About NUS Development Office

Shape experiences that advance relationships and philanthropy.

This is a strategic events role. You will work with business owners from the outset to define why an event should take place, who it should engage, what experience it should create and how success will be measured—then lead the team and partners to deliver it exceptionally.

The Role

The Assistant Manager/Manager, Events Management leads a portfolio of donor-, alumni- and stakeholder-facing events that support NUS fundraising, engagement and institutional advancement priorities.

This is a strategic events role. You will work with business owners from the outset to define why an event should take place, who it should engage, what experience it should create and how success will be measured — then lead teams and partners to deliver it exceptionally.

Beyond operational delivery, you will bring strategic judgement, creative thinking and strong project leadership, translating business objectives into purposeful event concepts, audience journeys and measurable outcomes.

You will partner with fundraising and engagement teams, senior leaders, faculty colleagues, Communications and external partners to design distinctive experiences that deepen relationships, strengthen the University’s reputation and create opportunities for future engagement and giving.

The ideal candidate is someone who can move confidently between strategy and execution: asking the right questions at the start, shaping the right event approach, aligning multiple stakeholders and ensuring every element of the experience serves a clear purpose.

What You Will Do

You will partner with business owners from the start of each project to clarify the business need, target audience, desired action and role of the event within the wider engagement or fundraising journey. You will advise on the most effective event format, scale and experience — or recommend an alternative approach where an event is not the best solution.

You will develop event strategies and creative concepts aligned with Development Office priorities, audience insights, NUS brand values and available resources. This includes shaping event narratives, programme flow, content, guest journeys and engagement touchpoints, while establishing clear objectives and success measures.

You will lead end-to-end planning across a diverse portfolio, including donor cultivation and appreciation events, campaign launches, naming ceremonies, networking receptions, lectures, recognition events and VIP visits. You will develop project plans covering workstreams, roles, milestones, budgets, risks and dependencies; align cross-functional teams; anticipate issues; and manage multiple projects concurrently.

You will design thoughtful, audience-centred experiences for donors, alumni, volunteers, corporate partners, distinguished guests and senior leaders. Working closely with Communications, you will help shape event positioning, branding, invitations, programmes, speeches, presentations and supporting content, ensuring a coherent experience from invitation and registration through to on-site hospitality and follow-up.

You will oversee high-quality execution, including venue, production, registration, catering, audio-visual, décor, transport, security, protocol and hospitality arrangements. You will lead on-site delivery, manage vendors and agencies, develop contingency plans and ensure compliance with University procurement, finance, safety and governance requirements.

You will also manage budgets, procurement and financial reconciliation; review event outcomes against agreed objectives; turn insights into stronger playbooks and ways of working; explore technology, data and new formats; and contribute to a collaborative team culture by sharing knowledge and raising standards across event strategy and delivery.

What We Are Looking For

You should have a recognised bachelor’s degree, with at least three to five years of relevant experience for Assistant Manager, or five to six years for Manager, in events, experiential engagement, fundraising, higher education, non-profit, hospitality or a related field.

You should have demonstrated experience developing event concepts and plans, rather than only coordinating logistics. Experience managing high-profile, donor-facing, executive-level or multi-stakeholder events is highly desirable, together with experience managing budgets, procurement, vendors and complex project timelines.

You will bring strategic and audience-centred thinking, with the ability to connect event decisions to broader organisational and engagement objectives. Strong project leadership and organisational skills are essential, including the confidence to structure ambiguity, establish priorities and move work forward.

You should have excellent stakeholder management, influencing and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leaders and diverse partners. Good editorial and communication judgement is also important, particularly when contributing to event narratives, programmes and content discussions.

Strong commercial awareness, problem-solving ability and sound judgement under pressure are expected. Familiarity with event registration, CRM, project management or event technology platforms would be an advantage, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. The role may require working outside normal office hours for events.

You May Be a Good Fit If You Are

• Curious and thoughtful—asks the right questions before moving into execution.
• Creative, resourceful and proactive, with a strong instinct for quality and audience experience.
• Professional, diplomatic and confident in engaging senior leaders, donors and external stakeholders.
• Collaborative and generous with knowledge, while able to take ownership and make decisions.
• Discreet, dependable and guided by sound judgement and integrity.