Associate Director of Student Experience and Events

Illinois Institute of Technology; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Illinois Institute of Technology is seeking an Associate Director of Student Experience and Events to oversee the planning, coordination, and evaluation of undergraduate and graduate admission events both in-person and virtually. This role reports to the Director of Admission Events and serves as the primary operational lead for the admission event portfolio.

The position requires directing resources across campus, managing budgets, coordinating staff and partners, and ensuring high-quality

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Four or more years in higher education, admissions, or events.
• Experience planning and managing high-visibility events with multiple stakeholders.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of undergraduate and graduate admission events in-person and virtual.
• Develop event plans, timelines, staffing, procedures, contingencies, and success measures.
• Manage event logistics including registration, space planning, guest services, technology, dining, transportation, and signage.
• Serve as primary operational resource for schedule, facilities, technology, and guest experience.

Skills

Event management

Project coordination

Stakeholder collaboration

Budget administration

Education

Bachelor’s degree (related field)

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Slate CRM

Event management software

Square POS

Job description

Associate Director of Student Experience and Events

Position Details

Compensation: $52,000 - $60,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Position Type/Schedule: Full-Time, exempt. Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. This position is fully on-site; remote work is not available. Evening and weekend work is required for pre-scheduled major admission events, student programs, and other recruitment and engagement initiatives. These scheduling needs are generally planned in advance, and employees will receive advance notice whenever practicable. Occasional travel within the Chicagoland area, elsewhere in Illinois, or other domestic locations may be required.

Work Location: Illinois Tech, 10 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616

Work Authorization: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States, both presently and for the duration of employment with the university.

Summary

The Associate Director of Student Experience and Events leads the planning, coordination, execution, and assessment of Illinois Tech’s undergraduate and graduate admission events across in-person and virtual formats. Reporting to the Director of Admission Events, Student Experience and Visit Operations, the Associate Director serves as the primary operational lead for the admission event portfolio and translates enrollment priorities into high-quality recruitment and yield experiences for prospective and admitted students and their families.

The Associate Director manages events from planning through post-event assessment, including campus partner coordination, logistics, communications, staffing, budget administration, and day of execution. The position works closely with admission and recruitment teams, Enrollment Marketing, academic leadership, faculty, staff, student employees, and other campus partners

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Admission Event Strategy and Operations

• Lead planning and execution of undergraduate and graduate admission events across in-person and virtual formats.
• Develop event plans, timelines, staffing assignments, operational procedures, contingency plans, and measures of success.
• Manage event logistics, including registration, space planning, guest services, technology, dining, transportation, signage, supplies, and related operational needs.
• Serve as a visible event leader and primary operational resource for addressing issues affecting schedule, staffing, facilities, technology, and guest experience.

Campus Partnerships and Team Coordination

• Coordinate participation of academic units, faculty, staff, students, and campus partners in admission events and recruitment programs.
• Partner with Enrollment Marketing, Facilities, Public Safety, Dining, technology, space management, and other campus stakeholders to support successful event delivery.
• Work closely with the Assistant Director and Visitors Center Operations Coordinator to coordinate student engagement, campus visit activity, staffing, and shared resources.
• Provide functional leadership to professional Staff, student employees, University partners, and others assigned to admission events, establishing clear roles, expectations, and accountability.

Post Event Assessment and Resource Management

• Conduct post event reviews using attendance, participant feedback, satisfaction, conversion, yield, and other relevant measures to evaluate overall effectiveness.
• Prepare event recaps and identify key outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations to strengthen future programs and operations.
• Reconcile event expenditures, purchasing, vendor commitments, and other resources in partnership with the Director.
• Evaluate vendor performance and resource use to identify efficiencies and inform future planning.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in higher education, business administration, communications, marketing, hospitality, event management, student affairs, or a related field.
• Four or more years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, admissions, event management, student engagement, hospitality, or a related area.
• Demonstrated experience planning and managing complex, high visibility events or programs involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education, business administration, communications, marketing, hospitality, event management, student affairs, or a related field preferred.
• Supervisory, team leadership, or significant project leadership experience.
• Experience supporting recruitment, enrollment, prospective or admitted student engagement, or campus visit programs in a higher education environment.
• Experience with Slate or comparable CRM, event management, scheduling, or reporting systems.
• Experience with Square POS preferred.

Service Standards and Performance Expectations

• Demonstrated leadership and project management skills, including setting priorities, coordinating resources, assigning responsibilities, and maintaining accountability for results.
• Ability to translate enrollment and event priorities into well coordinated programs, operational plans, and consistent service standards.
• Strong judgment, problem solving, and decision making skills, with the ability to respond effectively in fast paced and highly visible event environments.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with University Leadership, faculty, Staff, students, vendors, and campus partners.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities while maintaining organization, accuracy, operational readiness, and a high level of service.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use event results, participant feedback, and relevant enrollment data to evaluate outcomes and support continuous improvement.

Supervision

This position does not currently have direct professional Staff reports; however, supervisory responsibilities may be assigned in the future based on departmental needs.

Physical Qualifications

• Ability to effectively use standard office technology and equipment in a primarily in-person campus environment.
• Ability to move throughout campus and stand or walk for extended periods during events.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, and move event materials, supplies, signage, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, consistent with applicable law.

Benefits

• Illinois Tech offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; lifelidays; and applicable paid and job-protected leave benefits.
• Eligibility, waiting periods, employee contributions, and coverage levels vary by band long-term disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with university contributions and matching for eligible employees; tuition assistance programs; flexible spending and commuter benefits; an employee assistance program; university hoenefit and position.
• Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive benefits package located here: Benefits Summary

EEO Statement

Illinois Institute of Technology is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, inclusion, and diversity. It is committed to fostering an inclusive environment and actively seeks applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, regardless of race, color, sex, marital status, religion, national origin, disability, age, unfavorable discharge from the military, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, including gender identity and expression, order of protection status, and/or genetic information. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment.