Job Description for the Director of Presidential Events position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Director of Presidential Events

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Monday - Friday

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Office of the President

Department: President's Office

Position Summary

Elon University seeks a highly organized, personable, creative, energetic individual to plan and manage events hosted by the University president. The individual will provide leadership, professional expertise, and direction in the conceptualization and implementation of high-quality functions that serve students, faculty and staff, trustees, donors to the University, community members, and distinguished guests. The President’s Office hosts roughly 150 events per year, including campus-wide events, bi-annual Trustee meetings, person-to-person meals, coffees and casual engagements when asked of the president and president’s office staff. Presidential events are highly visible and held at various locations on and off campus, including Maynard House, the president’s residence. The Director of Presidential Events will work closely with the chief of staff, the president’s office staff and all major campus divisions including but not limited to University Advancement, Facilities Management, Auxiliary Services and Student Life. The Director of Presidential Events is a full-time, 40-hour per week, 12-month position.

The right candidate will possess a strong sense of self-awareness, a good attitude, and be a leader with superb organizational skills, attention to detail, time management and excellent presentation, oral and written communication skills. A person in this role must be able to contribute to multiple projects and events in various stages of development and execution. The successful candidate will also be team-oriented, possess a sense of humor, tact, good taste, grace under pressure, and demonstrate discretion at the highest level.

Proficiency in the following systems preferred: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook), digital invitations (Paperless Post, Greenvelope, etc.), Zoom.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in hospitality, marketing, public relations, or similar with large-scale, special event-planning experience is required.

Preferred Education and Experience

The right candidate will have 15-20 years of experience. A bachelor’s degree in hospitality, marketing, public relations, or similar with large-scale, special event-planning experience is required. Familiarity with a higher education setting and any additional certifications are a plus.

Required Other Training, Certifications, or Licensing

Job Duties

• Oversee all logistical details of planning and executing events hosted by the university president, or sponsored by the President’s Office, including but not limited to meetings and event spaces, meals, small and large-scale gatherings with on- and off-campus constituents, and special entertainment programs. • Coordinate and collaborate with all pertinent University staff to initiate and maintain appropriate protocols to ensure presidential and campus-wide events are of the highest quality. • Plan menus and event atmosphere, secure entertainment, and supervise physical set ups of facilities for major university events. Creativity is a must. 
• Provide leadership for coordinating the maintenance and upkeep of Maynard House, the president’s home, and Long House, a presidential guest home.
• Maintain an inventory of presidential gifts for dignitaries, trustees, students, faculty, staff and guests. Select and order recognition gifts as needed, including donors, and framing for certificates, citations and photos presented by the president. 
• Meet regularly with the chief of staff and deputy chief of staff for campus engagement to provide updates on upcoming functions and issues affecting events. Work closely with the president’s executive assistant and administrative assistant to ensure the accuracy and currency of events on the president’s calendar. 
• Serve as the liaison to The Inn at Elon on behalf of the President’s Office for major events and meals, including honorary functions, the Board of Trustee meetings and committee meetings, and for any function as initiated by the president.