Special Events Associate

About the role

About Shepherd Center With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation's top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again. Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers , strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have ke pt over 1 2% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years . The Special Events Associate plays a key role in advancing the mission of the Shepherd Center Foundation by managing, planning, and executing signature fundraising events that inspire donor engagement and generate philanthropic support. This position collaborates closely with volunteer leaders, vendors, donors, and internal teams to deliver high quality events that meet fundraising goals, strengthen donor relationships, and uphold Shepherd Center's brand standards. Event Planning & Execution Manage and execute all aspects of the Foundation's signature fundraising events, including Derby Day and Pecans on Peachtree. Oversee event logistics, timelines, budgets, committees, volunteers, and vendor relationships to ensure events are delivered on schedule and to Shepherd Center standards. Develop and manage event budgets and marketing plans; ensure fundraising goals are met and expenses remain within 25% of gross revenue. Build and manage event sponsorship pages using the Foundation's online giving platform. Ensure all events align with Shepherd Center brand guidelines, expectations, and donor stewardship standards Volunteer & Vendor Coordination Recruit, train, supervise, and support volunteers involved in event logistics, fundraising activities, and day‑of execution. Manage vendor relationships, ensuring contract adherence, timely communication, and high‑quality service delivery. Process vendor contracts and invoices; maintain accurate financial records. Collaborate with stakeholders to assess vendor performance and monitor progress on schedules and milestones. Fundraising, Sponsorship & Donor Engagement Partner with the Philanthropy and Advancement teams to identify, cultivate, and secure event sponsorships and in‑kind donations. Support volunteer and staff efforts to prospect, solicit, and steward sponsors and donors. Develop and maintain sponsorship materials and donor engagement tools. Work closely with Donor Services to coordinate event gift entry, acknowledgment, and stewardship. Update the donor database to reflect interactions with donors, volunteers, and participants. Marketing, Communications & Stewardship Collaborate with Marketing and PR teams to plan and implement event‑related social media, advertising, and media relations strategies. Provide event information for Shepherd Center publications, social media, and external media outlets. Support donor relations before, during, and after events to ensure a positive and meaningful donor experience. Administrative & Cross‑Team Support Provide administrative support to the Cause and Community Engagement Manager and cross‑support to team members as needed. Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information, donor data, and prospect research. Participate in professional development to stay current on philanthropic trends and best practices. Complete all Shepherd Center core competencies and job‑specific competencies as required. Perform other duties as assigned. PREFERRED MINIMUM EDUCATION Bachelor's Degree from a four‑year college or university, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience. PREFERRED MINIMUM CERTIFICATION Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) preferred. REQUIRED MINIMUM EXPERIENCE Minimum of three years of managing donor or corporate events and experience working in non-profit development, or a marketing related field preferred. Experience volunteering with a non-profit organization or group. REQUIRED MINIMUM SKILLS Strong knowledge of the Atlanta social and business community. Excellent customer service, organizational, and time‑management skills. Strong communication, interpersonal, and team‑building abilities. Aptitude for conflict resolution and problem‑solving. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with high attention to detail. Proficiency in MS Office, email platforms, and social media. Competence

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