Director Special Events

Summary/Objective:

The Director, Special Events is a senior leader on Philadelphia Ballet’s Advancement Team and reports to the Chief Advancement Officer. As a member of the Advancement team leadership, the Director will contribute to overall planning and strategy, with a focus on events. The position is directly responsible for managing all Special Events, as well as all cultivation and stewardship events. The ideal candidate is highly organized, deeply collaborative, and able to balance numerous competing priorities. They must be strategic, optimistic, team-oriented, possess a can-do attitude and have excellent attention to detail.  They need to be committed to the success of the ballet art form and be able to communicate thoughtfully and enthusiastically about the work of the Philadelphia Ballet, its opportunities, and its challenges.

Essential Functions:

·        Work closely and collaboratively with other members of the Development Team in achievement of special events, annual, and Campaign and Planned Giving goals.

·        Supervise, mentor, and guide the (position title) for job performance success and continued professional development.

·        Lead the Special Events Committee.

·        Lead and coordinate the volunteer program.

·        Attend board and committee meetings including Development, Special Events, Campaign, etc. as needed.

·        Ability to work evenings and weekends throughout performance season.

·        Perform additional duties as required by the Philadelphia Ballet.

·        Support strategy and guide execution for all Donor and Special Events.

·        Ensure Special Events successfully secure gross contributed revenue goals.

·        Oversee and manage all Special Event Committees and Volunteer Leadership, including the pipeline of future event leadership and honorees.

·        Oversee the execution for special events and ensure all are executed successfully.

·        Provide oversight for all event correspondence including invitations, RSVP’s, menus, presentations and all other printed materials, ensuring strategic objectives are met.

·        Work collaboratively across the Advancement department on the coordination and development of all cultivation and stewardship events, including implementation and execution.

·        Collaborate with Development Committee and Special Events Committee to involve them in Event strategy and execution of plans.

Required Education and Experience:

·        Bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in fundraising and/or event management, preferably in the performing arts.

·        Management experience and demonstrated success in a sophisticated and complex fundraising environment.

·        Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.

·        Good strategic/critical thinker.

·        Experience with Tessitura or other fundraising database platforms (i.e. Raisers Edge, Millennium) preferred; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.

·        Accounting and budgetary management experience.

·        Experience leading and inspiring a group of ambitious and goal-oriented professionals.

Required Skills and Competencies:

·        Understands of the needs and interests of major donors in order to develop relationships between them and the Philadelphia Ballet

·        Strong organizational skills and demonstrated capacity to develop and implement practical strategies, plans, and solutions to identified issues and problems.

·        Demonstrated leadership and management success.

·        Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills.

·        Problem-solving, research and analytical skills.

·        Solid relationship-building skills, able to interface with external constituents, Staff, Artists, the Board of Trustees and Emeritus Trustees.

·        Able to see and understand the objectives of Events, and the Development Department, and to integrate their goals with those objectives.

·        Demonstrated ability to think conceptually and master complex subject matter quickly.

·        Is deeply collaborative and can partner well with people both in and outside of the organization.

·        Professional demeanor, detail oriented.

·        Creativity, flexibility and a wonderful sense of humor.

·        Able to initiate, analyze, monitor, evaluate and advance strategic advancement plans.

·        Able to articulate the case for support so that individuals "buy in" to the vision/mission/goals of the Ballet and with sufficient effectiveness to secure gifts at assigned donor giving levels

·       Possess a deep love and appreciation of ballet and dance.

·       Positive attitude and exceptional work ethic.

·       Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

·       Establish and maintain effective and productive working relationships within a diverse and multicultural environment;

·       Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

·       Ability to collaborate well with others across all functional areas

·       Take appropriate steps to promote and enforce safe work practices within each area of responsibility in accordance with policies and protocols. 

Work Authorization/Security Clearance: Must provide satisfactory background checks and child abuse clearances as may be required for role.

Other Duties:  Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Organizational Diversity:  The Philadelphia Ballet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are deeply committed to cultivating and sustaining an organization that is equitable, fair, and inclusive in artistic expression and organizational behavior, policy, and practice.  We embrace diversity both on and off stage and strive to be an organization where all communities feel a sense of belonging.  We hold each other and ourselves accountable to these intentions every day. 

Philadelphia Ballet provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees including medical, dental and vision insurance, Life/AD&D insurance, Short-term and Long-term insurance, 401(k) retirement savings plan, paid time off and more