Event Associate, Application Close: November 13, 2026

United-Church-of-Christ,-Nationa; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 57,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Pension plan

Disability benefits

Job summary

The United Church of Christ seeks an Event Associate to plan and execute meetings and events for national ministries and partner organizations. You will manage registration, venue relationships, and on-site support, creating hospitable meetings for staff and visitors.

Applicants should have a college degree, RCMA CFMP certification, and strong communication and organizational skills. Travel within the U.S. is required as needed, with a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• College degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience plus four years in meeting planning or hospitality.
• (CFM P) Certified Faith-Based Meeting Professional through RCMA required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills.
• Well organized, detail-oriented, and able to prioritize work.
• Ability to travel within the United States.

Responsibilities

• Manage meetings and events for the National Ministries United Church of Christ and its board and partners.
• Reserve conference rooms and ensure room technology works.
• Collaborate with MarCom to display welcome messages and ensure AV readiness.
• Provide guidance on registration, site selection, housing, food and beverage, and A/V requests.
• Use Cvent to build registration sites and generate reports for hosts.
• Coordinate catering budgets and propose caterers and menus.
• Liaise with venues and vendors and manage room block contracts.

Skills

Communication

Organization

Customer Service

Travel Flexibility

Education

College degree in relevant field

CFMP certification

Tools

Cvent

MS Office

Excel

Zoom

Job description

Event Associate, Application Close: November 13, 2026

Ministry Team Hospitality Ministries and Event Services

Reports To Minister and Team Leader, Hospitality Ministries, and Event Services

FLSA Status Exempt

Salary Grade 7

Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time

Category Office of Event Management

Starting Salary $57,000-$62,000

Description

GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Hospitality Ministries and Event Services team (HoMES) is responsible for meeting planning and implementation attending to all details that support a successful outcome for the staff of the national ministries in hosting guests. Hospitality is a bedrock value for the UCC to explicitly name in our ministries as we continue to seek a just world for all and offer an extravagant welcome.

The Event Associate, under the direction of the Minister and Team Leader, supports the work of the team in the areas of registration, venue relationships, and event support and works to create hospitable and welcoming meetings/events for staff and visitors.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Meetings/Events

• Manage meetings and events for the National Ministries United Church of Christ and its board and partner organizations.
• Reserve conference rooms and ensure that the technology in the room is in working order.
• Collaborate with MarCom staff to ensure Magic Info Screens have a welcome message for event guests in the reception area.
• Work with IT to ensure that all technological needs are met.
• Provide guidance and assistance to the event host with the design of and registration requirements, site selection, housing, food and beverage, and A/V requests.
• Utilize Cvent to build registration sites for meetings and events and provide registration reports for the meeting/event hosts.
• Work with the meeting host to determine the catering budget and recommend a caterer and menu to the host, taking into consideration any special dietary needs.
• Contact venue and vendors with revisions and request updated documents.
• At the request of the Team Leader, serve as the liaison in vetting hotels or other venues, and initiate and edit room block contracts for final review by the General Counsel.
• Set up and replenish beverage station(s) and provide a snack tray(s) throughout the meeting and refresh the room as needed.
• At the request of the Team Leader, conduct site inspections of prospective venues and/or locations to ensure that the requirements of the group are met, taking into consideration lodging and services available, ADA accessibility, as well as cost and group budget (if provided).
• Provide on-site after-hours support as requested by the Team Leader
• Other duties as assigned.

General Synod - Every three years

• Work with the host city’s housing bureau to set up room blocks to reserve and assign housing for conference delegates, national staff, affiliated ministries staff, associated ministries staff, the United Church of Christ Board of Directors, and other guests attending the General Synod.

• Serve as the General Synod Registrar and build a robust registration site utilizing Cvent, that captures the registration categories of the attendee as required by the General Synod Standing Rules.
• Ensure that all fees collected through the registration process are credited to the correct accounts.
• Provide registration reports to the hosts of Optional Dining Events and other events sponsored during General Synod.
• Identify and work with a vendor for the printing of the General Synod attendee name badges ensuring that delegate and associate delegates are distinct from the general attendees.
• Pack all materials needed for registration to be shipped.
• Coordinate the setup needs of the General Synod “Registration Area” onsite.

• Train and work with the registration volunteers of the Local Arrangements Committee

• Ensure that all sponsor materials are included in the registration bags
• Other duties as assigned.

Virtual Meetings/Events

• Support the utilization of technology for meetings that require virtual hybrid platforms or the Zoom platform.
• Maintain full familiarity with the capabilities of the Zoom platform.
• Research and recommend platforms for virtual or hybrid events.
• Working with the event hosts, provide support with virtual or hybrid platforms that are utilized.
• Maintain full familiarity with the Cvent event app for General Synod and provide leadership in populating the app in collaboration with the MARCOMteam.
• Provide on-site support as requested by the event host.

Position Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• College degree in a relevant field or a combination of equivalent experience plus four years in the field of meeting planning or hospitality environment.
• (CFMP) Certified Faith-Based Meeting Professional through the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and customer service skills.
• Well organized and detail-oriented, self-starter, and ability to prioritize work.
• Able to maintain a professional demeanor under stressful situations.
• Flexibility is a must with a team player attitude.
• Desire and sensitivity to work in diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious settings, with a commitment to diversity in the workplace and in one’s understanding of mission.
• Excellent follow-through skills and the ability to prioritize competing priorities
• Ability to practice independent discretion around the body of work
• Ability to solve problems and anticipate issues and concerns.
• Positive attitude with the ability to handle a variety of issues and personalities with tact and courtesy.
• Ability to hold confidentiality of sensitive information, ensuring all information is handled with professionalism and discretion.
• Proficiency with the Cvent Registration software platform, MS Suite, Excel, and Zoom capabilities.
• Ability to travel sometimes for extended periods within the United States.

Preferred

• Knowledge of the United Church of Christ, its structure and organization.

This job description is not intended to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for the position and is subject to review and change at any time with the needs of the ministry. Since no job description can detail all duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time in the performance of a position, duties, and responsibilities that may be inherent in a position shall also be considered part of the position holder’s responsibility.

It is expected that the person who holds this position will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the policies of the UCC and in a manner that will reflect positively on the organization. All staff are encouraged to nurture safety within the work performed on behalf of the UCC by being attentive to self-care, education, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and the importance of referring those in need to supportive and helpful resources.

Comprehensive Benefits Package Employer paid health, dental, pension, life, and disability benefits

Application Deadline November 13, 2026

About the Organization

The United Church of Christ

Our faith is 2000 years old. Our thinking is not.

We believe in God's Continuing Testament.

We believe in Extravagant Welcome

We believe the church's mission is to Change Lives

EOE Statement

The United Church of Christ National Setting celebrates diversity and an inclusive environment for all employees. We are committed to a workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the broad spectrum of our diverse society. We endeavor to recruit employees from backgrounds that vary by race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, genetic information, past, present or future service in the uniformed services, religion, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local law. We are proud to be a multicultural, multiracial, open and affirming, accessible to all, equal opportunity employer.

This position is currently accepting applications.