Associate Director of Development, Events

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Events leads the strategy, design, and execution of high-impact donor engagement experiences for Michigan Athletics. This role deepens relationships with top stakeholders through creative programming, premium gameday hospitality, and seamless event management.

Signature initiatives include coaches tours, scholarship events, Hall of Honor Inductions, facility milestone celebrations, premium seating events, annual giving and ticketed fundraisers, postseason receptions, the Athletic Director's Suite, concerts, and more.

This team member is a creative and skilled project manager, able to juggle competing priorities in a dynamic environment. The Associate Director advances Michigan Athletics' mission by building meaningful relationships and delivering unforgettable donor experiences.

Ability to work early mornings, evenings and weekends, as well as the occasional extended-hour workdays during high-volume times.

Responsibilities*

Strategic Event Design & Leadership

• Concept Development: Conceptualize and lead engaging event experiences tailored to donors and prospects, ensuring a diverse annual calendar that supports various giving segments.
• Executive Communications: Draft and distribute high-level event briefing materials for the Athletic Director, University President, and Head Coaches.
• NIL & Partnership Integration: Collaborate with Champions Circle and UMAD leadership to create donor engagement opportunities related to NIL; partner with Learfield to secure corporate sponsorships and funding for events.
• Content Strategy: Produce compelling written content for the website, newsletters, and M Magazine to highlight event success and enhance the sense of donor community.

Event Operations & Logistics

• End-to-End Execution: Oversee all logistical phases, including venue sourcing, transportation, equipment rentals, and on-site staffing. Serve as the primary point of contact for execution and troubleshooting on event days.
• Vendor Management: Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with caterers, decorators, and A/V technicians. Coordinate with the Business Office to ensure all legal and financial agreements are executed timely.
• Technology & Data: Utilize DART (Donor and Alumni Relationship Tool) for invitation process and attendance tracking and Paciolan for ticketing and payment processing.
• Digital Outreach: Manage guest list management and digital invitation strategy.

Experiential & Gameday Hospitality 

• Manage UMCU All-Star Lounge Experience: Oversee all aspects of the UMCU All-Star Lounge during home athletic events and concerts, ensuring a seamless and elevated experience for guests, including hospitality, ambiance, and personalized service.
• Gameday Operations: Work football, basketball, and ice hockey gameday shifts and serve as on-site contact, coordinating guest services and issue resolution within high-profile environments.
• Pre-Event Club Coordination: Liaise with catering partners, design and order specialized menus, coordinate logistics, and manage guest communications for premium space experiences.
• Concert Event Support: Facilitate logistics during concerts including collecting suite payments, organizing artist meet-and-greet opportunities, and delivering an exceptional UMCU All-Star Lounge experience.
• Special Event Design and Execution: Lead the conceptualization and implementation of signature events such as season openers, 'Founding Member' gatherings, and courtside seat holder experiences, ensuring each event is distinct and memorable.
• Facility Milestone Events: Plan and produce unique engagement activations for major facility and premium space milestones, including groundbreaking ceremonies, hard hat tours, pre-launch unveilings, and grand openings, collaborating with internal and external partners for maximum impact.

Other Duties 

• Departmental Participation: Participate in non-development Michigan Athletics events as appropriate, including campus activities, on and off-campus athletic events, and department-wide initiatives.
• Adaptive Responsibilities: Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time to meet the evolving needs of the department.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree encouraged, preferably in Sport Management, Hospitality Management, Communications, Business, or a related field.
• 3-5 years experience in athletics, event management, donor relations, fundraising events, or hospitality.
• Proven track record of designing and executing high-impact events or experiences.
• Strong project management skills; able to juggle multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; adept at building relationships with donors, senior leaders, and cross-functional teams.
• Experience negotiating and managing vendor contracts, budgets, and logistical details for large-scale events.
• Comfort with digital tools for event management and outreach (e.g., DART, Paciolan, Eloqua, Paperless Post), or demonstrated ability to quickly learn new systems.
• Creative mindset with the ability to conceptualize unique engagement strategies and premium guest experiences.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion, particularly in high-profile settings and interactions with high-level stakeholders.
• Commitment to upholding NCAA, Big Ten, and University compliance standards.
• Willingness to work nontraditional hours, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and extended days during peak seasons.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include: 

Generous time off 
A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting 
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance 
Life insurance 
Long-term disability coverage 
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

The on-site location for this position is an office suite in the Michigan Athletics Development Offices at 1000 South State Street. This provides free, on-site parking for staff.

On-site work will be required during and leading up to in person events.

Michigan Athletics supports a culture of flexibility, and a hybrid work arrangement may be possible for this position during low-volume times. 

Role Flexibility: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities. Other duties may be assigned as necessary. 

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

All applications for this position must be received by 2/6/2026.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.