Executive Director for College Events

Earlham College is a Top 100 National Liberal Arts College located in Richmond, IN, a small city that's just a short drive away from several major metropolitan areas including Dayton, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Chicago.

Richmond and Earlham have a symbiotic relationship. Through research, studies, internships and volunteering, Earlhamites offer Richmond expertise and service as Richmond offers our students the chance to gain valuable, real-world experience. Our community assumes no religious affiliation but follows Quaker principles and practices, which include respect for persons, integrity, a commitment to peace and justice, simplicity, and consensus-based community decision-making. Earlham is committed to and proud of being a diverse and inclusive place most clearly visible in our student body: 20% of our student body are international, coming from 60+ nations in 2022, and 24% are domestic students of color. Faculty and staff also bring tremendous diversity to the College; many have lived and worked outside the United States, and they make a point of drawing on those experiences in their interactions with students. Additionally, Earlham makes it a priority to serve as a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ communities and has a four-star rating on the Campus Pride Index. Our community is characterized by respect for every person and a commitment to social justice. Equity and inclusion are central to Earlham's institutional priorities and our leadership is committed to widening the path to an Earlham education.

Earlham College is seeking an Executive Director for College Events to join our team!

Earlham College seeks a strategic and community-minded candidate for the newly created Executive Director for College Events role. Earlham has emerged from the pandemic with a renewed focus on in-person events, complemented with a vibrant array of virtual events. This is an exciting opportunity to envision and build a holistic approach to events that engage our campus community, our neighbors in Richmond and Wayne County, alumni and friends of the College.

The ideal candidate for this role will be a big-picture, integrative thinker (and doer!) with strong relationship-building skills and a commitment to Earlham’s mission, principles and practices. A natural collaborator, the Executive Director will leverage the strengths of various divisions to elevate Earlham’s public presence among our internal and external audiences.

The Executive Director for College Events will lead strategic planning for events and provide guidance and partnership to individuals on campus who direct and manage public events, including those in Student Life, Institutional Advancement, the Epic Centers and others. As such, this person will need to maintain strong relationships with the Office of the President; Student Life; Academic Affairs; Institutional Advancement; the SAVP for Strategic and Diversity Initiatives; Epic Center directors; and representatives from our dining and maintenance partners, among others.

Essential Functions:

• Reporting to the Vice President for Marketing and Communications, the Executive Director will create a vision for building a vibrant, mission-aligned events strategy that leads to the introduction of new or revived signature events — either virtual or in person. Additionally, the Executive Director will implement a campus wide approach to assessing the success and effectiveness of events and foster a culture of continuous operational improvement. The Executive Director will work within Marketing and Communications and with campus partners to ensure appropriate prioritization of and promotion and communication about events to internal and external audiences.

• The Executive Director will share an integrated approach and high-level strategic focus for events outside their area of direct responsibility with campus partners. Oversight of these events will continue in their respective divisions, but the Executive Director will serve as a central resource, adviser and collaborator. These partners include but are not limited to the Directors of College Events, Alumni Engagement, and Community Engagement; staff in the Office of the President and other senior leaders, Admissions, Student Life, Academic Affairs, Institutional Advancement; Epic Center directors; and representatives from our facilities and dining partners, among others.

• The Executive Director will oversee large-scale and high-level events that build engagement, connection and goodwill for Earlham among students, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and local and regional audiences. Existing initiatives include:
  • Presidential Lecture Series
  • Guest Artist and Lecture Series
  • Engagements with national and international speakers
  • Performances by nationally known artists

• In addition to these existing events, the Executive Director will provide a vision for building a vibrant, mission-aligned events strategy that leads to the introduction of new or revived signature events — either virtual or in person. These could include:
  • An outstanding alumni speaker series
  • Concerts by alumni bands or performers
  • A faculty and/or scholarly lecture series
  • Convocations
  • A series focused on diversity, equity and inclusion

• Honoring Earlham’s deep roots in Richmond, Wayne County, and the state of Indiana, the Executive Director will actively pursue opportunities to build deeper connections between Earlham and community leaders in Wayne County through public events — both in the selection of programming and in cultivating relationships. The goal is to ensure that Earlham is considered a regional destination for high-quality, world-class events.

• Additional duties as assigned

• Bachelors degree and at least 5-7 years’ experience in a related field
• Budget management
• A record of successful planning and implementation for events
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Engagement with programming and event planning that will contribute to our goal of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our community
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity in all forms, teamwork, and ethical practice
• Creativity and an understanding of broader trends and how they could inform our approach to event promotion and management
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Detail-oriented and organized with a balance of logistical/tactical expertise and strategic vision
• Effective problem solving and project management skills
• Must be able to handle high or increased stress levels during peak times (i.e. Commencement, beginning of academic year)

• Be a positive example and resource to all Earlham Students

The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

To Apply

• Please submit the following application materials through our  Earlham Careers Portal
• Cover letter - Please address your thinking and experience with matters of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as it relates and specifically pertains to this position.
• Resume
• List of Three References with Contact Information

Earlham College is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse community, one that reflects the makeup of society at large and that particularly welcomes and supports individuals from groups that have been historically marginalized because of factors such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, 

sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, and physical ability. The College strongly encourages applications from women and people of color. As an institution with a Quaker identity, the College also solicits applications from members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

Earlham's Work Authorization Policy

Earlham utilizes E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for all newly hired employees within the United States.