Strategic Events Coordinator

Location: San Diego, Knauss School of Business

About the Department

The Knauss School of Business at USD embraces a stewardship approach to business education. Stewardship requires businesses to protect and care for society in pursuit of a greater good. The Knauss School community of faculty, staff, students and graduates, embrace stewardship by applying values-driven, free-enterprise skills to improve businesses, industries, and the lives of people in our community and around the world. We provide academically rigorous, relevant and values-based education and research. Degree programs in the Knauss School of Business are AACSB accredited, with the undergraduate and MBA programs being highly ranked both domestically and internationally.

About the Role

Under direction from the Strategic Events Manager, the Strategic Events Coordinator is responsible for the execution of Knauss School of Business events. With a solution-oriented approach, the Coordinator manages events through their entire life cycle, including creating ideas and vision with Knauss stakeholders, maintaining event budgets, planning and coordinating with vendors, marketing the event to internal and external audiences, staffing, on-site execution, and post-event reporting and surveying. The Coordinator must represent the Knauss School of Business professionally while positively shaping its identity, profile, and visibility within the campus community. Occasional night and/or weekend work is required for on-site event support.

Responsibilities

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to plan and execute events:
  • Coordinate, plan, and execute all on-site and off-site, in-person and virtual events for the Knauss School.
  • Serve as a liaison between all event stakeholders to ensure seamless logistics.
  • Coordinate event staffing needs.
  • Submit additional cleaning service, catering, event furniture orders, and transportation for guests as needed.
  • Coordinate event-related meetings with stakeholders to ensure details are shared and deadlines are met.
  • Create run-of-show documents, AV needs, and floor plans.
  • Assist with virtual meetings, workshops, and events using programs such as Zoom.
  • Maintain a shared calendar of events and provide updates and event requests to relevant personnel.
  • Facilitate required paperwork for events, such as legal agreements, vendor contracts, and certificates of liability/insurance, ensuring they are routed through the Knauss School Finance and Administration Team.
  • Work with Public Safety on event security, if applicable.
  • Coordinate event walk-throughs with event staff.
  • Assist with tracking event expenses and budget in collaboration with stakeholders.
  • Provide training and best practices to internal Knauss School stakeholders to ensure a consistent approach to event planning and execution.
• Market events to increase attendance and positively shape the Knauss School identity, profile, and visibility:
  • Coordinate with the Knauss School Marketing and Communications team to ensure event collateral adheres to brand standards.
  • Create event digital marketing, invitations, and social media outreach as directed.
  • Assist with creating and deploying promotional materials, invitations, registration, and onsite event materials.
  • Maintain the inventory and loans of branded signage and equipment.
  • Provide logistical details and updates to key internal stakeholders for mass communication purposes.
  • Ensure the Knauss School ticker is updated to announce key events and School visitors.
• Provide on-site event support:
  • Ensure all technology needs, room configurations, catering, and external vendors are prepared and ready for day-of activities.
  • Greet guests professionally.
  • Problem-solve last-minute issues.
  • Provide additional support to the event host as needed.
• Coordinate post-event activities:
  • Create and manage the distribution and reporting of post-event surveys.
  • Report findings to internal stakeholders.
  • Provide support in building the Post Event Report.
  • Provide suggestions, creative solutions, and innovative ideas to improve future events.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with preference given to Business, Marketing, and/or related fields.
• 2 years of work experience in event marketing, product marketing, email marketing, campaign planning, digital marketing, messaging, positioning, copywriting, project management, and/or related fields.
• 2 additional years of work experience and a High School diploma may substitute for a Bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• 3+ years of progressively responsible event marketing experience, including product marketing, email marketing, digital marketing, graphic design, messaging, copywriting, and/or project management.
• Experience working in higher education.

Skills

• Proficiency with computers and software, including Canva, customer relations management (CRM) software, Google Suite, etc.
• Ability to anticipate, identify, and resolve technical software issues.
• Experience using business software systems such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Web analytics, search (paid and organic), content management systems (CMS), and CRM software.
• Excellent knowledge of writing fundamentals, grammar, syntax, style, and punctuation.
• Experience in event promotion and marketing.
• Ability to interact professionally with the business community.
• Self-initiative and creativity.
• Ability to function with a high degree of autonomy.
• Demonstrated capacity for developing and understanding strategy.
• Operation of personal computer equipment and web management.
• Strong time management and organization of multi-tasking work requirements.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to use mature judgment.
• Ability to form productive working relationships with faculty, staff, and administration.
• Experience working with diverse personalities.
• Flexibility and versatility in coping with evolving work situations.
• Ability to focus on technical details in an environment with many distractions.
• Ability to handle the stress of last-minute deadlines and changes.
• Ability to assume responsibility and effectively resolve problems by exercising independent judgment.

Pay

$31.00-$33.50 per hour.

Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• A retirement contribution provided by the University.
• Access to on-campus Fitness Centers.
• Two compressed work schedule options following a 9/75 structure, providing 1 to 1.5 days off every two-week period.
• Hybrid work options for eligible positions.