Assistant Director Engagement and Special Events

St. Thomas Aquinas College invites applications for the position of Assistant Director, Engagement and Special Events. Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving, the Assistant Director plays a key role in advancing the College's mission and Institutional Advancement efforts by strengthening donor engagement and stewardship, leading special events, and fostering meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, parents, friends, and members of the College community.

The successful candidate will be a highly organized, relationship-oriented professional who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution and collaborate effectively across departments.

Responsibilities include but not limited to the following:

• Lead the planning and execution of Institutional Advancement events, including donor recognition, cultivation, stewardship, and other special events.
• Manage event logistics, timelines, budgets, registrations, vendors, volunteers, sponsorship fulfillment, and post-event evaluation.
• Support and coordinate donor stewardship initiatives, including scholarship stewardship, donor communications, impact reporting, and recognition programs.
• Ensure timely, meaningful, and personalized engagement and stewardship for donors and scholarship benefactors.
• Coordinate communication and engagement efforts among internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop project plans, track progress, and provide updates to key stakeholders.
• Track stewardship deliverables and engagement metrics to support donor retention and satisfaction.
• Conduct prospect research and assist with maintaining accurate donor records and portfolio development.
• Utilize Raiser's Edge/NXT and other reporting tools to support fundraising, stewardship, and engagement efforts.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, efficiency, and the overall donor experience.
• Stay current on fundraising, donor stewardship, engagement, and special event best practices.
• Perform other related duties as assigned in support of the College's Institutional Advancement goals.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, nonprofit management, hospitality, business, higher education, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience in advancement, fundraising, donor/alumni relations, special events, communications, or a related area.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing events and building relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Familiarity with Raiser's Edge/NXT or similar CRM systems preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, exercise discretion and professionalism, and work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as required for events.

Application

Please send the following materials electronically to Michael Maher at St. Thomas Aquinas College at mmaher@stac.edu: a cover letter addressing the applicant's credentials and experience as they relate to the position; resume or curriculum vitae; and names, email addresses and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Please note: Internal candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be guaranteed an interview.

Salary

The salary for this position is $62,400-$70,000/year. When extending job offers, St. Thomas Aquinas College carefully considers factors such as (but not limited to) the role's responsibilities, the candidate's experience and education, essential skills, internal peer equity, budget constraints, and market trends. The provided rate reflects the College's good faith and reasonable estimate at the time of posting.