Staff Associate

Posting Details

Position Information

About Buffalo State Buffalo State is one of the largest comprehensive schools in the State University of New York system. As a civically minded, urban-engaged campus community located in the city’s cultural corridor, Buffalo State prides itself as having smaller learning environments coupled with larger university opportunities. Boasting a diverse and inclusive campus, Buffalo State is committed to the intellectual, personal, and professional growth of its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The school’s mission is to deliver a broad array of high-quality and distinctive academic programs infused with diversity, creativity, and hands-on learning opportunities for hardworking students who seek a personalized and affordable education that engages their minds and advances their careers. Buffalo State is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, service, scholarship, creative activity, and cultural enrichment. With degree programs in education, the arts, science, arts and humanities, and professional studies, each year over 6,000 students choose Buffalo State. Buffalo State welcomes applicants who are committed to helping us fulfill our mission.

Faculty/Professional Professional

Department Institutional Advancement Office

Local Title Director of Institutional Events

Budget Title Staff Associate

Rank SL-4

Line Number TBD

Salary Range Competitive

FTE Full-Time

Bargaining Unit UUP

PRODiG+ Position No

Executive Position No

FLSA Exempt

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Brief Job Description The Director of Institutional Events provides university-wide leadership for Buffalo State University’s portfolio of designated Institutional Events and serves as the event owner for presidential events and signature development events. The Director establishes strategy, standards, planning expectations, and coordination practices while recognizing that operational execution and strategic outcomes leadership for individual events may reside with other university event owners. Each designated Institutional Event will have an identified Operational Lead and Strategic Outcomes Lead; the Director ensures those roles are assigned, advises and collaborates with the assigned leads, and may serve in either or both roles for selected events. The Director provides leadership and strategy for academic ceremonies, supervises the Director of Operational Events and Director of Community Access, and provides functional/dotted-line event leadership to the Alumni Events Coordinator and the position responsible for academic ceremonies. The role ensures that Institutional Events advance university priorities, strengthen key relationships, deliver a consistent high-quality guest experience, and are supported by sound financial planning and accountability.

When required to operate motor vehicles, incumbents must possess a valid New York State driver’s license appropriate for the type of vehicle being operated. Will be enrolled in The New York License Event Notification Service and must be LENS cleared to operate state vehicles.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in event management, institutional events, advancement events, hospitality, conference management, or a closely related field. An equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience may be considered consistent with university policy.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, high-profile events involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated supervisory or team-leadership experience.
• Demonstrated financial-management experience, including responsibility for event or program budgets.
• Must be willing to work evening and weekend events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible event leadership experience, including major institutional, executive, presidential, advancement, donor, academic, community, or other high-visibility events.
• Experience in higher education, a complex nonprofit institution, cultural organization, public-sector environment, or similarly matrixed organization.
• Experience supporting presidents, chief executives, boards, trustees, major donors, event chairs, or other senior-level constituents while also working directly with frontline operational teams.
• Experience with academic ceremonies, alumni events, fundraising events, community-facing events, and/or mission-aligned external use of institutional facilities.
• Experience establishing event-governance systems, service standards, master calendars, event-intake processes, or portfolio-level event planning and assessment.
• Experience with platforms such as 25Live or comparable event scheduling/management systems.

Anticipated Date of Hire 12/17/2026

Priority Review Date

Application Deadline Date 11/06/2026

Open Until Filled No

Special Instructions to Applicant

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Quick Link for Direct Access to Posting https://jobs.buffalostate.edu/postings/8564

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution that subscribes to all federal, state, and SUNY legal requirements and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status (Nondiscrimination Notice). Any violation of this policy should be reported to the Institutional Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office, Cleveland Hall 204, (716) 878-6210. Buffalo State is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Warnes at warnesje@buffalostate.edu or call (716) 878-3042.

Background Investigation Statement All applicants are subject to a pre-employment background investigation. Our Pre-Employment Background Screening Policy is available at http://hr.buffalostate.edu/pre-employment-background-screening.

Clery Statement Applicants interested in positions may access the Annual Security Report (ASR) for SUNY Buffalo State at http://police.buffalostate.edu. The ASR contains information on campus security policies and certain campus crime statistics. Crime statistics are reported in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. Applicants may request a hard copy of the ASR by contacting the SUNY Buffalo State University Police Department at (716) 878-6333.