Philanthropy Events Operations Manager

PHILANTHROPY EVENTS & OPERATIONS MANAGER

Position Summary

The Philanthropy Events & Operations Manager supports Friends by leading fundraising events for the organization and overseeing operations for the philanthropy team. As project manager for fundraising events the Philanthropy Events & Operations Manager is responsible for the planning and of cultivation stewardship and solicitation events to engage supporters of Friends. On the operational side the Manager provides support and highlevel project management for key philanthropy initiatives working with the Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) to ensure the team has clear goals roles and responsibilities for all major projects tied to team goals as defined in the philanthropy annual work plan.

About Friends of Waterfront Park

Friends of Waterfront Park (Friends) is a 501c3 nonprofit. Through a publicprivate partnership with the City of Seattle Friends is leading fundraising and programming deepening public safety investments and ensuring longterm stewardship of Waterfront Park now and for generations to come. The organization works closely with the City of Seattle through Seattle Center who provides park maintenance and public safety services. This model of a nonprofit managing and ensuring the success of a park is common across major U.S. cities including Friends of the Highline and Brooklyn Bridge Parks Conservancy in New York and Friends of the Underline in Miami.

Over 15 years in the making Waterfront Park project represents a grand community vision for reimagining Seattles waterfront in the footprint of the old viaduct a 1950s infrastructure; creating a new kind of civic and cultural space. Seattle is a city known for innovation and Waterfront Park represents that spirit it is so much more than simply a park. Waterfront Park is creating 20acres of green space inviting locals and visitors to reconnect with the water downtown and each other. It will run from Belltown to Pioneer Square and has a large urban footprint for programming activation and other park uses. Opening in 2025 Waterfront Park will serve as a fresh cultural anchor for downtown offering free public programming cocurated with communities from across the region.

Friends vision goes far beyond the parks 20 acres. Alongside the City of Seattle we envision a common space that is truly safe and welcoming to everyone; a space that is centered in equity. Friends has an opportunity and an inherent responsibility to disrupt patterns of exclusion and serve as a model for public spaces in Seattle and around the country. We have already made progress by working to establish strong community ties and trust and delivering BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People of Color) community led programs at Pier 62 the first piece of the park to open to the public.

Land Acknowledgement

Waterfront Park is situated on the land of the Coast Salish peoples who have resided here since time immemorial and continue to thrive. With respect and humility we acknowledge the history of the waterfront the dispossession of land from the Coast Salish people and most importantly the strength and resilience of Native people and their culture through this history and to the present.

Equity Commitment

Friends recognizes and acknowledges historic and existing systemic racism embedded in our city. We are committed to becoming an antiracist organization by prioritizing racial equity within the organization and in the public spaces we operate.

Responsibilities

PhilanthropyEvents

Two Annual Fundraisers

• Oversee endtoend planning and ofFriends two annual fundraisers (one larger basebuilding event Pier Party and a fundraising dinner) developing milestones and provide ongoing project management with leads from other departments (Marketing & Communications Community Impact & Programs and Park Experience)
• Communicate event strategy goals and highlevel plans to staff board and event committee members
• Project manage marketing of events and facilitate design process in collaboration with Marketing & Communications team
• Coordinate logistics with event vendors such as catering A/V artistic talent photographer and emcee
• Support sponsor outreach and help secure support for events and ensure delivery of sponsor benefits
• Work with Philanthropy Database Coordinator on registration forms and data collection for events
• Track event budgets attendance and progress toward event goals
• Serve as main point of contact for staff volunteers partners and event attendees
• Collaborate with department leads to develop event program and timeline
• Recruit train and manage a group of staff and volunteers for preevent and event tasks
• Oversee accurate event registration donation and followup
• Manage and problemsolve any dayof issues with attendees vendors or volunteers
• Ensure events are accessible through live captioning interpretation access to necessary spaces and other needs as communicated by the community

Cultivation & Stewardship Events

• Plan and execute of 36 small cultivation or stewardship events each year in 2025 this will be several donor stewardship events
• Support group waterfront walks or tours as needed
• Serve as philanthropy lead for milestone opening events in 2025 including planning and of the Community Preview planned by the CIP team.

Philanthropy Team Operations/Project Management

• Serve as project manager for teamwide and large cross functional projects tracking team tasks timelines and outcomes
• Provide high level project management for the team ensuring use team frameworks and templates for all shared projects
• In collaboration with the CPO ensure implementation of teamwork plan setting check in milestones with team members for their areas of responsibility
• Set agendas and facilitate weekly team meetings

Collaboration Values and Culture

• Collaboration
  • Collaborate as a member of the Philanthropy Team providing thought partnership and support as needed.
  • Assist with philanthropy events and other activities as needed.
  • Work collaboratively with and learn from the entire organization and with external partners stakeholders and community.
• Diversity Equity Accessibility and Inclusion (DEIA)
  • Contribute to an inclusive workplace culture and adhere to Friends Community Agreements.
  • Engage in regular conversations about race and equity through allstaff meetings trainings.
  • Incorporate values of DEAI in all facets of this job and when collaborating across teams.
• Community
  • Incorporate the orgwide value/ethos of centering community throughout work (e.g. attend community events seek out and listen to diverse communities and perspectives).
  • Contribute as the Philanthropy Team incorporates principles of CommunityCentric Fundraising in our work.
• Culture: Contribute to organizational culture by participating in team building activities to help build a fun welcoming and productive workplace.

Minimum Qualifications

• 24 years of experience with fundraising event management or project management
• Bachelors Degree or any other work experience or credentials that demonstrate knowledge and skills.
• A commitment to incorporating Diversity Equity Accessibility Inclusion and Justice (DEAI) in all facets of your work
• Interest in and ability to build relationships on behalf of Friends
• Strong communication skills and commitment to collaboration
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner
• Ability to collaborate crossfunctionally manage up and down and keep the project team moving to help ensure coordinated integrated and efficient workflow
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word Excel Outlook) and online meeting tools such as Zoom and Teams
• Must be able to pass a background check

Desired Qualifications

• Lived experience and/or cultural competency with underrepresented communities including Black Indigenous Latine disabled and/or LGBTQ communities and the ability to bring this lens to conversations about antiracism antioppression and embedding equity in all aspects of work
• Experience with project management tools (e.g. Asana)
• Experience with Salesforce or another constituent relationship management (CRM) database
• Nonprofit experience
• Experience with print and digital marketing and communications tools

Compensation and Benefits

The Philanthropy Events & Operations Manager is a fulltime exempt position. The annual salary range for this position is $81000$89700. Friends has created a compensation philosophy and salary framework to set compensation organizationwide. The final salary offer is dependent on how the candidates skills abilities and experience align with Friends salary framework: Level: Manager II Tiers 13.

Benefits include (but are not limited to): Paid time off health and dental coverage for employees and dependents defined contribution retirement plan with 3 match and ORCA regional transit pass (does not include Washington State Ferries).

Working Conditions*

This role is based in Seattle WA. Friends has office space located at Pier 56. Typical office hours are Monday Friday 9 5 pm.

• This position should aim for 6080 of the work being inperson at Friends office.
• The office on Pier 56 is accessible via stairs or elevator. The office is on the second/top floor.
• The office building contains a parents room wellness room kitchen and several meeting rooms. Restrooms have braille labels.
• Weekend and evening work required depending on season and events; staff flex their work schedule to accommodate while maintaining a healthy work/life balance.
• Friends follows King County Public Health guidelines regarding COVID19.

The physical requirements of this role listed below are representative of those that may need to be met by an employee in this role:

• Operating a computer and other office equipment.
• Strong verbal and written communication capabilities ability to interact with customers through phone inperson and email communications.
• Ability to work in an open office format with a fluctuating noise level Friends office is an open floor plan and teams often meet in person to collaborate. Noise levels can be low to moderate. Music and ferry horns can often be heard from the office. However noise cancelling headphones and other accommodations may be provided.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds; however reasonable assistance with lifting or moving items can be provided.

*Individual reasonable accommodations can be discussed upon request.

How To Apply

Click the Apply link to submit your application. You will be asked to upload a resume and to answer the following questions in lieu of a cover letter:

1. How many cumulative years of experience do you have with fundraising event management or project management
2. In about 35 sentences tell us about one of your favorite events you organized and the key thing that made it successful.
3. In about 35 sentences describe how you approach organizing projects across teams
4. In about 35 sentences describe your journey to understand antiracism and antioppression. And what does it currently mean for you to embed equity into your work

Friends is committed to improving hiring practices to be more inclusive and antiableist. We have reviewed the job requirements and only include physical abilities when completely necessary. During the interview process we email the panel questions ahead of time. We are also able to provide captioning and/or interpretation (e.g. ASL) if requested. If you need specific assistance and/or accommodation during the application or recruiting process please let us know by emailing our People & Culture team

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled but priority will be given to applications received by Friday April 25 2025.

Required Experience:

Manager