Brand and Event Coordinator / Project/Event Coordinator

About the Role

The Brand and Event Coordinator is responsible for planning, organizing, and engaging with a wide range of events, including conferences, meetings, and brand sponsorships. This role requires strong organizational and communication skills, as well as the ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. The coordinator will collaborate with university leadership, students, community partners, vendors, and internal teams to ensure successful event outcomes and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Event Planning & Coordination (40%)
  • Coordinate all aspects of event planning, including venue selection, budgeting, logistics, and timeline development.
  • Work closely with clients to understand their requirements and preferences.
  • Coordinate event logistics, including transportation, accommodations, audiovisual requirements, and on-site setup.
  • Ensure all necessary equipment and resources are available and properly arranged.
  • Conduct research on assigned projects/events for execution and for the development of new projects.
  • Oversee event operations on the day of the event, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Address any issues or emergencies and manage event staff, vendors, and volunteers effectively.
  • Maintain regular communication with internal teams, businesses, and organizations throughout the planning process.
  • Conduct post-event evaluations to assess success and identify areas for improvement. Collect feedback from clients, attendees, and staff to inform future planning.
• Sponsorship & Brand Alignment (20%)
  • Coordinate and manage requests for sponsorships in partnership with academic colleges, clinical operations, and other health sciences partners.
  • Evaluate compelling sponsorship and event engagement proposals that align with MSU Health Sciences mission and vision.
  • Monitor brand presence across the state to ensure alignment with branding guidelines and organizational goals.
• Event & Brand Promotion (20%)
  • Develop marketing and promotional strategies to attract attendees and maximize event participation and exposure for health partnerships sponsorship opportunities.
  • Utilize various channels, such as social media, email marketing, and traditional advertising, to promote events effectively.
  • Create presentations and use digital avenues in support of the brand presence strategy.
  • Promote sponsorship opportunities in alignment with brand strategy.
• Resource & Materials Management (15%)
  • Manage resources, files, and materials for executive presentations and appearances.
  • Update materials/files for use in a variety of venues.
  • Create new materials/resources to align with specific requests.
• Budget Management (5%)
  • Create and manage event budgets, ensuring all expenses are tracked and controlled.
  • Monitor costs and seek cost-effective solutions without compromising event quality.

Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which would normally be acquired in a four-year college degree in Public Relations, Communications, Business, or Hospitality; one to three years of related and progressively more responsible work experience in planning and managing special events; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Requires experience in word processing, database, spreadsheet, desktop publishing, and/or presentation software.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in event planning and coordination.
• Experience creating presentations and using digital avenues in support of brand presence strategy.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to multitask and work effectively under pressure.
• Attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of marketing and promotional techniques.
• Five years of experience in successful event planning, including non-traditional events such as academic meetings, think tanks, seminar/speaker series, and other events in academia.
• Experience evaluating and articulating impact and return on investment related to sponsorship opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate brand strategy in a compelling manner, effectively reaching and connecting with target audiences.
• Experience working with vendors in event planning in Detroit and/or East Lansing.

Schedule

Attendance is expected at events hosted after normal business hours in both East Lansing and Detroit. Some of this work may be done remotely.