Utah State University's Office of Advancement and Alumni is seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Director of Events (Advancement Specialist III) to lead the Advancement Events Team within the Division of Stewardship and Donor Engagement to strategically plan and execute high-level donor events that build lasting connections, celebrate impact, and strengthen philanthropic support for USU’s mission. The Senior Director of Events, reports to the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Stewardship and Donor Engagement.  The Sr. Director works closely with the entire Stewardship & Donor Engagement team, USU’s Alumni team, campus units, and statewide representatives to design innovative and impactful events. This role ensures that all events align with USU's mission and uphold a high standard of excellence, from initial planning to post-event evaluation.

Leadership and Goals

• Set the vision for the Advancement Events Team, ensuring alignment with broader goals of Stewardship and Donor Engagement.

• Develop and implement strategies to achieve high-level event goals, ensuring they are aligned with the university’s mission and advancement objectives.

• Supervise and mentor the Events Team, providing direction and guidance on all aspects of event planning and execution.

• Lead the development of event strategies, working closely with the AVP of Stewardship and Donor Engagement.

• Oversee and operationalize the Advancement Tiered Event Support structure, ensuring a consistent and effective approach to donor events across the university.

• Establish metrics for event success and evaluate outcomes to ensure objectives are being met.

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the entire Stewardship and Donor Engagement operation and represent the Associate Vice President in relevant settings.

Strategic Planning and Coordination

• Strategically plan, set objectives, and execute high-level donor events, both physical and virtual.

• Develop processes to track and evaluate event ROI, ensuring that events meet established objectives.

• Develop, manage, and monitor event budgets, ensuring financial goals are met and resources are effectively allocated.

• Manage the event RSVP platform, including financial reporting and troubleshooting event-related issues.

• Ensure that all events align with USU’s brand, mission, and donor engagement strategies.

Partnership and Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal units and statewide campus representatives to strategize and plan unit-level donor events.

• Provide consultation and event coordination support to units across the USU system to ensure successful donor-focused events.

• Oversee the execution of the S&DE Tiered Event Support plan, ensuring processes are relevant and effective in achieving event goals.

• Serve as a resource for event protocol, ensuring all events adhere to best practices and high standards.

• Work with external vendors, internal departments, and other stakeholders to execute events efficiently and successfully.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field plus five years of relevant work experience OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in event planning and executing high-level donor events including budget management, logistics, vendor management, and post-event evaluation.
• Experience with event management software and tools to track and report event details, budgets, and outcomes.
• Proven ability to interact well in collaborative settings.
• Proven ability to interact well with donors or VIP guests.
• Proven ability to creatively implement new and innovative event elements.
• Supervisory experience.
• Understanding of higher education.
• USU Advancement experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, motivate, and mentor a team.
• Ability to think strategically and collaborate with various departments to achieve desired event outcomes.
• Ability to work with high-level donors, alumni, and university officials, demonstrating professionalism and knowledge of event protocol.
• Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to handle complex projects and manage competing priorities effectively.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced, deadline- and goal-driven environment.
• Ability to strategically determine event purpose, guest list, budgets, etc. and execute events to meet predetermined objectives.
• Skilled in the use of personal computers and related software applications with the ability to adapt to technological change.

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

2. Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

3. Contact information for three references to be typed into the candidate profile at the beginning of the application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Division of Advancement is a welcoming office where teamwork and collaboration are highly valued. Advancement staff are engaged in the meaningful work of securing private financial resources to fuel Utah State University's mission by creating gratifying gift and engagement experiences for USU's generous and passionate alumni and friends. Comprising the division are the office of the Vice President, the USU Foundation & Board, Advancement Services, the Alumni Association (Alumni Engagement), Gift Planning, Corporations and Foundations, Strategic Communications, Stewardship and Donor Engagement, the Annual Fund and ACE (Alumni Center for Engagement). Furthermore, the division coordinates all fundraising efforts across campus, including colleges, various programs, extension campuses, and USU Athletics. Through the collaboration of these units, the Division of Advancement is able to achieve significant annual fundraising goals by inspiring stakeholders to invest their time and resources in Utah State University. 

Disclaimer

This position description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position.

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

*updated 09/2025

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  OCR@ed.gov

*updated 10/2025