Event Lead: Higher Education & VIP Engagement

CSU; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Time Off

Retirement plan

Health Coverage

Education Support

Campus & Community

Job summary

San Diego State University invites an experienced events professional to join the College of Arts and Letters as an Event Coordinator. You will independently plan and execute a diverse portfolio of events—from donor gatherings to lectures and conferences—advancing academic, development, and community priorities with precise budgets and on-site leadership.

Working with college leadership, development teams, and campus partners, you will craft timelines, manage vendors, ensure ADA compliance, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and two years of relevant experience.
• Advanced degree may substitute for required experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Experience planning events in higher education, nonprofit, or advancement environments.
• Familiarity with budgeting, purchasing, and financial systems in complex organizations.
• Experience coordinating catering, staffing, and vendor services.
• Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholder groups and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute assigned events from concept to completion with timelines and run-of-show documents.
• Coordinate venues, catering, AV, accessibility, facilities, parking, transportation, and staffing with vendors.
• Partner on donor cultivation, stewardship, alumni engagement, and fundraising events.
• Develop event budgets, monitor expenditures, coordinate contracts and payments.
• Serve as operational lead during events, directing staff and vendors and resolving issues.
• Maintain clear communications with leadership, sponsors, campus partners, and communications teams.
• Ensure events comply with university policies, accessibility, and risk management.

Skills

Event planning

Budgeting

Vendor management

Donor/alumni engagement

Stakeholder coordination

ADA accessibility

Marketing/communications collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

San Diego State University invites an experienced events professional to join the College of Arts and Letters as an Event Coordinator. You will independently plan and execute a diverse portfolio of events—from donor gatherings to lectures and conferences—advancing academic, development, and community priorities with precise budgets and on-site leadership.

Working with college leadership, development teams, and campus partners, you will craft timelines, manage vendors, ensure ADA compliance, and