Job Summary

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with university partners, provide leadership to major campus-wide events (ex: Welcome Week, Homecoming, Festival of Christmas, and Commencement) and other high-impact and/or special events or projects (ex: presidential gatherings, athletic teams divisional playoffs, etc.)
• Provide strategic and creative leadership to
  • Identify and implement event planning processes to reflect the changing needs of the institution.
  • Coach academic departments and offices in the development of exceptional guest experiences, meaningful programming, and setting event-related goals in an effort to monitor their return on investment.
  • Build relationships and coordinate with campus service providers such as Dining Services, Facilities Management, and Safety and Security Office teams to ensure conference and event needs are met.
  • Develop systems to help university partners effectively and efficiently plan their small-scale events.
• Provide oversight for the Conference and Event Services team.
  • Cast a vision and help develop the team to empower university partners and external groups.
  • Ensure all conferences and events have a defined purpose and clear objectives.
  • Proactively identify conferences and events with potential recruiting opportunities and liaison with admissions teams.
  • Monitor departmental budgets.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills

• Knowledge of higher education preferred.
• Strong knowledge of all aspects of conference and event management preferred.
• Strong knowledge of leadership principles. best practices, and skills to hire, train, mentor, evaluate, and take disciplinary action if necessary.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Strong interpersonal communications skills to build and foster a collaborative work environment and maintain good working relationships at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrate the ability to work well with administrators, faculty, staff, students, and external groups.
• Highly professional, with good organizational and time management skills.
• Strong customer service skills are required with the ability to relate to people of all business and social levels.
• Must be comfortable negotiating issues, responsive to deadlines, establish goals, lead and direct team, mentor, evaluate, and motivate others.
• Demonstrate skills in judgment, decision-making, problem recognition, avoidance, and resolution.
• Diplomacy is required for confidential information learned.
• Proficiency in the use of various Microsoft Office products; knowledge of and/or ability to learn and master Event Management Software (EMS).

Required Experience

• A minimum of five years of experience in the conferences and events industry.
• Preferred experience in higher education or nonprofit organization, including supervisory experience, and understanding of academic, business, social, and dignitary protocol.
• Managing revenue and expenses is preferred.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree is required (Master’s preferred) in meeting and event management, hospitality management, general business administration, communications, marketing, or public relations.
• CSEP and/or CMP preferred.

Additional Information

• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking for extended periods of time. It involves working with others in close quarters. Some work may be performed outdoors in various weather conditions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will likely be required to load, set up, strike, and unload event equipment. The following movements may also be required: bending, squatting, stooping, kneeling, climbing stairs, pushing/pulling up to 50 pounds, reaching above shoulder level, waist twisting, carrying/lifting up to 30 pounds, gripping/grasping, and repetitive hand and arm movements. The employee may be required to access areas that are not ADA-compliant.
• It includes occasional evening and weekend hours; possible holiday hours.