University of Michigan · 12 hours ago
Associate Director of Development, Events
Ann Arbor, MI
Full-time
Hybrid
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
3+ years expThe University of Michigan is seeking an Associate Director of Events to lead the strategy, design, and execution of high-impact donor engagement experiences for Michigan Athletics. This role involves building relationships with stakeholders through creative programming and effective event management.
E-LearningEducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
Qualification
Required
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
Benefits
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
Free, on-site parking for staff
Company
University of Michigan
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving, and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
University of Michigan has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (662)
2024 (594)
2023 (787)
2022 (473)
2021 (411)
2020 (324)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$359.75MKey Investors
Michigan Economic Development CorporationNational Institutes of HealthBreakthrough T1D
2025-07-17Grant· $1M
2025-06-07Grant· $1.17M
2025-04-23Grant
Leadership Team
Greg McGuire
Managing Director, Mcity
Robert Goodspeed
Chair, Urban and Regional Planning Program
Recent News
2025-12-19
IEEE Spectrum
2025-12-18
2025-12-17
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