Associate Director of Events

Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts’ premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees’ preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org. 

Posting Information: 

Salary/Hourly Rate: $90,000 - $100,000 

Hours per week: 40 

Job Classification: Non-exempt, Full-time 

Job Type: Hybrid 

Location: Boston, MA 

What You’ll Do:

Your Impact: 

As the Associate Director of Development and Governance Events, you’ll join a seasoned Development Team at an exciting time, as The Trustees embarks on the execution of a new strategic plan and prepares for an ambitious 5-year campaign. Your expert support will ensure the execution of more than 40 events a year, engaging more than 1,000 donors at the $1,000+ level and playing an integral part in meeting our development and campaign goals.   

The Role: 

As the Associate Director of Development and Governance Events, you’ll successfully plan, schedule, and execute a purposeful year-round calendar of exciting and creative Trustees’ Development events that closely align to the mission with clearly articulated outcomes, achieving a $1,000,000 annual revenue goal. You’ll work with the events team on fundraising, governance, and cultivation events that maintain positive donor relationships, activate our special places, gain new donors/members for the organization, cultivate existing donors, and raise valuable operating support across the state. In addition, you’ll provide crucial support through a number of smaller gatherings centered around the organization’s new five-year strategic plan and vision, and 9-figure capital campaign. 

Specifically, you’ll: 

• Conduct event vendor research, negotiation, and coordination  

• Maintain and create accurate budget documents for events  

• Manage event lead-up preparations for registration needs and run-of-show documents  

• Build and maintain positive donor relations  

• Work with the Marketing and Communications team to create invitations, website content, message points, and collateral for all events   

• Lead all approved and budgeted events for the fiscal year  

• Support and actively participate in the planning and implementation of all Development and Governance Events  

• Collaborate with event staff and manage volunteers as required   

• Contribute to and model a positive and collaborative team and organizational culture and work closely across multiple organization departments and managements teams 

• Ability to learn Salesforce and other donor management software systems 

This is a full-time, non-exempt position [40 hours/week] reporting directly to the Director, Signature & Governance Events.  

What You’ll Need: 

Skills and Experience:  

• Excellent organizational and event management skills: ability to initiate, plan, prioritize and oversee multiple events successfully.      

• Ability to communicate persuasively, excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to foster client and vendor relationships.   

• Superior knowledge of event/meeting logistics including catering, audio/visual, strategic event layout, and general event operations/management.    

• Results and deadline driven with strong ability to work independently.    

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook, with ability to learn a sales and venue management program.   

• Flexibility to adapt to a varied work schedule and event scheduling demands.   

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently and to effectively collaborate with departments across the organization   

• Access to reliable transportation to travel between properties and transport materials, supplies, etc. for events.  

• Ability to work on nights and weekends depending on event needs. 

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Current authorization to work in the United States – a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment. 

• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check. 

Don’t quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.  

Questions? Contact our People team at [email protected] 

Your Benefits:

• Sick time: 120 hours per year 

• Vacation time: 20 days per year (prorated) 

• Holiday time: 12 set holidays, 3 floating  

• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits.  

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance 

• Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave 

• Life Insurance  

• 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment 

• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice.  

• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions.  

• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns.  

• Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property 

• Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity: 

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.    

The Trustees’ commitment to advancing the organization’s vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity. 

 It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.  

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected].