Associate Director of the Sesquicentennial

Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) supports Johns Hopkins’ focus on research, teaching and patient care, and its role as a national and global leader in higher education. We create and foster enduring relationships that result in advocacy and philanthropic support for Johns Hopkins University & Medicine; strengthening the institution through partnerships with donors, alumni, volunteer leaders, faculty, students, staff, and patients.

Johns Hopkins University supports a flexible work model that includes four different work modalities. This role has an on-site work arrangement with an onsite presence of 4 days per week. The manager will confirm the team’s core onsite days where the majority/all team members will work in the office. Employees who travel on university business can count those days towards their onsite days.

The Sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of Johns Hopkins is an important milestone. One that will celebrate the legacy of our achievements, underscore our current Ten for One Strategic Plan, and build on the momentum of our new comprehensive Campaign. The Johns Hopkins 150th will celebrate our rich history, promote the present strategy, and envision the future of Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.

Everyone in every corner of the institution – faculty, staff, students, alumni, grateful patients, volunteers, community members and friends – will be given a variety of opportunities to participate in the celebrations and to learn more about this great institution and its impact on the world. Awareness and participation are our two primary goals while also providing integration with the University’s fundraising campaign. We will build and implement a plan for comprehensive saturation of 150th content, promotion, and engagement at every level of every department, in every school, and on all campuses.

This position offers an opportunity to be part of an exciting celebration – Johns Hopkins University Sesquicentennial. The role is suited for someone who thrives in a startup environment, has strong diplomatic and collaborative skills, understands board dynamics, leadership management, understands the complex central-decentralized landscape of Johns Hopkins University, and whose talents combine entrepreneurial creativity with meticulous attention to detail.

This is a highly visible position that is responsible for supporting the AVP’s activities around Sesquicentennial Advisory Board and volunteer development, university-wide leadership and divisional meetings, and working with the outside vendor regarding timeline and deliverables.

This position will support the Associate Vice President (AVP) for the Sesquicentennial Celebration in executing the university-wide engagement strategy for the Sesquicentennial.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate, develop, and staff the Sesquicentennial Advisory Board and activities related to the Sesquicentennial. The Advisory Board will include students, faculty, staff, grateful patients, donors, community partners, and alumni.
  
• Partner with university stakeholders and divisional leadership to schedule activities and programming around the sesquicentennial.
  
• Plan and execute three proposed university-wide events: the sesquicentennial year kick-off celebration, the sesquicentennial on Founders Day, and the closing event. These events are tentatively scheduled for September/October 2025, February 2026, and September/October 2026.
  
• Present the Sesquicentennial Celebration to members of a broader community, including university-wide leadership, development professionals, donors, advisory board members and their staffs, volunteers, etc.
  
• Support and collaborate with the AVP of the Sesquicentennial Celebration on the following projects:
  
• Schedule meetings with university leadership and the Sesquicentennial Advisory Board.
  
• Draft agendas, prepare presentations and materials, capture notes and next steps, manage and coordinate follow-up communication including thank-you letters when appropriate.
  
• Draft standard and personalized communications on behalf of the AVP for the Sesquicentennial.
  
• Manage highly confidential and sensitive materials that often require independent judgement and action.
  
• Partner with the outside consultant to prepare presentations and materials for university leadership meetings.
  
• Work closely with the Project Manager to implement production timelines, ensuring all events are executed to the highest degree of excellence, accuracy, professionalism, and customer service.
  
• Independently develop invitation lists for each university-wide event, based on planning discussions and pre-determined goals, and share with the AVP for the Sesquicentennial.
  
• Draft and finalize invitations, and other event materials including online event engagement platforms while maintaining continuity and consistency of the university’s brand.
  
• Track attendance, guest lists, and seating assignments.
  
• Support the research, identification, cultivation and solicitation of VIP participants.
  
• Partner with the Development and Alumni Relations Campaign Office regarding the kickoff event in September/October 2025, which will also include a public launch of the fundraising campaign.
  
• Prepare briefings for special events, specifically for the President, Provost, Deans, and other leadership, including producing initial drafts, overseeing creation of all collateral materials and remarks. Manage attendees listing and bios, and securing approvals according to university protocols.
  
• Conduct research on vendors, venues, and other event aspects as needed. Source vendors as needed and maintain positive vendor relationships.
  
• Oversee the final event arrangements with the Sesquicentennial coordinator by conducting walk-through with caterer and other vendors as required. Determine necessary venue preparation, catering schedule, rental drop-off/pick-up, entertainment, dcor, parking and public safety, communications, multimedia needs, equipment needs, and other issues.
  
• Enter relevant data into the central Client Relationship Management (CRM) system. Retrieve and analyze reports obtained from same.
  
• Partner with the AVP to develop and create the final report and gather all materials that need to be submitted to the University Archives.
  
• Serve as a central liaison with a warm and confident manner to help colleagues across the university, in particular Donor and Alumni Relations (DAR), understand the programming and external outreach of the Sesquicentennial Celebration, and the opportunities they provide for the university as a whole.
  

This position may require evening and weekend work.

This is a three-year assignment that ends December 31, 2026.

This is a hybrid role that is expected to work onsite at least four days each week.

• Bachelor's degree.
• Four years related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Skilled at working with diverse groups of people.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, mission-focused nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative team while showing strong initiative to reach individual goals, as well as support overall team goals.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work on multiple projects and events simultaneously.
• Ability to ‘manage up’ and support leadership/Board members and ‘manage’ colleagues across the institution in achieving projects on deadline.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and superior attention to detail.
• Must be able to work in a dynamic environment and, possess high levels of creativity and energy.
• Ability to lift boxes etc. as needed for event set-up and break-down.

All applicants are expected to uphold the university’s core values which includes diversity and inclusion. All staff treat people with dignity and respect by being fair and consistent. We demonstrate an open-minded approach to understanding people regardless of their race, gender, age, national origin, religion, ethnicity, disability status or other characteristics. We show respect for the beliefs and traditions of others; encourage and promote practices that support cultural diversity; and discourage behaviors or practices that may be perceived as unfair, biased, or critical toward people with certain backgrounds.

Classified Title: Sr. Events Planner 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Associate Director of the Sesquicentennial   
Role/Level/Range: ATP/03/PC  
Starting Salary Range: Minimum: $53,300 - Maximum: $93,500 (targeted salary: $82,000; commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Mount Washington Campus 
Department name: 10001645-VP Development & Alumni Relations 
Personnel area: University Administration 

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines:
JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

**Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate’s conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Johns Hopkins has mandated COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, as applicable. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending on campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

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