation lists, draft event communications, and provide recommendations on how to meet desired outcomes for events

• Maintains a comprehensive calendar of events and regularly shares updates on planning progress with all stakeholders

• Prepares event briefing materials for leadership, students, and faculty

• Works with Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Advancement Communications and Director to develop and execute post-event strategy

• Ensures that records for event invitees and attendees are updated in SAIC's customer relationship management system, the Raiser's Edge

• Tracks and reports on event expenses to support budget management for the Office of Advancement

• Work with internal partners to conduct post-event surveys

• Acts as representative for department when interfacing with vendors and guests; including leadership, donors, alums, and the general public

• Manage confidential information with discretion and tact

• Act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality

• Work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting

• Ability to travel out of state occasionally (1-2 times) annually to support offsite events and alumni gatherings and ability to work nights and weekends as needed (1-2 times per month)

• Performs other related work as needed to support the goals and priorities of the department

Qualifications:

• Minimum 1-3 years of experience in communications, hospitality, donor relations, executive or administrative assistance, or related field required

• Minimum 1-3 years managing events, event planning and logistics of various types and sizes including experience working with vendors required

• Bachelor's degree required

• Demonstrated record of progressively responsible events experience preferred

• Strong customer service, relationship management, and interpersonal skills

• Strong writing and editing skills, with good attention to detail

• Experience managing projects and working across teams to accomplish a shared objective

• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft and Google suites required

• Knowledge of data management skills including proficiency with spreadsheets, mail merges, using Raiser's Edge CRM or similar databases preferred

• Organized, self-motivated worker who takes initiative

Salary Grade 7

Benefits

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous paid time off

• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits

• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)

• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program

• Great employee discounts

• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions

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Closing Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.

Union Info

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31