What are the responsibilities and job description for the Special Events & Parent Relations Coordinator position at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School?
Special Events & Parent Relations Coordinator
Who We Are at CGPS
Founded in 1764, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School (CGPS) is a vibrant Pre-K–12 independent school on Manhattan's Upper West Side where academic rigor meets a warm, deeply supportive community. Driven by the core belief that a balanced education leads to a powerful life, CGPS empowers students to pursue their unique ambitions while keeping their curiosity and joy intact. As an educator or staff member here, you join a collaborative team that values innovation, individuality, and continuous growth—supported by dedicated professional development initiatives, including annual global faculty travel research grants. If you are passionate about fostering inquiry, resilience, and creative expression in a community where every individual's strengths are celebrated, CGPS offers an inspiring environment to build a meaningful career.
The Role
At Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School (CGPS), vibrant community connection is central to our mission. Our events aren’t just dates on a calendar; they are the heartbeat of our school culture, driving crucial funding, connecting thousands of families, and celebrating an incredible community of students, alumni, and parents. As Special Events and Parent Relations Coordinator, you will serve as the operational and creative lead behind our biggest community moments and major fundraising events.
Reporting to the Director of Institutional Advancement, you will manage the annual Benefit, liaise with the Parent’s Association, and support alumni, stewardship and school-wide events to strengthen community bonds and advance fundraising goals.
Overarching Goals
- Execute High-Impact Fundraising Events: Direct all aspects of planning, logistics, volunteer coordination, auctions, and end-to-end event production for the annual Benefit and other major school events.
- Strengthen Parent & Community Engagement: Act as main operational liaison to the Parent’s Association, managing logistics, systems, calendars, communications and reservations.
- Connect Departments & Partners: Collaborate across internal teams (Facilities, Security, Technology, Communications, Business Office) and vendors for seamless execution.
- Maintain Operational & Data Excellence: Manage event platforms (OneCause, Veracross, Raiser’s Edge, Paperless Post) for precise ticketing, seating, donor tracking and records.
Ideal Candidate Profile
- Warm & Relationship-Driven: Enthusiastic with strong interpersonal skills for engaging parents, volunteers and alumni.
- Master Project Coordinator: Detail-oriented with a record of leading high-profile events from planning to post-event completion.
- Tech-Savvy & Data-Focused: Proficient in event planning platforms and databases (such as OneCause, Veracross, Raiser’s Edge, or similar systems) to manage registration, auctions and donor data
- Collaborative Team Player: Solution-oriented and flexible, capable of handling evening and weekend events smoothly.
Why This Role?
- High Visibility, Real Impact: You won't be tucked away in a back office. You will be the visible, trusted connector across leadership, parents, alumni, and external partners.
- A Campus with Warmth: Experience the best of Manhattan independent school life; working alongside passionate colleagues on a historic Upper West Side campus that balances academic excellence with genuine warmth.
- Ownership & Autonomy: From designing memorable parent engagement events to directing on-site vendor operations, you’ll have the runway to own projects fully and run them with precision.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000 annually. We also offer a warm and supportive culture as well as exceptional benefits including but not limited to:
- Comprehensive medical, dental & vision plans with no waiting period for benefits
- Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical, Dependent Care, Parking & Transit
- 8% Annual Employer Contribution to retirement after one year of full time service
- Basic Life Insurance
- Enhanced Short Term Disability Coverage
- Long Term Disability Coverage
- Low cost additional benefits including voluntary life insurance, critical illness coverage and pet insurance
- Additional Aflac policies
- Free breakfast and lunch when school is in session
- Discounted parking
- Generous holiday schedule, sick, vacation, and personal time
Ready to join the CGPS Professional Community?
Please complete the application and include your resume and cover letter. Click HERE to see the complete job description.
CGPS MISSION STATEMENT
CGPS nurtures each student’s unique passions and talents inside and outside the classroom, unifying and inspiring members of its community in a rigorous but relaxed learning environment, preparing them for the finest colleges and instilling in them the confidence, ethical values and sense of purpose to embrace challenges, to achieve their dreams and to improve the world.
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School is an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment on the basis of race (including hairstyle), color, religion, creed, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, gender expression, national origin, alienage, age, pregnancy, marital/partnership status, immigration or citizenship status, status as a veteran or active military service member status, disability, genetic predisposition, status as a victim of domestic violence, prior arrest or conviction record, caregiver status, credit history, salary history, unemployment status, sexual or reproductive health decisions, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law (collectively, the “Protected Characteristics”).
Salary : $70,000 - $80,000