Director of Special Events

Overview:

Lincoln Center Theater has produced over 200 plays and musicals at the Vivian Beaumont, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow Theaters at Lincoln Center and other theaters on and off-Broadway, as well as touring productions nationally and around the world. LCT is committed to developing and producing new works and classics with an emphasis on the work of new and emerging playwrights, directors, and designers. LCT’s education program, Open Stages, reaches thousands of public-school students annually with curriculum-related projects, teaching artist support, and tickets to LCT productions.

LCT Values:

Lincoln Center Theater is dedicated to fostering a theater representative of all of the populations we serve. We are proactively committed to better serve the artists, staff, crews, audiences, and broader community through our organization’s values. We welcome applicants who are in alignment with our organization’s values of empathy, dignity, and care.

Position Summary:

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Development and Planning, and supervising one support position, the Director of Special Events is responsible for the strategic planning and precise execution of successful fundraising and cultivation events. This role requires a creative and detail-oriented leader with a proven track record in event planning, donor engagement and revenue generation. The Director of Special Events will collaborate closely with the 15-person development team, with staff throughout the organization, as well as with board members. Increasing unearned revenue is a critical goal for LCT and this position will be a key player in achieving this.

Responsibilities:

Event Strategy and Management

• Oversee all aspects of planning and execution of LCT’s fundraising events, ensuring that revenue goals are met/exceeded, and expenses are kept at or below budget.
• Take a leadership role in planning two annual gala benefits generating $3M+ in net proceeds. Collaborate with artistic planning team on show components, and with external vendors on party component.
• Liaise with artistic team and other key stakeholders on planning, design and final execution of Opening Nights for all three LCT theaters, with Broadway Opening Nights comporting to a commercial industry standard.
• Create and implement a plan for numerous smaller fundraising, cultivation and stewardship events throughout the season including multiple Patron Nights, Angels Nights, LCT3 Council events and Board Meetings, among others.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Development and Planning and with other development team stakeholders to ensure that special events are an integrated part of the overall department strategy, and leverage donor relationships at all levels of the supporter pipeline.
• Create season events calendar, coordinating across multiple stakeholders throughout Lincoln Center Theater, including board, artistic, facility and operations, production, marketing, PR, company management, general management and ticketing teams.
• Create and closely monitor comprehensive special event budgets over the lifecycle of events.

Operations and Communications

• Manage invitation strategy and implementation for all major events, providing direction on print and email invitation lists, and working with designer on invitation concepts and copy.
• Supervise creation of event programs, and prepare event scripts, briefings, and participant remarks (as needed).
• Manage all necessary relationships with external vendors, such as caterers, designers, producers, printers, mail houses, etc.
• Solicit and secure in-kind sponsorship as necessary for events.
• Act as solicitor, following up on invitation mailings to secure support.
• In concert with the Development Operations team, oversee payment schedule and event acknowledgement process.

Other

• Act as the chief liaison to Board Special Events Committee, convening meetings, creating agendas, and scripting the Special Events Committee Chair.
• Supervise and mentor the Associate of Special Events.
• Own a small donor portfolio as assigned, when related to key special events supporters.
• Act as a full participant in the Development leadership team, taking on projects as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications:

• BA degree with at least 6 years of full-time fundraising solicitation, development, and special events experience in a not-for-profit organization, highly preferred in the performing arts or theater sector.
• Demonstrated success in event execution, especially for large scale events of over 500 guests.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, ability to prioritize and multi-task effectively, exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Service and team-oriented, promoting an environment that fosters inclusive relationships both within the development team and our external donor base.
• Self-motivated and driven.
• Knowledge of Tessitura, Microsoft Office, Lexis-Nexis, Wealth Engine, Zkipster, highly desirable.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends when events require it.

Compensation:

This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with an annual salary range of $125,000 - $140,000. Lincoln Center Theater provides comprehensive benefits including: Paid Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, 403(b) and Employer Match, and Paid Time Off.

Application Instructions:

Please apply here: https://lct.bamboohr.com/careers/39

Please note that only candidates who submit a resume and cover letter will be considered.

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All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, affectional preference, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health decisions, pregnancy, disability, genetic predisposition, age, military or veteran status, marital or familial status, or any other protected characteristic, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.