Assistant Director, Events

Note for Internal Candidates 

While this role is visible on our external job board, internal applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Internal candidates will be prioritized in the review and selection process. If you are a current SEO employee interested in this opportunity, we invite you to apply and continue your professional journey with us.  

Title: Assistant Director, Events 

Department: SEO Career   

Report to: Vice President, Career Program & Operations   

Compensation: $77,600 - $91,400 

FLSA: 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. 

SEO Career recruits and prepares high-achieving undergraduates for summer internships in corporate America, including Wall Street, commercial real estate, and technology, with more than 80% leading to coveted full-time jobs.    
 

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Assistant Director, Events will be responsible for the strategy, execution, and analysis of all SEO Career Events. The Assistant Director, Events will work closely with the department’s leadership and staff to design, plan, and manage the end-to-end lifecycle series of recruiting, program, and partner events, and SEO’s annual signature event, The Summit. This role will also manage relationships with all vendors who support programming (curriculum, space, catering) and liaise with corporate partners to meet their event goals. The Assistant Director, Events employs their strategic and leadership capabilities with tactical know-how to ensure all partners and participants have best-in-class experiences. This role will also serve on the organization-wide events task force to share best practices. 

Event Strategy 

• Work with Vice President, Career Program & Operations to develop an annual events strategy that supports SEO Career organizational goals based on detailed data analysis and budget restrictions. 

• Establish and maintain a centralized organizational events process for the entire SEO Career Team, including timelines, activities, tools, and responsibilities, to drive predictability and efficiencies in event production. 

• Make strategic decisions about events (i.e., if an event should be held virtually, in-person, or a hybrid of both, based on participants, goals, and needs) and best practice recommendations for the broader SEO organization. 

• Continuously monitor overall events health, deliver timely event reports with key data points to assess outcomes to and drive conversations with leadership on opportunities. 

Event Engagement 

• Work with program team to identify ways to motivate participation in events.  

• Provide clear timelines and instructions for student attendees and respond to event-related inquiries.  

• Provide pre-event guidance to student attendees (expectations, dress, etc.) and collect post-event feedback to improve the event experience.  

Event Coordination 

• Create event management plans and train Career staff to facilitate smooth day-of operations of all SEO Career events (i.e., campus events, career fairs, conferences, information sessions, partner meetings, orientations, fundraising seminars, trainings, networking receptions, etc.). 

• Lead the scheduling, venue logistics, materials/supplies, inventory management, audiovisual setup, food and beverage, and vendor coordination for all events. 

• In coordination with the Operations team, utilize tools and technology to ensure smooth event planning and execution (CVENT, Monday.com, Tableau, etc.).  

Event Development 

• Cultivate and manage relationships with SEO Career internal stakeholders, vendors, venues, caterers, student interns, and all other stakeholders involved in the production of an SEO Career event. 

• Coordinate with Marketing & Communications team to create a promotional plan for events, identify opportunities and placement of event marketing through appropriate social media platforms for recruiting events, use sound judgment to assess content and relevance, and make adjustments in reaction to event registration goals. 

• Work in conjunction with the Partner Team and Corporate Partners to ensure a high-level of professionalism and that events’ outcomes are successfully achieved. 

Financial Planning/ Vendor Management 

• Plan and administer events’ budgets ranging from approximately $30 - $300K with no cost overruns or unanticipated expenses.  

• Coordinate contracting timelines and processes for new and renewing program and events vendors. 

• Work with Senior Program Coordinator to facilitate the processing of reimbursements and stipends.  

• Track and report on budget plan versus actual expenditures as well as invoicing and payments processing to ensure strong business relationships with our vendors and mitigate obstacles that arise. 

QUALIFICATIONS  

• Bachelor’s degree required. 

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in large-scale event management; direct experience producing corporate events or tradeshows strongly preferred. 

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS 

• A discernable passion for the mission of SEO and the impact of SEO Careers program, with a proven background applying an inclusivity lens in the planning and execution of events. 

• Experience in Event Facilitation: Proven ability to plan and execute events through coordination and collaboration with absolute precision; well-adept at project planning and execution, being attentive to the minutest of detail and employing strong time management capabilities. Experience in forming and cultivating working relationships with vendors, caterers, participants, partners, internal stakeholders, and all other stakeholders involved in the end-to-end lifecycle of an event. 

• Critical Thinking and Communication: Capable of anticipating needs, employing best resources, and employing careful decision making. Able to adjust to changes and work demands quickly while maintaining a strategic and tactical vision to efficiently complete work. Able to communicate in writing and orally in a manner that is understandable to a diverse audience to include students, internal and external partners, vendors, and executive team members. 

• Technical/Analytical Proficiency: Proficient in event-planning technology (e.g., CVENT). Proficient in the use of MS-Office, Google, and major social media platforms; can liaise with the operations team in an effective manner as needed. 

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/.