Senior Associate, Events & Development Operations

Title: Senior Associate, Events & Development Operations

Department: Development  

Report to: Senior Manager, Development Operations    

Compensation: $30.82 - $36.30/Hour

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Location/Hours: Hybrid – 3 days/week in office

All candidates must be within commutable distance of SEO’s offices at 55 Exchange Place, New York, NY 10005, upon hire.  

ABOUT SEO

Founded in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement, SEO closes educational and career opportunity gaps for 7,000 ambitious young people annually.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Associate, Events & Development Operations is the primary operations lead for the organization’s Annual Awards Dinner, tasked with supporting the Development leadership team and other key stakeholders, including SEO staff and leadership, board volunteers, and external consultants, in the planning and execution of the Awards Dinner and other special events. The Awards Dinner is SEO’s largest fundraising event, responsible for $9M+ in revenue each year. The Senior Associate will also help implement additional donor stewardship and cultivation activities. Reporting to Senior Manager, Development Operations, the Senior Associate will also work closely with and have a dotted line reporting relationship to the Senior Director, Development.

• Contribute to overall annual Development team goals, including revenue goals ($22M+) and development operations team goals (e.g., accurate and timely reporting, transmittals, data entry, and acknowledgments).
• Lead the operations of the Annual Awards Dinner revenue tracking. 
• Prepare regular revenue progress reports and work with Senior Director, Development to develop reports to review high-level progress and comparisons to previous Awards Dinner results.
• Oversee Annual Awards Dinner event trackers, assuring accuracy, entering all Awards Dinner pledges, tracking all honoree, dinner chair and board member solicitations, and preparing status reports.
• Collaborate with Senior Director, Development and Awards Dinner team to develop strategies for advance solicitations and outreach.
• Develop best practices for managing multiple Awards Dinner solicitation and prospect lists.
• Oversee, organize, and maintain all Awards Dinner solicitation lists and progress reports.
• Lead prospect research efforts of confirmed Awards Dinner guests for best table placement, and of VIPs to engage during the event.
• Generate and review the Awards Dinner Committee listings.
• Prepare all Development department acknowledgment letters for donors and sponsors, and maintain digital files of acknowledgments.
• Prepare contribution statements and invoices for sponsors.
• Approve and transmit all Awards Dinner pledges to the Finance department.
• Process vendor invoices and provide necessary documentation as needed.
• Attend Awards Dinner team meetings and serve as liaison to event consultants for all operations aspects of the Awards Dinner.
• Respond to sponsor inquiries for documentation, and coordinate with event consultants for receiving sponsor ads, logos, and listing information.
• Manage other Awards Dinner details including on-site needs as appropriate.
• Assist with other special events such as alumni events, Leadership Reception, and others with both preparations and on-site support as needed.
• Coordinate special appeals and other projects as requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2-3 years of work experience in non-profit development operations or similar work, and/or event planning with increasing levels of responsibility and measurable results.

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• A Passion for SEO’s Mission: A deep curiosity and knowledge of the barriers to entry and obstacles for closing opportunity gaps for motivated young people.
• Communication: Exemplary written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills; must be able to address and engage with diverse and multicultural communities through different mediums, including in-person and through messaging platforms, video chats/conferences, and phone calls.
• Relationship Management: A proven background in developing and leveraging strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish common goals and a track record of collaborating with teammates and colleagues with dignity and respect.
• Critical Thinking: The capacity to anticipate needs, use best resources, and employ careful decision-making. Able to adjust to changes and work demands quickly while maintaining a strategic and tactical vision to complete work efficiently.
• Initiative: Proactively identifying ways to contribute to SEO’s vision and mission by setting and delivering on achievable goals aligned with team and organizational priorities.
• Project Management: An affinity for planning with the ability to break down issues into component pieces, build project work plans, assume accountability for timelines, lead cross-functional working teams, evaluate data for continuous improvement, all while navigating ambiguity along the way.
• Organization: Well-developed organizational skills with ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines, and with stellar attention to detail, especially related to data collection, entry, and management.
• Judgment: Proven sound judgement and excellent problem-solving skills.
• Technical Proficiencies: Proficiency in MS Office, and working knowledge of Salesforce or a similar CRM database system, and cloud-based applications like Box and Zoom.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS 

SEO offers a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plan including low-cost health, vision, and dental options, a generous holiday schedule and PTO policies, disability coverage, fully paid time off for new parents, and employer contributions to health reimbursement and retirement accounts. We are constantly working to improve our benefits each year based on the needs of our employees. We value wellness and strive to put people first and foremost.

The compensation listed in this posting reflects what SEO believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and SEO reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time.

EEOC Policy

At SEO we are committed to cultivating a team that embodies the backgrounds and experiences of the constituencies we serve and the communities we live in, and a workplace that reflects the impact we make in the world. Candidates from all communities – including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ Community, veterans, and people with disabilities – are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity is not just the law, it is our commitment.

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer – M/F/D/V. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other legally protected status.

If you need accommodation while applying for a role with SEO, due to a disability, please email SEO Talent.

THE ORGANIZATION

Established in 1963 by Michael Osheowitz, SEO (Sponsors for Educational Opportunity) is an educational non-profit founded on the belief that talent is everywhere; but opportunity is not. Our programs are designed to educate, train, mentor, and amplify the voices of our participants to give them a seat at the table – every table. We propel human potential.

SEO is an innovator in education, mentorship, and creating educational career opportunities that maximize the full potential of our participants. Each year SEO serves 7,000+ participants nationally, and the organization is widely recognized for developing best-in-class programs with exceptional results.

Not every SEO participant is on the same journey, but all are hungry for opportunity and SEO creates an ecosystem of excellence. Learn more about SEO's programs here: https://www.seo-usa.org/our-programs/.