Associate Director, Special Events

 

The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. It engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future. Founded in 1923, the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) showcases the city’s unique stories and cultural treasures. The country’s first and largest city museum, MCNY presents immersive exhibitions and programs at the intersection of history, popular culture, and art to 200,000 people annually, including 30,000 students and educators, fostering shared identity, civic pride and engagement, and social cohesion for New Yorkers. MCNY has been recognized as one of the leading museums in New York City by publications such as Condé Nast Traveler and the New York Times, with Time Out New York awarding MCNY “Best Museum” in New York in 2021.

 

The Associate Director, Special Events is an essential member of the Development Team that will be responsible for envisioning and executing a robust calendar of special events including the Museum’s Annual Gala, fundraising events, and donor cultivation events. This role is responsible for meeting the institution’s annual event fundraising goals, currently $3 million annually. A key member of the Museums senior staff, the Associate Director will work in partnership with the Chief Development Officer and museum’s executive team to identify areas to conceive new and innovative opportunities to grow special events revenue, garner press and brand awareness, and foster strong donor relations. The Associate Director also works cross-departmentally with public programs, exhibitions, collections, and education staff to highlight the Museum’s mission and vision. This is a full-time, regular position that reports directly to the Chief Development Officer.

 

Roles and Responsibilities:

 

  • Create and manage a calendar of special events that includes an annual spring gala, fall event for young professionals, and four-to-six cultivation events for donors and prospective funders, executing all logistics.
  • Working with the Chief Development Officer, Director and President, and Board of Trustees, direct all aspects of the Museum’s annual gala.
  • Oversee the Museum’s young professionals association, the Director’s Circle, and manage an annual fundraising and friendraising event for New Yorkers in their 20’s and 30’s. 
  • Support the eight-person development team with special event support, including providing mentorship, ideation, and logistical support for their events (e.g. membership, corporate).
  • Manage all special event consultants and venders, including consultants that support the Museum’s annual gala.
  • Track and document special events information in the organization’s CRM, using data to inform special event and fundraising strategy. 
  • Work with the Chief Development Officer and Chief of Staff and Strategy to support logistics and administration related to special events for the Board of Trustees, as needed and appropriate.
  • Work cross departmentally to support logistics and administration related to internal events, as needed and appropriate.
  • Other duties as assigned.

 

A successful candidate will have:

 

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in special events with a proven track record executing a high-caliber events program, preferably in a Museum, cultural institution, and/or New York nonprofit. 
  • Exceptional project management and organization skills, with ability to balance multiple priorities.
  • Ability to communicate and work with donors and event stakeholders at all levels, from general members to members of the Board of Trustees.
  • Proficiency in event management and donor CRM systems, including to capture and reference data and information for the future. Experience in Blackbaud Altru preferred.
  • Passion for New York City and appreciation for MCNY’s multi-faceted approach to exploring the city through history, popular culture, art, and civic engagement. 
  • Knowledge of current trends in the New York City special events scene, and ability to stay abreast of patterns and outcomes across the arts and culture sector.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and oral. 
  • Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a complex, mission-driven organization. A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a passion for advancing equity and addressing structural racism within nonprofit organizations
  • Flexibility and ability to adapt strategies in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
  • A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a passion for advancing equity and addressing structural racism within nonprofit organizations.

 

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

 

Currently, MCNY offers a hybrid work schedule with three days a week onsite (Wednesdays and Thursdays are mandatory) and two days a week of flexible work when possible. In-person attendance may be required for meetings and events, even on flexible days. This schedule is subject to approval by supervisors and may change at any time. Weekend and evening work may be required to support special events as needed. On occasion, the employee may be required to work outside events with weather conditions including heat and cold. Travel within the five boroughs may be required.

 

This role requires being stationary for 50% of the time and navigating office and Museum environments. Proficiency in operating office equipment and strong visual acuity (close, distance, color, and peripheral vision) is necessary for tasks like data analysis and computer use. Travel within the five boroughs may be required.

 

BENEFITS

 

The annual salary for this position is $100,000. The position offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, life insurance, 401K and a defined benefit pension plan, short and long-term disability, and an Employee Assistance Program, with options for critical illness insurance, accident insurance, legal services, and pet insurance. The Museum provides a paid time off policy that includes 10 days of annual leave, rising to 15 days in year 2, and to 20 days in year 3, plus 12 sick days per year and 12 holidays. Your employment relationship with the Museum qualifies you for free or discounted admissions to other participating cultural institutions.

 

The Museum of the City of New York is committed to fostering a collaborative and respectful work environment with a staff as diverse as New York City and the audiences who are curious about learning more about its history and engaging in contemporary urban issues. Our staff members are dedicated to working towards a common goal: creating the most dynamic and inspiring city museum in the world.

 

The Museum of the City of New York is an equal opportunity employer. As such, the museum provides equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants without unlawful discrimination with respect to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender identification or expression, marital status, military status or veteran, national origin, political association, political/personal convictions, predisposing genetic characteristics, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and style), religion (including attire, clothing or facial hair worn in accordance with religious requirements), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and transgender status), sexual orientation, socio-economic status, geographic location, philosophies, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws, in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, training, compensation, promotion, demotion, transfer, lay-off, and termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment. The Museum complies with applicable state and local law governing nondiscrimination in employment which prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employees, applicants for employment or interns, as well as contractors, subcontractors, vendors, consultants, other individuals providing services in the workplace or their employees in every location in which the Museum has facilities.

This position has been filled.