SENIOR DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC EVENTS & MARKETING

About the Role

The Senior Director, Strategic Events & Marketing raises the profile of Scripps Research among priority audiences—current and prospective philanthropists, the biopharma and life sciences community, partner organizations, and the broader public—through in-person engagement, strategic convenings, and sustained local partnerships in the San Diego region. This role builds structured, high-quality opportunities for engagement to foster the relationships essential to long-term support and collaboration.

Working closely with the Office of Development, Executive Office, and institute leadership, the Senior Director develops and oversees a cohesive, mission-aligned programming and events strategy that brings audiences to campus, positions the campus as a destination for engagement, and advances institutional priorities such as fundraising and business development. The role includes partnering directly with philanthropy to translate donor engagement strategy, prospect pipeline priorities, and initiative messaging into the institute's broader programming and communications. It also pursues opportunities beyond campus, including events, partnerships, and sponsorships that support donor engagement and acquisition while extending the institute's reach in the community.

The Senior Director leads an events team managing a diverse portfolio of institute events, requiring a seasoned leader who can conceptualize and execute high-impact events that advance the institute's mission and support advancement goals.

Responsibilities

• Manage an institute event strategy that amplifies and accelerates institutional priorities, including strategic ownership of the Front Row lecture series, the institute’s flagship public lecture series, and its cascading strategies across marketing and philanthropy.
• Manage event budgets, including oversight of broader vendor relationships and negotiations.
• Lead and manage an events team responsible for the planning and execution of institute events, ensuring high-quality delivery and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight for event planning and execution, balancing tactical excellence with long-term institutional objectives.
• Partner strategically with other hosting departments to ensure needs and priorities are achieved.
• Support the management of the institute’s onsite Faculty Club and membership strategy.
• Manage the strategy and production for all event-related collateral, including print communication, online/digital presence, and promotional materials.
• Strengthen and extend the organization’s brand while cultivating and expanding its philanthropy base in San Diego and key external markets.
• Identify new ways to engage the San Diego community and partner with local organizations to increase attendance at new and existing onsite events.
• Serve as a liaison between the Marketing & Communications Department and the Office of Development, ensuring event and engagement strategy is informed by fundraising priorities and serve as a partner in creating impactful messaging around donor and prospect engagement opportunities.
• Coach, mentor, develop, and manage direct report(s), ensuring they are supported and encouraged to achieve performance and developmental goals.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Office, supporting leadership with event needs.
• Represent the institute and participate in special events as necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 10+ years of events experience, preferably in a nonprofit fundraising environment.
• Knowledge of traditional and digital marketing, event marketing, content marketing, and social media marketing.
• Demonstrated project management, time management, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage details of multiple and complex projects within firm schedules; set priorities that accurately reflect the relative importance of activities or job duties; and effectively carry out event goals in a manner that enhances the institute’s brand.
• Exemplify a commitment to utmost confidentiality and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Experience supporting and interfacing with C-suite/senior leadership.
• Demonstrated integrity, dependability, sound judgment, teambuilding, and resourcefulness to establish and maintain collaborative, positive, and effective working relationships with multiple and diverse constituency groups.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, listening, and spelling skills.
• Ability to recognize priorities, work well under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends, as needed.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Expert knowledge of Zoom platform (webinar and meeting functionalities, recordings, breakout sessions).

While subject to change based on business needs, this is an on-campus position requiring a minimum of 4 days per week working onsite from the La Jolla campus, with flexibility to work 1 day per week remotely from home.

Pay

The expected hiring range for this position is $155,000 to $160,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.

Benefits

• Employer-contributed retirement plan—depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer-contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (similar to a 401(k) using your own pre- or post-tax dollars).
• Full suite of health and welfare plans, including three medical plan options (including an HSA-available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP, and more.
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
• Free, on-site parking.