Event and Engagement Specialist

Event and Engagement Specialist

For over 50 years the Distress Centre has served Calgary and Southern Alberta, providing 24-hour crisis support, information, and resources at no cost. Distress Centre does not define crisis. We do not judge. Anyone can call us day or night.

What to expect in the role:

The Events and Engagement specialist leads creative and connective donor events, including all planning and logistics, sponsorship relationship building, pre-event communications, and post-event stewardship, all executed in a seamless and strategic fashion. This role requires a candidate who is a natural relationship builder, guest experience curator, and logistical mastermind. If you love creating experiences that meaningfully connect donors to important community impact, this role is for you. We are seeking a candidate interested in a part time role (21 hours per week).

The Strategy and Engagement team is a dynamic, collaborative and highly supportive team, which the Events and Engagement Specialist is an integral part of.

Key Responsibilities

Event Management

Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser in June

• Seek ongoing sponsorship, donations and prizes, including solicitation, collection, and stewardship
• Coordinate pre and post event communications and engagement
• Manage all logistics, volunteer engagement, vendors and guest experiences
• Work closely with volunteer committee members
• Leverage sponsorship relationships to deepen engagement and support additional giving

Support External 3rd-Party Events

• Market, design, and support third party fundraisers
• Track all information in CRM system, ensuring donation data is collected, and donors are properly thanked
• Ensure event organizers are thanked and stewarded appropriately
• Attend third-party events to represent Distress Centre
• Coordinate with internal teams when activation booths are required

Donor Appreciation and Donor Acquisition Events

Lead the planning, logistics and communications of appreciation event

Support the logistics and communications, and collaborate with other fundraising staff to create one or several donor acquisition events

Manage gaming events, activities, and revenue, as well as AGLC reporting

Manage volunteers for gaming events

Relationship Management

• Manage a portfolio of donors, sponsors and 3rd-Party organizers to cultivate, steward and leverage these relationships
• Create and deliver a year-round stewardship and engagement plan for events and associated relationships, working in collaboration with major gift fundraising staff to leverage and expand relationships
• Support strategies for onboarding new event donors and integrating event attendees in year-round fundraising appeals

What you bring to the role

• 2 or more years of related experience; or combination of formal education and experience.
• Experience in event planning, golf tournaments or fundraising is an asset
• Experience in the not-for-profit sector is an asset

Skills/Abilities

• Intermediate proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint
• Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence
• Strong project management and creative hospitality skills
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable working with and ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Organizational and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail, a high degree of accuracy, and excellent time management skills.
• Ability to maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with other staff and volunteers
• Ability to engage partners, both internal and external
• Ability to research, assimilate, organize, analyze and summarize information

Special Working Conditions

• General work hours are 9:00am – 5:00pm, and some flexibility in working evenings/ or weekends close to the time of events and to meet agency needs
• Long periods of sitting at a desk, predominantly computer work including typing and reading on a screen
• Event days include long periods of walking and standing
• Ability to lift event materials up to 20lbs
• Access to a reliable vehicle for transporting event-related materials

Core Competencies

Client/Service Centered Work – you make clients the ultimate focus of our agency, team, and individual choices and actions.

Partnerships, Relationships, & Teamwork – you build and maintain productive, collaborative working relationships within and across groups, both internally and externally, to accomplish our common goals.

Growth Mindset/Learning – you actively identify new areas for learning and take advantage of opportunities to learn in whatever form they come. You apply your newly gained knowledge in your jobs and share these skills with others.

Communication – you clearly convey information and ideas through a variety of media in a way that engages the audience and helps them to understand and inviting dialogue and inciting action where appropriate.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – we build and sustain an inclusive work environment where all individuals are welcomed, supported, respected, and valued for their unique experiences, perspectives, talents, and contributions.

Change Management – you maintain your team and personal effectiveness when being impacted by changes within the organization.

Self-Management – you take responsibility for yourself and your actions.

What Distress Centre has to offer:

• Benefits from hire date
• Matching Group Savings Plan
• Vacation time starting at 3 weeks and Wellness Days
• Staff Development Funds
• On-site gym