Director of College Events

Earlham College is a Top 100 National Liberal Arts College located in Richmond, IN, a small city that's just a short drive away from several major metropolitan areas including Dayton, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Chicago.

Richmond and Earlham have a symbiotic relationship. Through research, studies, internships and volunteering, Earlhamites offer Richmond expertise and service as Richmond offers our students the chance to gain valuable, real-world experience. Our community assumes no religious affiliation but follows Quaker principles and practices, which include respect for persons, integrity, a commitment to peace and justice, simplicity, and consensus-based community decision-making. Earlham is committed to and proud of being a diverse and inclusive place most clearly visible in our student body: 20% of our student body are international, coming from 60+ nations in 2022, and 24% are domestic students of color. Faculty and staff also bring tremendous diversity to the College; many have lived and worked outside the United States, and they make a point of drawing on those experiences in their interactions with students. Additionally, Earlham makes it a priority to serve as a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ communities and has a four-star rating on the Campus Pride Index. Our community is characterized by respect for every person and a commitment to social justice. Equity and inclusion are central to Earlham's institutional priorities and our leadership is committed to widening the path to an Earlham education.

Earlham College is seeking a Director of College Events to join our team!

Summary: 

Earlham College is seeking a strategic and community-focused individual for the newly created role of Director of College Events. This role involves developing a comprehensive approach to events that engage the campus community, local residents, alumni, and friends of the College.

The ideal candidate will be a doer who is also a visionary and integrative thinker with strong relationship-building skills and a commitment to Earlham’s mission. The Director will lead strategic event planning and collaborate with various campus departments, including Student Life, Institutional Advancement, and the Epic Centers.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Collaborative Event Planning

• Lead creation and ongoing management of college-wide events calendar.
• Serve as central resource for event owners and support departments to facilitate event planning and preparation.
• Maintain strong relationships and balance the interests of multiple stakeholders, such as the Office of the President, Student Life, Academic Affairs, Institutional Advancement, Epic Centers, Dining Services, Facilities, and Campus Services.
• Implement and manage a college-wide approach to assess event success.
• Negotiate and manage contracts for key events (large-scale, high-level, involving significant cost).
• Deliver annual report summarizing college-wide events and their impact.
• Plan and oversee key events that build engagement, connection, and goodwill for Earlham among students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and local and regional audiences. Initiatives include:
  • Presidential Lecture Series
  • Guest Artist and Lecture Series
  • Distinguished Alumni speakers and concerts
  • Faculty and scholarly lectures

House Management for College Events

• Perform house management duties for key events.
• Ensure smooth front-of-house operations.
• Lead a team of student house managers and ushers.
• Ensure successful execution of event contracts.
• Deal constructively with problems that do not have a clear solution or outcome.

Leadership within Campus Services

• Staff manager within Campus Services division.
• Recruit and train student-workers.
• Manage campus events budgets.
• Break down objectives into appropriate initiatives and actions.

Additional duties as assigned

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 5-7 years of experience in successful event planning and management, preferably within an educational or nonprofit setting.
• Ability to handle and manage the unplanned effectively.
• Strong problem-solving and budget management skills.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Commitment to diversity, teamwork, and ethical practices.
• Creativity and understanding of event promotion and management trends.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to manage high stress during peak times (e.g., start of academic year, homecoming, commencement).
• Be a positive example and resource to all Earlham students.
• Physical ability to perform tasks such as bending, pushing, pulling, climbing ladders, standing for long periods of time, reaching overhead, and lifting up to 30 pounds.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends as required (an average of 1-2 evenings per week and 1-2 weekends per month is expected).

Benefits Working at Earlham:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance*
• Company paid Long-Term Disability after 1 year of full-time service*
• Basic and Voluntary Life insurance*
• Employee Assistance Program*
• Campus Store Discount
• Free ticket vouchers for Richmond Symphony Orchestra
• Wellness Center Free Membership or Discount for eligible employees
• Athletic Games-Free entry to all home games
• Free entry into most Theatre/Music shows
• Tuition Benefits for Immediate Family for eligible employees*
• 403(b) Retirement* – For eligible employees, Earlham will contribute a non-elective contribution equal to 5% of gross pay after 2 years of service. After 3 years of service, this non-elective contribution increases to 8%. Vesting credit is available for new employees with previous service in the education sector with required documentation.
• Many Wayne County Chamber of Commerce member businesses offer discounts to anyone with an Earlham ID

*All employee benefit offerings are subject to employee eligibility per plan documents.

The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

To Apply

• Please submit the following application materials through our  Earlham Careers Portal
• Cover letter - Please address your thinking and experience with matters of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as it relates and specifically pertains to this position.
• Resume
• List of Three References with Contact Information

Earlham College is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse community, one that reflects the makeup of society at large and that particularly welcomes and supports individuals from groups that have been historically marginalized because of factors such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, and physical ability. The College strongly encourages applications from women and people of color. As an institution with a Quaker identity, the College also solicits applications from members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

Earlham's Work Authorization Policy

Earlham utilizes E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for all newly hired employees within the United States.