National Director, Special Events

JOB DESCRIPTION

This position oversees and supports the Regional Area Offices by ensuring UNCF events and special initiatives are effective and efficient generating revenue for member institution support. The position will ensure consistency in events' quality, strengthening UNCF's brand. Support includes assisting with contract review and negotiations (as needed), i.e., consultants, venue, production, entertainment, decorations, and other event-related needs—overall event planning, logistics, and cost reduction opportunities while establishing vendor partnerships for best rate consideration.

ABOUT UNCF

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization, has been an engine of minority educational achievement for more than 70 years. UNCF’s mission is to build a robust and nationally recognized pipeline of black students who, because of UNCF support, become highly qualified college graduates. In addition, UNCF ensures that its member institutions remain respected models of best practices in moving students to and through college. Since its inception in 1944, UNCF has raised over $4.5 billion in private support, distributed more scholarships to help minorities attend school than any entity outside of the federal government, and enabled more than 425,000 minority and low-income students to graduate from UNCF’s member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and launch professional careers. UNCF is committed to closing the educational attainment gap between African Americans and other populations by increasing postsecondary access and success for students from underrepresented groups, particularly low-income and first-generation students.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Ensure events in assigned markets are effective, efficient, and properly executed.
• Implement logistical and revenue enhancement opportunities to help strengthen events’ bottom line income results through venue selection, the monitoring and support of UNCF area office staff related to special event activities and to ensure they meet efficient and cost-effective guidelines.
• Create and track budgets for Special Events throughout an assigned territory.
• Oversee and manage contractual agreements in consultation with legal, venues, vendors and artists.
• Oversee and manage event sponsorship opportunities including identification, cultivation, solicitation, fulfillment, and stewardship.
• Work with UNCF Branding, Marketing and Communications staff to create and disseminate promotional collateral materials for events including invitations, programs, media kits, print ads, broadcast ads, billboards, etc.
• Oversee and manage logistics for UNCF events throughout the territory.
• Oversee and monitor local events for performance compliance and sharing of best practices.
• Ensure events meet performance standards and report results and recommendations to SVP.
• Research and engage as necessary outside vendors such as meeting planners, designers, and printers to manage UNCF events.
• Assist as needed with executive leadership participation at local and Special Events.
• Oversee and manage responsibility for special initiatives.
• Negotiate contracts and maintain relationships with preferred vendors.
• Compile estimated cost models, submit final budget, track budget statistics, and prepare management reports.
• Additional duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job may call for supervision of volunteers and staff while providing event support.

QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; and three to five years related experience (i.e., event planning, marketing, non-profit fundraising).
• Superior verbal, writing, and editing skills.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses intuition and experience to complement data; Designs workflows and procedures.

Design - Generates creative solutions; Translates concepts and information into images; Uses feedback to modify designs; Applies design principles; Demonstrates attention to detail.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem-solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understands organization's strengths & weaknesses; Analyzes market and competition; Identifies external threats and opportunities; Adapts strategy to changing conditions.

Language Skills - Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of an organization.

Mathematical Skills - Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning - Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

SOFTWARE SKILLS REQUIRED:

Knowledge of O365 with intermediate to advanced knowledge in Word and Excel. Experience with Raiser’s Edge NXT or other CRM required. Experience participating and hosting video conferencing platforms.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Remote and hybrid working environment.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Benefits include:

Medical, Dental & Vision

Vacation, Sick & Personal Leave

Life Insurance (Basic & Optional)

Flex Spending Accounts

403(b) Retirement Account

Holiday Savings Plan

Salary Range: $81,400.00 to $91,700.00 (Salary is commensurate with experience.)