Associate Director of Special Events

Associate Director Of Special Events

Oregon Health & Science University Foundation Portland, OR

Associate Director of Special Events

Priority Application Deadline: September 11, 2026

FLSA Status: Exempt

Starting Salary: $68,616 - $80,052 (Step I - Step II)

Work Location: Hybrid (Regular On-site Work Required for Events and Meetings)

About The Position

The Associate Director of Special Events will support as well as lead the planning, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of in-person, hybrid and virtual events at the OHSU Foundation. In partnership with OHSU and Foundation colleagues, you will collaborate with peers in developing targeted strategies for new and existing events that align with Foundation goals to engage, inspire, and steward our donors, board members, alumni and volunteers.

What You'll Be Doing

• Support the planning and execution of Foundation events, from simple gatherings to large in-person, virtual, and hybrid experiences.
• Serve as the lead for Foundation Alumni events, coordinating logistics and ensuring a strong attendee experience.
• Partner with Foundation colleagues to apply event standards and best practices across the organization.
• Create event plans, lead planning meetings, manage timelines, and keep projects on track.
• Coordinate with Communications on event marketing, invitations, websites, emails, and other collateral.
• Manage vendor and external partner relationships, including venues, catering, and event services.
• Work closely with event hosts and stakeholders on guest lists, parking, catering, and other logistics.
• Maintain accurate event records and reporting within event management systems.
• Provide event consulting and guidance to colleagues on topics such as catering, nametags, parking, and auction guidelines.
• Develop and manage event budgets.

Special Projects

• Collaborate with the Director of Special Events to identify and implement event-related activities that support the OHSU Foundation's fundraising mission.
• Maintain and promote a centralized event calendar to ensure key OHSU Foundation events are identified, coordinated, and leveraged effectively for development goals.

Technical Platform Management

• Lead technical management of event platforms including but not limited to Cvent, Marketing Cloud, Classy, Social Tables, Eventbrite and Blackthorn.
• Ensure event management software is accurate and current by imputing, tracking and managing events as assigned.

Who You Are

• You excel at juggling multiple complex, deadline-driven projects and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• You have strong interpersonal and communication skills, interacting professionally and collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• You're hospitality-minded, always going the extra mile to meet the needs of your team and stakeholders.
• You're technically savvy, knowledgeable using event platforms like Cvent, Classy, Eventbrite, and/or Social Tables.
• You have excellent attention to detail, balancing multiple projects without compromising on quality.
• You're process-oriented, skilled at managing and improving workflows for maximum efficiency.
• You're compassionate and culturally responsive, working effectively with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

You Should Have

• At least five years of experience managing complex, multi-faceted events.
• Experience managing event platforms like Cvent, Classy, Eventbrite and Social Tables
• Proven experience managing digital or hybrid events, with a solid understanding of digital event best practices.
• Experience using Salesforce, Affinaquest, Blackthorn, or other CRM

We want to emphasize that there is no such thing as the perfect candidate; candidates who do not have all of the required experience are encouraged to apply. Working Conditions

• On-site staffing for evening and weekend events as needed.
• Some local travel required; must have a valid driver's license, access to a vehicle, and meet the Foundation's insurance requirements.
• Ability to lift and move boxes or materials weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Able to stand and work on one's feet for at least 4 hours at a time.

Salary: $68,616 USD - $80,052 USD Pay Salary is dependent on experience. Each salary band is broken into three "steps," which correspond with an employee's experience/tenure, proficiency and performance in that specific role. New employees will typically start at step I of our pay band to allow for later growth, although more experienced candidates may be eligible to start at step II or III. The OHSU Foundation has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

Benefits The OHSU Foundation also offers an exceptional benefits package including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance.
• Pension program (The Foundation contributes 12% of your annual salary to a pension);
• 22 days of paid vacation, 11 paid holidays, 1 float holiday and 2 days of volunteer time off;
• Professional development dollars for each employee;
• Hybrid work allowance and much more!