University Events Director

About Lesley University:

Located in the heart of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley University is highly regarded for its graduate and undergraduate programs in the human arts of education, the arts, and applied social sciences. Lesley fosters a highly creative environment in which innovative ideas thrive, theory is integrated with practice and its 6,400 students and 90,000 alumni are empowered to improve and enrich communities.

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance. In addition, we offer substantial paid time off, a generous retirement plan, and tuition programs that enable employees and their dependents to expand their knowledge and skills.

Lesley is committed to the ongoing pursuit of strategic diversity initiatives that help to position diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental to institutional and academic excellence at Lesley. In doing so, Lesley strives for a campus culture and community that fosters a true sense of belonging for all, provides opportunity for everyone to participate equally and fully in the Lesley experience, and helps to develop each individual's capacity to confidently and competently engage within and across difference. Given an evolving national context and the rapid change in the demographic profile of our country, the University has made a significant commitment to addressing and enhancing its campus climate and diversity capabilities as an institution.


Job Description:

Lesley seeks a University Events Director, who will serve to conceptualize and execute a wide range of high-quality academic, advancement, and community events across the University, virtually and, when possible, in person.

The selected individual, reporting to the Vice President for Strategy and Implementation, who is also serving as acting head of Advancement, will support various events through overall and onsite coordination; collaborate with leadership and stakeholders across the university to develop overall strategy for large and small events including convocation, commencement, and lecture series; manage the university event calendar; coordinate use of campus event spaces; determine and execute best use of technology for virtual events; work with marketing/communications to promote events; manage invitations and registration; manage internal and external volunteers and lead event committee meetings; plan event details and create a strategy and timeline for internal staff responsibilities and external vendor responsibilities before and during events; coordinate and schedule event support from other departments such as public safety, plant operations, and information technology; develop and manage event budgets; ensure events are accessible, inclusive, and in alignment with the university's diversity goals; and evaluate the effectiveness of event operations to recommend improvements.


Requirements:

The successful candidate will have a minimum of five years' prior experience planning and producing quality events, both live and virtual; strong customer service focus; exceptional communication (verbal and written), leadership, planning, organizational, problem-solving, decision-making, and interpersonal skills; strong project management skills and attention to detail; experience managing event budgets and making effective and efficient use of limited resources; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize workloads, meet goals and deadlines, and work well with limited supervision; demonstrated proficiency in the use of Zoom, Livestream, YouTube, social media and other platforms for virtual event production; ability to work some nights and weekends; and have earned at least a Bachelor's degree.


Additional Information:

At Lesley University we strive for a supportive and equitable environment where people -- regardless of race, physical ability, age, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and other protected personal identities -- can participate equally and fully as their true selves in all aspects of university life. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the fabric of our institution.


Application Instructions:

A letter of interest, CV/resume, and a statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, professional activity, and/or service must be included for full consideration.