Director, Programs and Events

Stanford Professionals in Real Estate (SPIRE) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Palo Alto, California, and an officially chartered alumni club of the Stanford University Alumni Association.

 

SPIRE has a membership of nearly 2,800+ Stanford alumni, students and faculty. The core purpose of SPIRE is to empower the Stanford University community to innovate within real estate, place making, and the built environment. The three missions of the organization are alumni professional networking, student outreach, and educational program development.

 

Introduction – Director, Programs & Events

 

The Director role is high profile and strategic within SPIRE.

 

The role reports to the Executive Director and designs and executes events for SPIRE’s members and for Stanford students. These events include the annual Stanford Real Estate Hall of Fame, the Stanford Alumni Real Estate Council (SREC) conference at the University, as well as regional events around the country and other conferences in which SPIRE participates.

 

Event planning skills are central to this role; however, we are looking for more than that. This role is trickier than most event planning jobs in that you will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with our regional volunteer leaders. It is on these people you will rely for event ideation. Event ideation is the more challenging part of this role than event execution. Are you interested in that part of the role? If so, read more.

 

Aside from the direct responsibility for the events and programming outlined above, the role supports SPIRE’s Executive Director on a broad range of initiatives. The position includes working directly with -- and managing -- volunteer alumni in each of SPIRE’s six key geographic regions to identify and execute alumni programs. Further, the Director helps with the development, implementation and management of a robust volunteer alumni program to encourage active participation and engagement with SPIRE.

 

The Director participates in marketing and communications. The manager develops marketing concepts and creates event postings and newsletter articles to promote SPIRE activities. The manager also serves as a liaison between the Executive Director and regional volunteer leadership to help recruit numerous alumni across the country to carry out events and programing. The Director may be called upon to effectively lead and manage volunteer committees.

 

In this role, there is responsibility for ideating and implementing a calendar of events, managing event budgets and vendor relationships, and marketing and promoting events. The position will coordinate with SPIRE members-at-large to secure event participation, and manage registration for events.

 

Expectations

 

The Director will be incentivized based on performance metrics tied to the number of alumni events hosted and attendance at those events, as well as fundraising goals.

 

There is a fundraising expectation in that this role requires one to seek and secure corporate sponsors for each regional alumni event.

 

This position will work closely with the Executive Director and Member Services Coordinator. Periodic travel to regional events may be required. Attendance at daytime and evening events is required.

 

Attributes

 

1. Gravitas. This position requires the ability to work directly with executive- and C-level SPIRE members in the real estate industry. In other words, a certain level of gravitas in person, and in writing, is expected
2. Can Do Attitude. It also requires a “can do” attitude and a willingness to switch from swabbing the deck to public speaking at an event. We’re a very small, high-performing team and we are looking for someone who will help keep the ship sailing.
3. High Quality Written and Oral Expression. The Program Manager will not only plan events but will lead and execute them so will need to be calm under pressure, and will also need to be able to speak with ease in front of groups. In anticipation of, and in follow up to, events, much written communication will be required so the manager’s ability to write well is a must.
4. A Need for Speed. The pace of the organization is fast. Efficient, dedicated effort is of utmost importance, as is the ability to deliver highest quality work for our discerning and demanding membership and leadership.
5. Ease of Relationship Development. One of the keys to this job is managing volunteers. This requires a keen and positive attitude towards these precious relationships. You will be relying on these folks so these relationships are central to success in this role. Volunteer management is a unique skill set.
6. Nimbleness with Technology. We are in the heart of Silicon Valley and while we aren't a tech company, we are small enough that we play the role of our own IT. You'll be part of that "IT department" and so an ease with technologies will aid greatly.

 

Education and Experience 

 

·  College degree

·  Event management and fundraising experience required

·  Marketing experience a plus

·  Familiarity with the cities of Seattle, LA, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC a plus

·  General technical skills such as working with a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and the Microsoft Office suite is required

·  Experience managing video and print production is valuable

 

Logistics 

The office is in downtown Palo Alto. Parking is not provided. The office hours are 8 am – 5 pm along with night time events from time to time.

 

BOTH A RESUME AND A PERSONALIZED COVER LETTER ARE REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION.

 

References from current and previous employers must be provided.

 

Salary is competitive with other local non-profits hiring for this position.