Special Events Coordinator, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum (IS-1001-09)

     
POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund
APPOINTMENT TYPE:  Permanent 
SCHEDULE: Full Time
DUTY LOCATION: New York, NY
 
Position sensitivity and risk: 
Low Risk Non-Sensitive  

Open to all qualified applicants
 
What are Trust Fund Positions?

Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care). 

Come join a team of dedicated staff at an exceptional time in the Smithsonian’s history during the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future. This ambitious fundraising campaign’s public phase will run from 2024 to 2026, culminating with the nation’s 250th anniversary. It will expand the Smithsonian’s reach and impact, empowering the institution to find solutions to today’s most pressing challenges. The Smithsonian has built a model fundraising organization, driven by talented staff across our many museums, research centers, and cultural centers. This position offers exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to make a significant impact on the future of the Smithsonian. There is no better time to join this amazing Institution.

 

Located in the historic Carnegie Mansion on New York City’s Museum Mile, Cooper Hewitt presents compelling exhibitions, educational programs, and digital initiatives that demonstrate design’s power to improve lives. With a world-class collection of over 215,000 design objects spanning 30 centuries, Cooper Hewitt inspires audiences of all ages to engage with design and its relevance to contemporary life. 

The Special Events Coordinator works in the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum’s Advancement Office, and reports to the Associate Director of Advancement. The coordinator ensures that donors, rental clients, and volunteer leaders experience high-quality interactions with the Museum to foster long-term engagement and investment.

 

The coordinator is responsible for planning and executing both advancement-related and external rental events, overseeing a variety of cultivation programs, donor events, and museum rentals ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale galas and corporate functions.

 

Responsibilities include:

This position frequently requires work on evenings and weekends, as events and rentals often occur outside standard business hours. 

Applicants should have two - three years of donor relations and events experience, preferably in a non-profit organization, art museum, or cultural institution. Qualified candidates will successfully demonstrate strong communications skills, the ability to take initiative and work independently, the ability to successfully manage multiple deadlines, as well as superior organization skills, and a thirst for learning.  Frequent work during the evenings and weekends will be necessary.

 

Applicants, who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States, must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

 

Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.

 

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and a cover letter by December 2, 2025. Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.

 

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. 

 

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures.

 

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review the Smithsonian’s EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo