JOB DESCRIPTION: Reporting to the Director of Alumni Engagement in the Office of Advancement, the Advancement Events Manager designs, manages, and produces Good Counsel’s fundraising and alumni events. These events enhance the Good Counsel brand, support and expand relationships, and raise philanthropic and sponsorship dollars. The Advancement Events Manager works closely with Chief Advancement Officer and members of the Advancement and Admissions Teams, and is a direct liaison with vendors, facilities, staff, and volunteer committees whose combined efforts ensure the success of each event. The Advancement Events Manager develops and distributes core communications materials to promote events, prepares event briefings for leadership, manages regional travel and events, and manages the data integration process for the Advancement Team, to include capturing event attendance and affiliations for alumni. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Design, manage, and implement Good Counsel’s stewardship and fundraising events for alumni, parents, and friends, including the Steve Dean Golf Tournament, Alumni Reunion Weekend, the Society Celebration Dinner, the Grand Celebration, Cookies and Cocoa with Santa, Day of Giving, the Celebration of Scholarships, alumni legacy admission events, football donor cultivation events, and regional campaign and alumni events. 
• Assist with coordinating admissions and school-wide events, including Open House, Admitted Student event, Freshman Parent Reception, convocation, and commencement as needed. 
• Implement the strategy to evaluate events and include appropriate follow-up from each event. 
• Plan and execute the school’s events, including identifying event dates, locations, participants, and formats. 
• Create and oversee detailed timelines for each event and develop event briefings to send to leadership, staff, and key volunteers. 
• Develop core communications for events, schedule, and distribute all event invitations and communications. 
• Coordinate invitation lists in collaboration with key faculty and staff members. 
• Coordinate with volunteer planning committees on events, including the Grand Celebration Committee and Advancement Committee.
• Collaborate with the President, Principal, Chief Advancement Officer, Director of Alumni Engagement, and others to develop remarks, program content, and performances for events. 
• Collaborate with the Chief Marketing Officer and marketing team on event communication schedules, to write, create and distribute save-the-dates, invitations, signage, programs, and any necessary social media posts working closely with designers and printers to execute collateral. 
• Field and manage all invitation responses and attendance lists for seating and, if necessary, ticketing. 
• Manage and track metrics for event attendance, stewardship/moves management initiatives. 
• Coordinate menus, décor, equipment and facility needs with caterer and vendors, on occasion in collaboration with volunteers and volunteer committees. 
• Work closely with the Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Advancement Officer to create a consistent brand image and standard for entertaining at Good Counsel. 
• Oversee expenses and guest lists of all events; maintain budgets in collaboration with Advancement office staff members. 
• Communicate effectively with numerous in-house departments and staff members to facilities and request staff, equipment needs, delivery schedules, facility rentals, etc. for events. 
• Communicate with high-level donors, board members, committee members, and other key volunteers with professionalism. 

EXPERIENCE: 2-4 years of experience as an event planner or similar experience in a professional setting with preference to prior experience in higher education or an independent school. 

SKILLS: 

• Strong writing and organizational skills with diligent attention to detail 
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and to plan and oversee projects 
• Skilled negotiator and problem solver, independent decision maker 
• Experience producing creative events 
• Initiative and the willingness to collaborate and cooperate with colleagues 
• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Familiarity with accounting and budgeting 
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Adobe Suite, Blackbaud NXT, and Veracross knowledge a plus 

REQUIRED WORK HOURS: 

• Full-time, 12-month, non-exempt 

• Frequent event work to include occasional nights and weekends, possible travel for regional alumni events

About Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, a private, Catholic, college-preparatory school in Olney, MD.

Connections working at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School