Assistant Director of Events and Stewardship, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences
Administration
Knoxville, TN, USA
The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences will play a significant role in UT Knoxville’s $3 billion capital campaign and will carry a campaign goal of $65 million. With 57,000+ living alumni, this dynamic college offers degrees in education, counseling, leadership, public health, nutrition, kinesiology, sport studies, and hospitality and tourism, among others.
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Assistant Director of Events and Stewardship for the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (EHHS). Reporting to the Executive Director of Advancement, this newly created position is responsible for overseeing all college advancement events as well as building and executing a stewardship plan for EHHS donors. As a new role, the Assistant Director of Events and Stewardship has the opportunity to provide a tremendous impact on the future of the college and the successful completion of a $65 million campaign fundraising goal.
The candidate who fills the Assistant Director of Events and Stewardship position is required to have:
Bachelor’s degree.
5+ years of relevant experience in alumni affairs, donor relations, event oversight or related experience.
The ideal candidate will have the ability to propose new and better solutions to existing processes and procedures.
Strong project management skills with proven ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to carry out complex written or oral instructions and be able to work independently, with guidelines with limited supervision.
Application Process: Priority will be given to applications received on or before June 24th via our DASH application system. Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, and resume. Candidates selected to move forward in the evaluation process will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.
When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.
Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org.
Target Start Date: September 2026
Benefits: The Foundation’s greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:
Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days
Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members
Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses
Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans
Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods
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The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee’s flagship public research university, UT Knoxville is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity, and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT’s campus—home to more than 36,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members—is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby.
The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.
The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.
This position will play the lead in planning and executing high visibility Advancement events for the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences. These include but are not limited to donor recognition events, pregame football tailgates, meet-the-dean receptions in various cities, the annual Educators Hall of Honor recognition, advisory board functions and other key stakeholder activities. This position will collaborate with Advancement, college and volunteer partners to build some of these events from the ground up, ensuring that each activity enhances donor and prospect relationships with the college.
The Assistant Director of Events and Stewardship will coordinate EHHS stewardship activities in collaboration with advancement and college leadership. This includes but is not limited to facilitating donor endowment reports (in consultation with Advancement’s Donor Experience Team), student, staff and faculty thank you notes, and birthday/life event recognitions for donors, as well as developing and maintaining a consistent stewardship process for philanthropic gifts to the college. Another key function will be tracking individualized stewardship plans for the college’s most significant relationships and ensuring adequate steps are being taken to properly steward top donors.