Across the state, Washington has more science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and health care jobs than it can fill, yet our higher education system cannot keep up with the demand for skilled employees. The Washington State Opportunity Scholarship (WSOS) is a unique, public-private partnership designed to address our talent shortage. WSOS fuels the state’s economy by providing scholarships and a continuum of support services to high-potential students who are pursuing a graduate degree, bachelor’s degree, associate degree, certificate, or apprenticeship in a high-demand trade, health care, or STEM program in Washington state.

The Events and Communications Officer is a skilled events professional who excels at planning and executing strategic events that inspire individual donors and corporate partners to become a part of an organization’s mission. Additionally, the successful candidate will be a skilled communicator who effectively manages stakeholders critical to WSOS’ fundraising goals. The ideal candidate is a highly organized project manager who creatively designs events as opportunities to educate, engage, and acknowledge donors, community partners, state officials, students, alumni, volunteers, and colleagues. This position supports high-level event volunteers, including co-chairs and table hosts. The Events and Communications Officer reports to the Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving and plays an integral role in helping the organization to attract, engage, and develop supporters of the WSOS mission.

The main WSOS office is in Seattle’s Mt. Baker neighborhood. Most staff work on a hybrid schedule, generally working from the WSOS office two days per week. The workplace culture at WSOS is fast-paced, innovative, solutions-centric, and equity-focused. All are encouraged to think creatively, voice their opinions, try new things, fail quickly, evaluate, iterate, and try again. We spend time investing in relationships, and we acknowledge the humanity of our Scholars, staff, and partners. We intentionally build our values into everything we do at WSOS. We encourage you to visit our Careers page to learn more about our team culture and the values that guide our work.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1. Strategically plan and execute in-person and online events to support friend-raising and fundraising efforts of the organization, creating inspirational guest experiences
2. Define each event’s purpose and measurable outcomes, implementing a clear strategy for audience development, day-of execution, and effective follow-up to reach goals, with support of Development team and event contractors
3. Research and propose fundraising events that advance the overall fundraising strategy for the organization
4. Draft communications for Development team members to effectively manage stakeholders such as board members and honorary committee members
5. Track and meet budgeted revenue and expense targets and actively manage event budgets
6. Maintain the highest ethical standards of the fundraising profession
7. Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Education and Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)
2. 3+ years’ experience, ideally as a member of a nonprofit development team, events management team, or business development team
3. Proven track record planning and executing complex, high-profile events for both VIP, intimate audiences, and broad-base support ballrooms of 500-1,000 people
4. Active desire to opt in to the eight WSOS values as outlined on our Careers page

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

1. Effective event strategies that produce revenue, amplify audience, create inspiration, and convert event attendees to mission donors
2. Corporate research and outreach methods to reach potential donors and sponsors
3. Event fundraising and logistics management
4. Nonprofit boards and strategic tracking of communications
5. Systems of power and oppression and how they impact the lived experience of students of color, first-generation college students, and students from low-income families

Skill in:

1. Building and stewarding relationships with stakeholders
2. Project management of multiple tasks with competing priorities 
3. Writing and managing effective communications, including drafting and managing outreach communications for staff
4. Soliciting competitive bids from vendors and service providers; negotiating contracts
5. Using a donor/constituent CRM such as Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge
6. Using Microsoft Office and Smartsheet (or similar project management software)
7. Having respectful, courageous, and honest conversations

Ability to:

1. Drive creativity and innovation in event themes, branding, programming, and promotion
2. Build and maintain positive constituent and staff relationships
3. Navigate and manage high-profile stakeholders
4. Problem solve, take initiative, set priorities, and handle multiple projects efficiently
5. Thrive working independently and under supervision in an energetic, fast-paced team environment toward shared aspirational goals with quantifiable measures of success
6. Learn from experience with an appetite for doing better next time in service of mission

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Valid Washington state driver’s license or identification card
2. Access to reliable transportation for business travel 
3. Proof of automobile insurance if using a personal vehicle for business travel
4. Complete a criminal background check absent of offenses impacting ability to perform in the role
5. References will be required of short-listed candidates

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

1. Moving to and from meeting spaces with sitting, bending, twisting, and reaching, occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds
2. Open to dialogue about issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
3. Hybrid workplace including work-from-home time blended with shared office environment with moderate noise levels from standard office equipment
4. Ability to perform consistent work on a PC required
5. Local travel required up to 20% of the time; statewide travel required occasionally

BENEFITS:

1. Health, dental, vision, and prescription coverage; long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance
2. Support for setting up and optimizing home office
3. Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
4. 401(k) with employer contribution

SALARY: $78,714.00 Annualized

HOW TO APPLY:

All applications received by July 8 will be reviewed; position open until filled. Please visit www.waopportunityscholarship.org/about/jobs/ and click on “Check for open roles” to submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter outlining your interest in the position
2. Resume highlighting relevant aspects of your experience
   

Equal employment opportunities and diverse staffing are fundamental principles of WSOS. To learn more about the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, please visit www.waopportunityscholarship.org.  People who have personal experience as a first-generation, under-resourced, or historically excluded student like the majority of those WSOS serves are especially encouraged to apply.