Senior Manager, Events

We wake up to a different alarm.

The issues impacting our communities here in the GTA keep us awake at night. But it’s also what gets us up each day, determined to fight local poverty and its interconnected challenges, and to make this region everything it can be for everyone who calls it home. We believe in the power of community, of people coming together, doing what it takes to build and transform neighbourhoods where everyone can thrive. Any Way We Can.

How you will make a difference:

Reporting to the Director, Marketing and Donor Experience, the Senior Manager, Events is responsible for leading the strategy, planning, and execution of high-impact events that drive awareness, engagement, and revenue for the organization. This includes annual signature events, donor stewardship events, third-party activations, and community campaigns.

• Lead the planning, design and execution of all United Way events including signature events such as ClimbUP and Local Leaders ensuring all deliverables are completed and within scope.
• Develop and drive strategic objectives for fundraising, engagement and audience experience across the events portfolio including regular evaluation of activities and recommendations for future improvements
• Oversee event budgets including annual goal setting and forecasting and monitoring of revenue and expenses
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams on creative development, marketing strategies, fundraising plans, online and in-person event experience for portfolio
• Support the Resource Development team in the implementation, and stewardship of corporate sponsorships as well as select third-party fundraising opportunities
• Ensure an exceptional experience for donors, volunteers, and participants that aligns with the UWGT brand and values
• Lead the recruitment, training, coordination, and management of volunteers involved in event delivery
• In collaboration with business owners and internal stakeholders, support the strategy and executions of organization-wide, donor cultivation, recognition and stewardship events
• Manage relationships with external vendors and suppliers including sourcing, negotiating, contracting and performance monitoring
• Oversee event-related administrative work including reporting, reconciliations, license applications, data entry and tax receipting
• Develop KPIs and post-event reporting to evaluate success and identify improvement areas.
• Other duties as assigned

What you bring to the role:

• 5 -10 years of experience in event management or related field; experience in event management in the not-for-profit sector preferred
• A love of community, with an interest in nurturing and building it and giving everyone in it a fair chance at a good life
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage internal and external relationships with colleagues, community members, fundraisers, participants, vendors, event venues, and volunteers
• Strong people manager with proven experience managing and coaching a team of direct reports
• Excellent teamwork, interpersonal and constituent service skills including the ability to work respectfully and inclusively with a diverse employee population and multiple stakeholders
• Willingness to actively contribute to the organizational equity framework through participation in learning opportunities and implementing anti-oppressive and anti-racist learnings into action internally and externally
• Demonstrated ability in managing events and projects of varying complexities from conception to completion and achieving targets
• Proven ability to take initiative and carry projects to completion with minimum supervision
• Strong communication, project, time and budget management skills
• Proven organizational abilities and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines under pressure
• Ability to generate creative ideas and then develop them into cost-effective solutions
• Ability to gather and analyze information needed for problem solving and decision making
• Ability to influence, negotiate and manage contentious issues to resolution
• Understanding of co-branding and sponsorship
• Must be available to work some weekends and evenings

Being part of our team:

• Competitive total compensation package including:

o Salary

o Comprehensive benefits

o Defined benefit employer-matching pension

o Life insurance

o Short-term and long-term disability benefits

o Employee and family assistance program (EFAP)

• Generous paid time-off package including vacation, personal and cultural days, summer hours and hybrid work environment.

• Commitment to the well-being and work-life balance for our employees

• Collaborative, high-performing, and team focused on long-term and collective success

• Largest United Way world-wide

• Work with the GTA’s top philanthropic leaders

Please apply no later than July 17, 2025.

Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

As part of our recruitment process, United Way Greater Toronto offers accommodation for applicants with disabilities. If we contact you about an opportunity, please let us know if you require accommodation.

We are committed to being transparent about our practices around pay. The salary range for this role will be shared with candidates who are being considered for it.

As per our recruitment policy, internal candidates are encouraged to let their current manager know that they have applied for another role.

About United Way Greater Toronto:

As the largest non-government funder of community services in the GTA, United Way Greater Toronto reinforces a crucial community safety net to support people living in poverty. United Way’s network of agencies and initiatives in neighbourhoods across Peel, Toronto and York Region works to ensure that everyone has access to the programs and services they need to thrive. Mobilizing community support, United Way’s work is rooted in ground-breaking research, strategic leadership, local advocacy and cross-sectoral partnerships committed to building a more equitable region and lasting solutions to the GTA’s greatest challenges.

Building community takes a community and together, with you, we will shape a stronger, brighter GTA for everyone who lives here. Any Way We Can.

Learn more about our work at unitedwaygt.org.

Diversity & Inclusion:

United Way is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects our diverse community to ensure we’re best equipped to serve it. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds and those who may need accommodation to apply to join our team. Our commitment to excellence in diversity goes beyond promoting equity. By incorporating a variety of experiences and perspectives, we create opportunities for innovative solutions and maximize the impact of our work.