Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events

The primary roles of the Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events are to: cultivate, engage, grow and optimize volunteer relationships within the DSHA community; lead the planning and direction of an annual benefit auction (DSHA’s largest friend and fund raising event), including, but not limited to: budget management including revenue and expenditure projections; coordinate, deploy and lead a volunteer corps to manage event attendance and engagement, advertising and under-writing, acquisitions, and environment/décor; serve as point person for vendors from initial planning through execution stage; work with DSHA development team to assist with Stop-the-Auction appeal; lead the planning, direction, coordination and implementation of an annual calendar of special events at DSHA, working with the volunteer corps; annual events include but are not limited to Father Daughter Dinner Dance, Parent Athletic Association Golf Tournament, Mother Daughter Liturgy and Grandparent Liturgy. Reporting to the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications, this role will serve as an integral part in communicating the story of DSHA, furthering the mission and vision of the school community, and engaging core constituencies within the DSHA community, while maintaining positive and encouraging interactions with coworkers, volunteers, parents, students, alumnae and vendors.

Essential responsibilities that the Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events will be required to perform:

The Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events will lead the development and implementation of the annual volunteer engagement and event plans as part of the overall DSHA Strategic Plan. This person coordinates the planning, promotion and organization of DSHA events including recruitment and management of volunteer engagement, budget management, event promotion, attendance engagement, and post-event evaluation to ensure objectives and goals are met or exceeded.

Additionally, as the director of volunteer efforts for DSHA, this person will serve in a highly visible role within the DSHA community. Through interactions with various DSHA constituencies and presence at events, this person will serve as a development officer, cultivating relationships and enlisting gifts in kind, underwriting, and donations as needed and as opportunities arise.

The successful Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events will possess the following experience and qualifications:

• Must have 5-7 years of relevant volunteer management and fundraising events coordination and management, with a proven track record of successful event planning that met or exceeded goals. 
• Effective oral, written and presentation skills are essential for this position. 
• Must be highly organized and detail oriented while maintaining the highest regard for the big-picture mission and vision of DSHA. 
• Demonstrated success in supervising, managing and engaging volunteers. 
• Demonstrated success in budget management and cost control procedures. 
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple projects with shifting priorities and competing deadlines. 
• Experience with event promotion and marketing, including social media and digital marketing, is preferred. 
• Experience with auction planning and execution is preferred. 
• Must be proficient in computer skills with experience using MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher); experience in using database software (The Raiser’s Edge), auction software (Greater Giving and/or BidPal), and Adobe software (Photoshop, InDesign), is preferred. 
• A BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university.

The successful candidate should be:

• A mission-driven individual with a belief in and commitment to DSHA’s mission and values;
• An excellent listener and strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan;
• Someone with the flexibility and creativity needed to find alternative ways to reach objectives when barriers arise; a skilled negotiator who does not drive him/herself or others into a corner;
• A team builder who is confident and capable, with strong skills in management and leadership; one who understands the subtleties of motivating and directing a diverse group of personalities with different work styles;
• A hard worker whose passion for our mission fosters a willingness to work hands-on in developing and executing a variety of development and advancement activities;
• Able to work with diverse personalities and situations.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package that includes a full tuition discount for full-time employees’ daughters who attend DSHA.