Senior Manager, University Events

If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career.

Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.

The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

Job Description

As a senior manager on the University Events team, you will lead an expert team of event planners and specialists who create and carry out impactful events for the university community. These events promote connection among attendees, celebrate our students, and advance WGU's mission. You and your team will be responsible for the success of one or more event types, including large events like commencement or summits that take place across the country multiple times each year with thousands of internal and external attendees. You will be an involved leader utilizing your experience managing a team and managing an events program. This is an ideal position for someone who thrives on working with others, thinks creatively, likes to be engaged in multiple things at once, and enjoys the excitement of live productions. You will know you are succeeding in your role if you have built a collaborative team with high levels of trust and autonomy that is able to meet budgets, timelines, and event objectives.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop a team of event planners and event specialists capable of meeting program objectives for multiple event types, including at least one large, repeating event program such as commencements, alumni celebrations, school summits, partner summits, town halls, or employee "all hands" events.
• Help develop and refine the overall objectives and strategy for university event programs assigned to your team, set priorities in line with those objectives, and develop relevant policies.
• Continually assess the effectiveness and quality of current event types. Take the lead in developing new event types and improving existing ones.
• Set and manage team and program budgets. Ensure that event planners are operating within budget and accounting for all expenses.
• Manage and reconcile event calendars. Work with the Finance department and the Office of the President to develop a unified corporate calendar that minimizes scheduling conflicts.
• Coordinate and approve date and venue selection for your team's event programs.
• Research, vet, and recommend keynote speakers who will resonate with audiences; negotiate fees and provide relevant content to help shape inspirational messages.
• Establish measurable objectives and success criteria, including post-event evaluations and ROI analysis.
• Approve marketing or branding content related to events and team services. Ensure that relevant websites or other messaging platforms are up to date. Oversee a consistent communication strategy for the team.
• Nurture deep relationships with key internal and external partners. Work across teams to support the success of your event planners and specialists. Meet regularly with key stakeholders to identify improvement opportunities.
• Resolve escalated issues and facilitate executive communications during large events, allowing your team to remain focused on core duties.
• Manage relationships with WGU Studios and third-party production service vendors who can augment team capabilities and operate at scale. Help negotiate vendor contracts to reduce costs, liability, and risks. Partner with the Procurement department to streamline the contracting process.
• Oversee a system to manage any in-house or freelance technicians and event-specific contractors. Ensure that adequate and appropriate technical support is provided in advance, during, and following events.
• Ensure that your department operates in line with regulations pertaining to the Premises License. Liaise with licensing, safety, and emergency services officials as required. Obtain special permissions where required (pyro's, lasers, radio mic licenses etc.)
• Create a culture of operating excellence, continuous improvement, collaboration, and trust.
• Engage with your peers to identify and implement shared practices that can improve outcomes across our entire organization.
• Assign work across your team. Ensure that workloads and resources are equitably balanced.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated success managing event production teams and planning, developing budgets, and meeting budget goals.
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to manage complex timelines and multiple projects.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and time management skills. Must be well-organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to create a collaborative and respectful work environment
• Demonstrated success in performance management through objective goal setting, coaching, and performance review
• Ability to remain calm, make quick decisions, and help others perform in a high-stress environment
• Demonstrated ability to develop professional skills in others
• Experience with professional stage machinery/electrics/sound/lighting communications and audio-visual techniques.
• Exceptional customer service skills with the ability to cultivate partnerships.
• Demonstrated a high level of confidence in making decisions, good judgment, and innovative and creative problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, project management tools, and event management platforms.
• Experience managing projects subject to Health and Safety, Licensing, or similar regulations.
• Ability to interact and successfully collaborate with a broad spectrum of contributing groups and customers.
• Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness.
• Demonstrated outstanding attention to detail.
• Resourcefulness and ability to problem solve and troubleshoot.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly

Job Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• 7+ years of combined event or program management experience, with at least 3 years in event management
• 5+ years experience leading a team of high-level individual contributors

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience administering event management platforms.
• Experience planning and managing events for both internal and external clients
• Experience managing events that include stage-managed live broadcasts

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods on your feet and walking during events.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times.
• Frequently stand/walk, sit, perform desk-based computer tasks, and use a telephone.
• Occasionally kneel/crawl, twist/bend/stoop/squat, grasp lightly/fine manipulation, and forcefully lift/carry/push/pull objects weighing 21-40 pounds.
• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
• Will require frequent travel (35%) and working evenings and weekends during events.
• Salt Lake City Office required.

Position & Application Details

How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.

Additional Information

Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.

Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.