Director of Events

Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position.

Work Location:
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is hybrid eligible (minimum of 3 days on-site) after a successful evaluation period and depending on events schedule.

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Position Summary:

The Director of Events serves as the strategic leader and operational manager for university-wide events, driving institutional reputation, donor engagement, and campus community building. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Marketing & Communications, the Director leads a collaborative team responsible for designing and executing a diverse portfolio of high-impact events -- ranging from university signature ceremonies like Commencement to high-stakes donor engagement events and distinguished lectures. At its core, this role is built on partnership. The Director of Events serves as a primary connector across campus, working hand-in-hand with internal divisions, including University Relations, the Offices of the President and Provost, Facilities, Dining and Event Services, Security Services, Technology Services and academic leaders, as well as external vendors to create seamless, safe, and memorable experiences for students, families, alumni, and donors. The Director supports all large-scale events for the Division of University Relations, including donor events featuring the President of the university. The Director also works with other departments within University Relations, primarily Donor Relations, Constituent Relations, and Capital & Planned Giving to organize events to engage constituents, recognize and steward donors, and/or raise funds for the university.

This position performs complex coordination for daily functions involved in the visioning, planning, and implementation of Puget Sound events. The Director will establish and refine policy, in conjunction with other campus partners, as it relates to event management.

The Director of Events coordinates with university faculty, staff, and facility schedulers to ensure internal and external events and projects are consistent with the university's mission and that they deliver desired outcomes.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

A. Strategic Event Leadership & Cross-Campus Collaboration

• Build Interdepartmental Partnerships: Act as the primary event strategist across the university, establishing collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure alignment on vision, logistics, and resource allocation.
• University Signature Events: Lead planning committees for large-scale institutional milestone events, such as Commencement, Homecoming and Family Weekend, Summer Reunion Weekend, Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture, and Presidential initiatives, creating inclusive and extraordinary experiences for students, families, alumni, donors, and guests.
• University Relations & Fundraising Support: Partner closely with the Constituent Relations and Development teams to co-design and execute high-touch donor stewardship events and fundraising initiatives that drive institutional support and deliver measurable return on engagement.
• Brand Alignment: Collaborate with the broader Marketing & Communications team to ensure all event messaging, visual assets, and guest touchpoints seamlessly elevate and reinforce the university's brand reputation.

B. Vendor, Safety, & Budget Management

• Vendor Relations: Oversee relationships with external vendors, AV specialists, and event production partners; negotiate contracts and manage performance to ensure high-quality service and financial efficiency.
• Crisis & Safety Planning: In coordination with Security Services, Facilities, and Risk Management teams, establish robust safety protocols, crowd management strategies, and contingency plans for all major events, ensuring guest safety during unplanned disruptions or emergencies.
• Budget Oversight: Develop, manage, and reconcile the primary events department budget; partner with partner departments across campus to build accurate event budgets and maximize ROI.

C. Team Leadership & Service Culture

• Supervise & Mentor Staff: Lead, inspire, and develop a dedicated events team (including one full-time senior associate director of events and student workers), fostering a supportive, service-oriented, and team-first culture.

D. Workload & Capacity Planning: Establish clear workflows, templates, and standard operating procedures to balance high-visibility major events alongside routine departmental requests without overloading team capacity.

E. Cross-Functional Team Integration: Serve as an active, collaborative leader within Marketing & Communications and the division of University Relations, contributing to department-wide initiatives and supporting team members across functional lines.

F. Operations, Logistics, & Data Management:

• In coordination with members of the University Relations team, plan and execute the vision and event logistics for UR events, including but not limited to event location, timelines, invitations, programs, menu, tone of events, and decorations.
• Prepare event briefings prior to event and debriefings post-event for the President and Vice President for University Relations.
• Manage and staff events and provide necessary day-of coordination.
• Create and maintain event guest lists and track all event activity in Cvent and Raiser's Edge; work with Prospect & Information Management to assure data capture in the CRM for University Relations.
• Maintain current knowledge of all matters under the jurisdiction of the Division of University Relations, including updating events Policies and Procedures; always maintaining confidentiality; completing special projects and performing other duties as assigned by the Vice President for University Relations.
• Oversee the events section of the website.
• Oversee registration software platform, Cvent.
• Provide leadership and support to staff for other major on-campus events involving external constituents. Consult with other departments coordinating on-campus meetings or events for non-University audiences, such as summer conferences, as needed.
• Develop, establish, and maintain events policies at Puget Sound. Ensure adherence to events policies as applicable.
• Coordinate regular collaboration with representatives across campus.
• Participate in trainings and professional development opportunities.
• Other duties as needed.
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position supervises Senior Associate Director of Events. This position may supervise regular, temporary, or student staff.

Qualifications:

• Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in Communications, Hospitality, Public Relations, Business Administration, or a related field. Minimum of five years of increasingly responsible experience in events and constituent relations, preferably within higher education, to include at least two years of demonstrated experience leading teams, supervising staff, and managing cross-functional working groups or committees.
• Event Portfolio: Proven track record of planning and executing both large-scale public ceremonies (1,000+ attendees) and intimate, high-net-worth donor or executive events.
• Exceptional Collaboration: Proven ability to build trust, navigate organizational matrix structures, and foster authentic, cooperative relationships with colleagues at all levels of the university.
• Crisis Management & Calm Under Pressure: Sharp problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to make quick, sound decisions regarding guest safety, logistics, and budget adjustments during unexpected disruptions.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Superior verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to senior leadership, faculty, external partners, and donors.
• Financial & Operational Acumen: Strong contract negotiation, budget management, and project management skills.
• A commitment to representing the university in an ethical manner and maintaining confidentiality along with discretion, in navigating sensitive situations;
• Highly developed computer skills, as well as experience with constituent relations and event registration software;
• The willingness and ability to travel;
• Excellent organizational and planning skills as well as superior attentiveness to detail; and
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Cvent, Raiser's Edge, and Wrike.

Compensation and Benefits:

Career Framework Information:
Job Family: Marketing & Communications
Level: C4
Pay Grade: 8

The anticipated range for this position is $76,949 ($37.05) to $83,490 ($40.20), or up to $100,034 ($48.10) annually for an experienced candidate in this role. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions
• Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays
• Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families
• Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!)

Please note:
-Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
-Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
-Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits.

For more information on Puget Sound's exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Staff Members in Exempt Positions.pdf - Google Drive

For more information on Puget Sound's non-exempt staff benefits package, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Staff Members in Non-Exempt Positions.pdf - Google Drive

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline:
Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than November 23, 2026 to ensure consideration.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest
• 3 Professional References (At least 2 supervisors)

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks.

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge:

• The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community.
• The intrinsic worth of all who work and study here.
• The investigation and reflection enhance that education upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire:

• To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community.
• To increase the diversity of all parts of our university community through a commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts.
• To foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act:

• To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity.
• To ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here.
• To prepare citizen-leaders effectively for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

This Position: