Senior Coordinator, Events

About Music Will

Music Will, formerly Little Kids Rock, runs the largest nonprofit music education program in the U.S. public school system. We transform lives by transforming music education.

Using genres including rock, pop, Latin, and hip hop, our program empowers teachers to build music programs as diverse as the kids they serve. As a result, students see themselves reflected in their classes, which strengthens their connection to their school, their peers, and their community. Music Will also donates necessary instruments and curriculum, meeting a key need of many school music programs.

Since 2002, Music Will has served more than 1,200,000 students in more than 6,000 schools in 928 cities and communities across 50 states with highly inclusive and culturally responsive music education. Today, more than 500,000 kids currently participate in Music Will programs. Learn more here: www.musicwill.org.

Summary of the Opportunity

Events are vital to Music Will’s (“MW”) mission, raising essential unrestricted dollars to fund our music education programs and initiatives. MW designs and manages events that cultivate and preserve donor relationships while also celebrating and fostering engagement with music teachers and students in schools across the country. Current events include::

• Music Will’s annual fundraising Benefit,
• Modern Band Summit
• fundraisers in partnership with corporate donors and sponsors,
• small donor cultivation events,
• activities/events for MW’s National and regional boards, and
• staff engagement activities, such as our annual staff retreat.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Events in the Marketing & Communications department and working closely with Development and Programs departments, the Senior Coordinator, Events (“Sr. Coordinator”) will help plan and coordinate in-person and virtual fundraising events in addition to supporting select program (teachers and students) events, donor-centric events and activities, and internal engagement and community-building events.

The Sr. Coordinator will be an active ambassador for all the work we do, responsible for creating positive experiences for donors, teachers, students, and other stakeholders in the MW community to engage with our mission. Responsibilities will include:

• In collaboration with Senior Manager of Events, create and coordinate impactful and accessible events that represent Music Will’s brand, are guided by nonprofit event best practices and current trends in the event industry.
• Support MW’s events (small and large) as an events lead or key team member (as assigned), including the annual fundraising Benefit and the Modern Band Summit conference, donor cultivation, corporate partner engagements and other initiatives for teachers and students.
• Coordinate and execute event planning responsibilities on assigned projects (e.g. F&B, décor, planning timelines, venue logistics, vendor management, designing event registration on tech platforms, guest management, staff and production travel arrangements, auctions for fundraising events, etc.).
• Collaborate with Technology and Development departments to manage event registration platforms and Salesforce data entry related to tracking of guest attendees and determining best practices for the guest check in process on the day of events.
• Collaborate with the People & Culture team and Executive Admin to assist in planning organizational events, such as staff retreats, employee engagement activities, professional development activities, and National Board meeting logistics.
• Partner with Senior Manager, Events to oversee event expenses while aiming for cost savings and budget efficiency while maintaining a 3:1 revenue:expense ratio.
• Collaborate with Senior Manager, Events to conduct post-event wrap ups, debriefs, and analyses; work cross-functionally to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of events, and make recommendations for the future.
• Provide high-quality customer service to internal and external stakeholders, including fellow colleagues, board members, event participants, donors, teachers, volunteers, and partners.
• Maintain and manage relationships with vendors, venues, consultants and partners.
• Other responsibilities and tasks as assigned and as available.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCES, AND QUALIFICATIONS

About You

Strong candidates will bring a diverse set of skills, characteristics, and experiences - both professional and lived. At Music Will, we strive to mitigate inherent biases that influence hiring practices by focusing on a holistic view of potential candidates and understanding that no single candidate will offer every desired skill and characteristic.

The following offers an aspirational view of the ideal candidate profile; we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups.

Thoughtful Communicator

Excellent written, verbal, and communication skills. Ensures consistency and accuracy of messaging across different audiences (i.e. Music Will staff, donors, guests, event vendors), and platforms. Provides thoughtfulness in sharing out event-related communications, especially any applicable changes as they come.

Detail-Oriented

Meticulously organizes aspects of events to achieve thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing a task while demonstrating a thorough concern for all the areas involved, no matter how big or small.

Proactively Engaged

Understanding success doesn’t happen by chance, takes initiative to work closely with staff and vendors to ensure critical elements and task completion come together to meet or exceed projects objectives. Identifies opportunities to make improvements and seizes them. Anticipates potential challenges and makes recommendations and/or supports the creation of contingency plans to address them when and even before they arise.

Strategic Project Manager

Able to multitask, work efficiently and pay the highest-level attention to detail. Ability to handle multiple tasks and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment without compromising on quality; can prioritize effectively and is extremely organized, detail-oriented and efficient.

Required Skills and Experiences

• At least 2-4 years of experience in event planning/event management, production and promotion, preferably in an education, arts administration, or nonprofit setting
• Experience working with, and building relationships with, a variety of stakeholders - both internal and external - to facilitate and support fundraising - specific events and/or conferences
• Demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate work across diverse groups and teams, including: organizing, tracking, facilitating, communicating, and adapting work plans and logistics to ensure objectives are met
• A successful track-record of being a proactive, organized self-starter who can effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Proficiency with customer relationship management (CRM) systems and/or guest management platforms
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel), Google Workspace, and using social media platforms
• Proficiency with budgeting and project management software solutions and applications (e.g. Asana, Slack, Monday, Wrike, etc.)
• A genuine love of music

Preferred Skills and Experiences

• Relevant certifications and/or degrees in project management, hospitality management, or event planning
• Salesforce Experience
• Experience working as an educator, or with educators

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary range for this position is $62,259 - $73,247 per year. Music Will is committed to its team and strives to offer employees a competitive compensation package that reflects the organization’s values, culture, and mission. Salary is in accordance with Music Will’s competitive compensation and career path plan, and the organization’s array of benefits include medical coverage (health, dental, vision) with significant employer contributions, short and long-term disability, life insurance, matching 403(b) plan and pre-tax flexible spending accounts. Perks include generous discretionary time off policy, flexible work arrangements, and professional development.

Application Process

Please submit an application through the Music Will website included below by Sunday, July 21st. No phone calls or emails please. Early submission recommended. References may be requested.

Location and Travel

This is a full-time, remote position. Occasional travel will be required, including: fundraisers, corporate activations, stakeholder engagements, and annual org-wide events such as Modern Band Summit and our Benefit gala.

This position may require some work outside of the normal workday to respond to urgent event logistics needs and/or to support events that occur on weekends and evenings.

Working at Music Will – Our Workplace Values

1. We are committed to kids and teachers and passionate about the power of music to impact their lives
2. We are one team, with one mission, and one groove, and together we make good things happen
3. We are creative, entrepreneurial, positive and playful
4. We are inspirational
5. We are accountable
6. We are respectful
7. We support personal and professional growth
8. We work to lead the field – thoughtfully, strategically and with urgency

Music Will is committed to recruiting and maintaining a diverse staff; individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We promote equity, diversity and inclusion in order to create a healthy and safe workspace as we work together to foster success for future generations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

EOE