Columbia College Chicago
Events Manager
Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Columbia College Chicago is an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an educational innovator, incubator of new creative practice and generator of real-world success for young creatives. We are in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop.
Columbia College Chicago, a private urban institution of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, is currently searching for an Events Manager.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations, the Events Manager is a key member of the Development and Alumni Relations team responsible for planning, organizing, and executing a variety of events to support the college’s engagement and fundraising goals. This position focuses on enhancing relationships with donors, alumni, and other external stakeholders through high-quality events, including the annual Gala, presidential events, donor events, and alumni engagement activities. The Events Manager also organizes annual employee events.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Plan, coordinate, and execute the college’s signature events, including the annual Gala, donor, alumni events, and employee events such as the annual new hire welcome, staff service award celebration, and college-wide holiday party.
Develop innovative event concepts and formats to create memorable and impactful experiences.
Lead all event planning and production meetings and discussions.
Develop an annual calendar of events and submit an annual budget proposal.
Manage event budgets, ensuring cost-effective use of resources. Submit vendor contracts for review and manage vendor payments.
Collaborate with the President’s Office, Development and Alumni Relations team, Human Resources, and other college stakeholders to develop events supporting the college’s strategic plan.
Manage event logistics, including venue selection, catering, entertainment, transportation, and guest accommodations.
In partnership with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, organize and manage the invitation, registration, and attendee check-in process.
Coordinate the logistics of shipping supplies, event setup, and travel to the event location if needed.
Manage event program design, employee certificates, and order service award gifts for employees.
Coordinate venue layout and arrange for technical support for events as necessary.
Coordinate marketing and communication efforts to promote events and maximize attendance.
Oversee event-related contracts and agreements, ensuring compliance with college policies and legal requirements.
Provide on-site management during events, ensuring smooth operations and handling any issues.
May hire, train, and supervise student workers to provide event support.
Conduct post-event evaluations to assess success and identify areas for improvement.
Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in event management, communications, marketing, or a related field preferred.
Minimum five years of event planning or event marketing experience required. Prior experience in a higher education setting preferred.
Experience in fundraising and donor relations a plus.
Budget management and negotiation skills.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple events and deadlines simultaneously.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building and maintaining relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Creative problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
Experience supervising/leading teams.
Occasional travel is required for regional and national events.
Flexibility to work a varied schedule, including some evenings and weekends.
Proficiency in event management software and tools.
Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
Passion for the arts and education, with a strong alignment with the college’s mission and values.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.
At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.
We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement, and real-world experiences.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Position subject to a background screening.
This is a non-union position.
This position is overtime ineligible.
Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.
Primary Location: United States-Illinois-Chicago
Job: Management
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day Job
Job Type: Standard
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Travel: No
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Columbia College Chicago, a private urban institution of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, is currently searching for an Events Manager.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations, the Events Manager is a key member of the Development and Alumni Relations team responsible for planning, organizing, and executing a variety of events to support the college’s engagement and fundraising goals. This position focuses on enhancing relationships with donors, alumni, and other external stakeholders through high-quality events, including the annual Gala, presidential events, donor events, and alumni engagement activities. The Events Manager also organizes annual employee events.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Plan, coordinate, and execute the college’s signature events, including the annual Gala, donor, alumni events, and employee events such as the annual new hire welcome, staff service award celebration, and college-wide holiday party.
Develop innovative event concepts and formats to create memorable and impactful experiences.
Lead all event planning and production meetings and discussions.
Develop an annual calendar of events and submit an annual budget proposal.
Manage event budgets, ensuring cost-effective use of resources. Submit vendor contracts for review and manage vendor payments.
Collaborate with the President’s Office, Development and Alumni Relations team, Human Resources, and other college stakeholders to develop events supporting the college’s strategic plan.
Manage event logistics, including venue selection, catering, entertainment, transportation, and guest accommodations.
In partnership with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, organize and manage the invitation, registration, and attendee check-in process.
Coordinate the logistics of shipping supplies, event setup, and travel to the event location if needed.
Manage event program design, employee certificates, and order service award gifts for employees.
Coordinate venue layout and arrange for technical support for events as necessary.
Coordinate marketing and communication efforts to promote events and maximize attendance.
Oversee event-related contracts and agreements, ensuring compliance with college policies and legal requirements.
Provide on-site management during events, ensuring smooth operations and handling any issues.
May hire, train, and supervise student workers to provide event support.
Conduct post-event evaluations to assess success and identify areas for improvement.
Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned or required.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in event management, communications, marketing, or a related field preferred.
Minimum five years of event planning or event marketing experience required. Prior experience in a higher education setting preferred.
Experience in fundraising and donor relations a plus.
Budget management and negotiation skills.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple events and deadlines simultaneously.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building and maintaining relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
Creative problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
Experience supervising/leading teams.
Occasional travel is required for regional and national events.
Flexibility to work a varied schedule, including some evenings and weekends.
Proficiency in event management software and tools.
Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
Passion for the arts and education, with a strong alignment with the college’s mission and values.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.
At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.
We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement, and real-world experiences.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Position subject to a background screening.
This is a non-union position.
This position is overtime ineligible.
Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.
Primary Location: United States-Illinois-Chicago
Job: Management
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day Job
Job Type: Standard
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Travel: No
#J-18808-Ljbffr