Associate Director, Institutional Events and Commencement
Location: Boston Campus · Type: Full time · Posted: 2026-08-14 ·
Reference: JR008968
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The Associate Director, Institutional Events & Commencement reports to the
Director, Advancement Events on the Advancement Communications & Institutional
Events team within the Office of Institutional Advancement. Serving as a
central pillar of the College's experiential brand identity, the Associate
Director is as an organized, thoughtful, and strategically minded project
manager. Beyond executing a flawless Commencement season, the Associate
Director actively manages and supports a portfolio of other signature events
within Emerson's comprehensive Institutional Events portfolio. Operating under
the leadership of the Events Directors, the Associate Director will be
assigned select events to manage completely, while providing matrixed support
for major enrollment, presidential, and advancement milestones.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Director, Institutional Events & Commencement reports to the
Director, Advancement Events on the Advancement Communications & Institutional
Events team within the Office of Institutional Advancement. Serving as a
central pillar of the College's experiential brand identity, the Associate
Director is as an organized, thoughtful, and strategically minded project
manager. Beyond executing a flawless Commencement season, the Associate
Director actively manages and supports a portfolio of other signature events
within Emerson's comprehensive Institutional Events portfolio. Operating under
the leadership of the Events Directors, the Associate Director will be
assigned select events to manage completely, while providing matrixed support
for major enrollment, presidential, and advancement milestones.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES
Under the direction of the Events Directors, create, produce, and manage
the complete execution of the annual multi-day commencement exercises,
graduate hooding ceremonies, and associated VIP platform parties, ensuring
a dynamic academic event that elevates the guest experience.
Formulate and track master project plans, detailed timelines, exhaustive
checklists, ground plans, budgets, role descriptions, crew assignments,
scripts, and definitive minute-by-minute run-of-show documents.
Research, design, and pivot ceremony formats as needed to deliver highly
impactful in-person, hybrid and virtual graduation experiences. Manage
event load-in and load-out as needed.
In partnership with Marketing & Communications and Student Life,
coordinate the delivery of clear, consistent, and multi-layered event
communications to students, parents, faculty, staff, and leadership via
specialized email workflows, direct inquiries and manage regular website
updates.
Evaluate and deploy specialized technical systems to enhance process
efficiency and graduate engagement, including electronic guest ticketing,
automated graduate messaging architectures, graduate name pronunciation
systems, customized slides, professional portraits, and video captures.
Research, procure, and supervise premier external event vendors, talent,
and production houses; issue structured service contracts, and collect
compliant insurance certificates, partnering with Procurement.
Directly manage select high-profile institutional events as assigned by
leadership, steering them from inception through budgeting, registration,
vendor procurement, onsite coordination, and post-event analysis.
Provide crucial operational alignment, staff management, and delivery
support for high-volume Admissions Open Houses and Admitted Student Days
to strengthen the prospective-to-admitted student lifecycle.
Monitor and reconcile distinct budgets and transaction pipelines using
designated enterprise software, ensuring absolute adherence to division
fiscal controls.
Support the execution of select President's Office, Board-level, and
faculty & staff signature activities including internal milestone
community forums, retreats, and institutional celebrations.
Proactively build and maintain high-touch, collaborative working
relationships with key campus divisions, specifically the Offices of
Student Life, the Registrar, Marketing & Communications, Procurement, Risk
Management, and the President's Office, to ensure unified messaging and
seamless student and executive engagement.
Coordinate and deliver critical logistical synergy and staffing support
for major on-campus Master Classes, alumni events, and the annual multi-
day Alumni Weekend, maximizing constituent affinity and strategic
engagement.
Solicit, organize, and conduct rigorous operational training for networks
of staff volunteers, institutional stakeholders, and hired student workers
required for large-scale event deployment.
Partners with the Office of Marketing & Communications to design and
produce institutional invitations, multi-page programs, credentials,
signage, academic flags, banners, and lectern configurations.
Works closely with the bookstore and regalia vendor to procure student and
faculty regalia and maintain the regalia sales platform.
Support faculty Name Readers by providing customized reports and clear
pronunciation media.
Formulate and enforce strict event safety parameters and comprehensive
accessibility measures (including ASL interpreting, physical mobility
layouts, and digital captioning) to guarantee equitable access across all
institutional activations.
Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and
represent what is needed to effectively perform job.
Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Production, Event Management, Communications,
Public Relations, or a closely related professional field required.
5-7 years of progressive, large-scale event production, project
management, or ceremony management previous experience required,
preferably within a higher education setting or highly matrixed
institutional environment required.
Documented success managing multi-faceted, high-volume ceremonial
milestones involving multiple internal and external executive stakeholders
required.
Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools to enhance operational
efficiency across communications, event production, and relationship
management, with a proactive commitment to continuous learning and
adopting emerging AI advancements, preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-
inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with
the job.
Strong organizational and project management acumen and a meticulous
attention to detail, with a proven ability to independently follow through
on extensive timelines.
Ability to manage concurrent events amid ambiguity.
Public speaking skills, and relationship-building skills necessary to
coordinate confidently across student, parent, faculty, vendor, and
executive leadership networks
Strong aesthetic sense and high production standards capable of executing
impactful, on-brand experiences; proficient with layout utility software,
project management software, spreadsheet software (Google Sheets/Excel),
and modern event tech tools
Ability to handle highly confidential or sensitive institutional
situations with absolute discretion, maintaining a calm, polished, and
solution-oriented focus under tight deadlines.
PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance
of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are
representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully
perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be
made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
This position is active in nature, continuous movement is required.
Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with co-workers
and supervisors is essential.
Repetitive movements, occasional lifting of up to 45 pounds, reaching,
lifting, stooping, climbing and the ability to read a computer screen,
detect color-coding and read fine print will be expected.
Occasional domestic travel and weekend work is required.
WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly
associated with the performance of the functions of this job.
General office conditions. Exposed to moderate noise levels
May occasionally be exposed to inclement weather conditions and extreme
temperatures
This is a hybrid position, requiring both in-person and remote work.
Disclaimer:This job description in no way states or implies that these
are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.
Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to
perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state
and federal laws. Certain job duties described herein may be subject to
possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.
IN-OFFICE EXPECTATIONS
This position is primarily a hybrid role with expected days in the office each
week.
The hybrid arrangement will be made upon hire. Candidates must reside within a
reasonable commuting distance of the Boston campus to ensure operational
effectiveness. This arrangement must be approved as outlined in the Remote
Work Policy.
Compensation: $74,500.00 - $91,350.00 annually, commensurate with experience.
Grade of Position: 23-09E
Employment Category: Regular
.
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25
Division of Institutional Advancement
In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the
health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous
benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week.
Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits
eligibility, and time off policies. Benefits include outstanding health plans
with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs,
and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once
eligible. Additional benefits, such as life and disability coverage and
commuter offerings, are available.
Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and
eligibility requirements.
