Executive Director, Development Events

About the Role

The Executive Director for Events provides enterprise-level leadership to design and execute Vanderbilt’s strategic donor, prospect, and VIP events and experiences. This role establishes standards, service, and support for an operating model that prioritizes a consistent and impactful guest experience, championing the concept of unreasonable hospitality. The position leads a team of event and experience professionals while coordinating with other DAR teams and university partners such as University Ceremonies and Events. As a new role, it will strengthen connections with alumni, parents, and supporters by creating meaningful experiences that highlight Vanderbilt’s impact and inspire deeper engagement and giving.

About the Department

The Department of Development and Alumni Engagement (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, required to achieve its mission and goals. DAR is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives align with Vanderbilt’s teaching and research programs. Learn more about DAR.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead DAR’s event strategy and operating model, providing umbrella support and coordination across multiple event planners and teams, and directly overseeing a small portfolio of events.
• Create and maintain a hub of support materials (templates, checklists, process guides, invitation and registration tools, policies, and protocols) to enhance guest experiences and increase consistency across DAR teams.
• Institutionalize structured post-event evaluation, including assessment of outcomes, resource effectiveness, data collection, CRM practices, and the creation of dashboards to evaluate and demonstrate event impact.
• Champion workflow optimization and systems adoption (e.g., Wrike) to streamline processes and ensure cross-functional awareness across university teams.
• Consult regularly with event planners in Alumni and Parent Engagement, Development, and other areas to foster collaboration, responsibility coverage, and training.
• Design and execute unique events and multi-day experiences for targeted donors and prospects, emphasizing personalized hospitality, effective use of university leadership and faculty, and targeted fundraising strategies.
• Work seamlessly across event planning teams, vendors, and DAR staff, including frontline fundraisers, to deliver high-touch, memorable details that showcase Vanderbilt’s priorities and strengths.
• Provide executive oversight for budgeting, vendor management, adherence to Vanderbilt University contracting standards, and transparent cost controls for a select portfolio of events.
• Serve as a front-of-house host for various activities, meals, and transportation while engaging and building relationships with guests and leaders.
• Lead and support a dynamic team focused on delivering impactful experiences and effective events to cultivate top-tier donor audiences in a high-performing culture grounded in unreasonable hospitality.
• Seek innovative ideas from other industries and spaces beyond higher education, emphasizing creativity, exclusivity, and an entrepreneurial approach to bringing ideas to reality.
• Demonstrate a problem-solving mindset with a calm demeanor, adapting plans as needed to meet leadership expectations and maintain positive guest experiences.
• Drive proactive, data-driven communications and discussions across DAR and the wider university to refine the operating model and adopt standards.
• Provide insight and support for tactics and strategies spanning communications, donor relations, and frontline fundraising to foster a holistic approach to engaging prospects and donors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Relationships

This position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications and Donor Engagement and provides direct supervision to a team of event planning professionals.

Work Environment

• Located in the Nashville, TN area.
• Hybrid work environment, requiring in-office presence at least one day per week or more based on business needs.
• Some overnight travel, nights, and weekends will be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in a relevant field (e.g., higher education administration, communications, hospitality, nonprofit leadership, business).
• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership in event planning, donor relations, or hospitality.
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, and a complex portfolio of simultaneous events and activities throughout the year.
• Proven ability to lead change, standardize operations, and implement systems and processes.

Core Competencies

• Experience partnering directly with President/Chancellor and C-suite leaders on high-profile events and engagements, ideally involving high-touch VIP experiences with measurable relationship outcomes.
• Familiarity with development and engagement in a higher education context.
• Executive presence, comfort briefing high-level stakeholders, and ability to influence and persuade.
• Operational rigor to create and sustain systems, templates, and evaluative tools.
• Strong people leadership and talent development skills; ability to manage and coach team members.