Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Events

Hiring Department

External and Donor Relations

Job Description

Join a dynamic advancement team and play a key role in shaping meaningful donor experiences that elevate engagement and strengthen philanthropic impact at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for External and Donor Relations, this position is responsible for the organized and creative planning, coordination, and execution of donor events, stewardship experiences, and donor acknowledgment activities. Housed in the University’s Division of Advancement, the Assistant Director will plan and execute the logistics for engagement events and experiences of varying sophistication, complexity, and scope. These activities range from small program-specific engagements to large-scale University-wide events.

Primary responsibilities include:

• In collaboration with the Assistant Vice Chancellor for External & Donor Relations and colleagues, manages and executes high-impact donor stewardship and recognition events and engagement touchpoints, including donor recognition societies and funded naming opportunities.
• Manages the planning and execution of strategic events to support the goals and objectives of the University Division of Advancement, including planning, scheduling, vendor coordination, pre-event communications, on-site logistics, program preparation, and post-event follow-up.
• Maintains accurate data and records; completes all pre- and post-event reporting in a timely and accurate manner seeking opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Partners with Advancement colleagues to develop data-driven lists and messaging.
• Implements donor acknowledgment and recognition processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and high-quality stewardship communications.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, timelines, and briefing materials to ensure alignment across campus partners and leadership.
• Manages budget, assesses financial implications, and effectively negotiates cost containment strategies and vendor relationships as necessary.
• Supports University signature events such as groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings, and other stewardship engagement activities.
• Interacts professionally, exercising sound judgement with all internal and external constituents. Serves as an enthusiastic team member and leads by example.
• Mentors Student Ambassadors on event administrative/production tasks and constituent relations ensuring accuracy of information, and positive outcomes.
• Serves as an active and enthusiastic partner to all advancement functions and campus colleagues to foster strategic, effective, and collaborative efforts that are informed through research of best practices and constituent feedback.
• Works collaboratively across Advancement and campus partners to ensure coordination, alignment, and timely execution of priorities.
• Sets engagement goals and metrics, event-specific objectives and project plans, and uses judgement to ensure stakeholder expectations and outcomes are achieved.
• Coordinates resources and sets daily priorities to meet operational objectives.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.