Development Events Manager

Job Posting 

Development Events Manager 

Position: Development Events Manager Department: Development 

Reports to: Director of Development Schedule: Full-time, Exempt 

Pay Range: $50,000-$65,000 

The Development Events Manager will lead The Contemporary Austin’s Development events including two major fall fundraisers, member events, opening receptions, donor tours and more. This role involves providing donors and their guests with creative and engaging experiences at the museum. The successful candidate will be organized, have strong problem-solving skills and is a strategic planner.  

Responsibilities: 

• Working closely with the Director of Development and the development team, this person will focus on the development areas below:  

Special Events: 

• Tag in as needed to envision donor events ranging from member events to larger scale fundraisers and friend-raisers, ensuring that events are designed to align with The Contemporary’s brand, professionally delivered within budget.  
• Work with team to create a 6-12 month look ahead of events and offerings designed to both steward existing and cultivate new members and donors.  
• Serve as development department lead and cross-departmental point of contact for the organization’s two most significant annual fundraisers, Art Dinner and Very ‘Rary (see details below) 
• Serve as point of contact for 3rd party event coordinator, staff, and any other key vendors 
• Work with the Director of Development and Individual Giving Manager to facilitate exhibition related VIP events, including opening receptions and curator-led donor tours 
• Ensure Director of Development is kept updated, escalate concerns/issues as needed  

• Work with development team to ensure events are on schedule, on budget, and resonating with audiences  
• Manage budgets for all fundraising events to ensure both income and expenses are on target  
• Liaise with communications department to ensure all collateral, messaging, and sponsorship fulfillment is executed  
• Be available to work nights and weekends as needed for curator-led donor tours and fundraising events 

Travel and experiential planning 

• Liaise with curatorial and director’s offices on content and itineraries.  
• Work with development staff to ensure supporter communications, RSVPs, and details are calibrated. 
• Provide support to research and develop robust and compelling itineraries including art, food, hospitality, and other experiential offerings  
• Liaise with third party travel agencies to organize logistics as necessary 

Qualifications: 

• 3+ years of Development experience 
• 3+ years of event planning and production, hospitality, or similar experience. 
• Ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks with excellent attention to detail. 
• Forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions  
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite (3+ years), with a high level of proficiency in MS Excel. 
• Demonstrated proactive approach to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability. 

How to Apply:  

Submit cover letter and resume at this link. Thank you for your interest in The Contemporary Austin and please keep an eye on our careers page for current opportunities. 

Our Mission 
We invite you to discover contemporary art in settings that provoke thought and joy. Our programs join art with place in a pursuit of a deeper experience, a bigger conversation, and a closer community. 

Our Vision  
We believe in the capacity of art to transform lives. We dream of a future where more eyes, ears, hearts and minds are opened by contemporary art in all of its forms.  

Our Values 

Extending the Welcome – We want every person to feel like they belong here. Our invitation is completely open and inclusive. 

Always Caring - We know that details matter. We care deeply about the quality of our work and about the experiences of our guests, the artists we collaborate with, our staff, and all those we have yet to meet. 

Socially Mindful - We believe that contemporary art is a way for people to connect their personal experiences with the broader social and cultural dialogues of our place and time. 

Staying Curious - We observe closely, listen intently, and inquire sincerely because we have a boundless fascination with people, art and ideas. 

Making Progress - We always want to be better—to inspire more deeply, to engage more openly, and to serve more joyfully. We are mindful of feedback and committed to ongoing reflection and iteration. 

Being Here - A place can transform your experience of art, and art can transform your experience of a place. We activate our downtown exhibition space and our lakeside sculpture park in imaginative ways to serve Austin. 

Trying New Things - We believe in the importance of experimentation, play, and the surprise that often results from trying something new. We know that progress comes through both bravery and vulnerability. 

About The Contemporary Austin  

As Austin’s only museum focused on contemporary artists and their work, The Contemporary Austin offers exhibitions, educational opportunities, and events that start conversations and fuel the city’s creative spirit. Known for artist-centric projects and collaborations, The Contemporary invites exploration at both its urban and natural settings—downtown at the Jones Center on Congress Avenue, lakeside at the Laguna Gloria campus (including the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, the Art School, and the historic Driscoll Villa), and around Austin through the Museum Without Walls program.  

Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) 

The Contemporary Austin values a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and we seek to model these values in our hiring and engagement practices for all our artistic and educational programs. We welcome applications by BIPOC candidates as well as individuals who bring new perspectives in a host of ways. It is the policy of The Contemporary Austin not to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status and to take action to ensure that those seeking to do business with the Contemporary are treated fairly. The Contemporary Austin aims to create a safe, welcoming working environment and doesn’t tolerate discrimination of any kind.  The organization is currently pursuing a multi-year DEIA effort and seeks individuals who share our commitment to this work.