Director of Special Events

Position Summary:

The Director of Special Events plans and executes all key institution annual and special events, including Commencement, Orientation, alumni and donor events, as well as numerous faculty and student conferences and symposia, and student group meetings and social events.

The Director is the chief organizer for high-profile events including visits by prominent political and judicial figures. Manages complex budgets of significant size, negotiates with vendors and arranges for the utilization of pertinent resources. The Director ensures adherence to proper protocol and etiquette at all events.

Position Responsibilities:

• Event Management - Planning and managing a high volume of in-person and virtual special events including meetings, luncheons, student parties, conferences, Board functions, high profile speakers, receptions, dinners and Commencement. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, developing budgets, creating floor plans, overseeing billing, and liaising with all applicable participants and vendors. The Director of Special Events supervises ad hoc teams of between 5 to 30+ (caterers, A/V technicians, facility management, event volunteers etc.)
• Budgeting and Project Management - Create and adhere to project budgets and timelines for special events. Track all funds spent and/or raised with a given event. Work with related Directors and Deans to fulfill event expectations and goals.
• Vendor Relations - Work closely with and negotiate with external vendors to coordinate goods and services for special events. Manage relationships and bidding process to ensure the best services and most efficient cost from vendors.
• Event Consultation - Serve as the in-house liaison for internal departments, faculty, and students planning both the on and off campus events to provide creative solutions and other support that results in more effective, efficient, and successful event outcomes.
• External Events - Work with all external groups hosting events at Cardozo School of Law including, but not limited to, Bar Prep Organizations, local and community law-based groups. Communicate with external groups to oversee logistics such as site visits, contracts, agreements, and rental fees.
• Office/Staff Management - Hire and train all Office of Special Events staff and ensure the stability of a positive and efficient event production team.
• Interface with many Cardozo students, faculty, administrators as well as outside vendors and event organizers.
• Work with the facilities team, in addition to many other departments, to oversee the success of activities taking place in the law school.
• Supervise two staff members and student interns. The volume of events exceeds 500 per year.

Experience & Educational Background:

• Bachelors or higher degree required.
• Five years of event planning and production or other related work experience preferred.
• Experience with 25LIVE or other event management software a plus.

Skills & Competencies:

• The ideal Director will be a well-organized individual with excellent communications skills.
• This candidate must pay strong attention to detail.
• A high volume of events requires the ability to manage details of multiple projects taking place simultaneously.
• The Director should be able to set priorities that accurately reflect the relative importance of activities or job duties, and effectively carry out event goals.

Application Instructions:

Resume and cover letter required

Salary Range:

$80,000 - $90,000

About Us:

The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is a leader in legal education, located in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. The law school is renowned for its program in intellectual property, which includes the FAME Center for Fashion, Arts, Media and Entertainment Law. Cardozo Law has a long tradition of public advocacy and is the birthplace of the Innocence Project and the home of our Center for Rights and Justice. Cardozo offers a world-class faculty and encourages creative thinking and innovation in the legal profession. Cardozo provides students with a strong foundation in legal theory combined with practical hands-on experience in a variety of areas including criminal law, civil rights law, and business law. The school prides itself on creating a vibrant and warm community for faculty, staff and students.

A division of Yeshiva University, Cardozo Law School offers an excellent compensation package, and a broad range of employee benefit plans. The law school is a secular institution within a religious university and welcomes people of all religions, ethnic backgrounds, races and sexual identities.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Yeshiva University is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.