Associate Director of Events & Programs

Amherst, MA, United States

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Events and Programs reports directly to the Isenberg School of Management's Executive Director of Special Programs and Engagement. This position collaborates with the Executive Director on high-profile events, including planning, developing, promoting, and managing strategic, industry-based, stakeholder engagement activities for academic departments within Isenberg. Additionally, the Associate Director works collaboratively with the Marcom department on communications that promote departmental and marketing initiatives aimed at increasing alumni and student involvement with the department and reinforces the department's reputation, while fostering lasting connections. Additional responsibilities include establishing budgets, hiring student interns and other staff as may be necessary, executing contracts and hiring external parties to execute events and programs.

Essential Functions

Interfaces regularly with the Department Chairs, Associate Chairs, and Program Directors to develop an overall departmental strategy for marketing, branding, publicity, and communications that complies with Isenberg branding and marketing guidelines. Helps to identify external relationship programming opportunities both on campus and in the industry to maximize public relations (PR) opportunities.

Writes and disseminates departmental communications and Interfaces regularly with department leadership, Isenberg Marketing and Communications team, and the Executive Director to develop strategic marketing plans, overseeing content development, writing, layout and design, procurement of photos, printing, website details, social media and mailing.

In collaboration with the Associate Director of Engagement, plans, organizes, publicizes, and produces strategic departmental events to enhance stakeholder engagement.

Plans, organizes, and holds regular meetings and events with individuals within each department apprised of current industry trends; reinforce the department's status as top tier programs; and maintain industry relationships.

Manages finances and budgets for department programs, events, and marketing initiatives including the authorization of expenditures, financial forecasting, and budgeting in concert with the Department Chairs and the Executive Director.

Provides support for student-club events in concert with the undergraduate program's office.

Supervises a Coordinator of Events & Programs.

Other Functions

Participates on school-based committees as needed.

Supervises student workers to support initiatives as needed.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Bachelor's degree with two (2) years of work experience in events, marketing, or communications.

Demonstrated working knowledge of print media production.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with a variety of stakeholders with multiple interests and varying levels of authority to achieve organizational goals.

Excellent communication and people skills, as well as conflict resolution skills.

Strong organizational skills and administrative aptitude with ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Demonstrated ability to work with office productivity software applications.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

Experience with event management software.

Proven experience and comfort with public speaking.

Demonstrated experience in print media production.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment.

Occasional lifting of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Additional Details

This position requires local, regional, and national travel.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Required to work occasional weekends and evening hours.

This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 27

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submissions are encouraged.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.