Program Specialist III - Sr. Events Specialist

City of Wilmington; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Wilmington in Wilmington, NC is seeking a Senior Events Specialist to lead cross-department collaboration, coordinate programs and events, and strengthen downtown partnerships. This role involves managing contracts, overseeing permits, and supporting the director's strategic vision to deliver impactful experiences.

You will work with downtown businesses, community organizations, event organizers, and city departments, with responsibilities across project management, programming,

Qualifications

• Master's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or digital media with 2 years of progressively responsible experience in local government or related field, including supervisory or lead experience.
• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, or digital media with 4 years of progressively responsible experience in local government or related field, including supervisory or lead experience.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the department's senior operational specialist and implement programs aligned with the director's strategic goals.
• Coordinate events, permitting, programming, activation, and project calendar across downtown.
• Administer and monitor the Convention Center management contract and evaluate contractor performance.

Skills

Project management

Public relations

Communication

Partnership development

Education

Master's degree in Communications/PR/Journalism/Marketing/Digital media

Bachelor's degree in Communications/PR/Journalism/Marketing/Digital media

Job description

One City. One Downtown. Countless Ways to Make an Impact.

Join a team dedicated to creating connections, delivering exceptional experiences, and strengthening the heart of the community. As the Senior Events Specialist, you’ll work across departments and alongside downtown businesses, community organizations, event organizers, and other partners to bring programs and events to life. If you’re a collaborative problem-solver who enjoys turning partnerships into possibilities, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of downtown—one event, one connection, and One City at a time.

The Downtown Services and Special Events Program Specialist III (Senior (Sr.) Events Specialist) is under the general supervision of the director. The position has no direct reports and collaborates with two other Special Event Specialists in the department.

The position serves as the Department's Sr. Events Specialist and assists the Director in implementing the Director's strategic vision through coordinated programs, projects, and services. The position administers the operational contract at the Convention Center. This role supports the Director in building strong relationships with downtown stakeholders and city departments. The position may be assigned responsibility for managing other downtown-related service contracts. The position will use the city's finance system to process invoices for payment, process contracts, and perform other administrative tasks necessary to fulfill the Department's mission.

As the Sr. Events Specialist in the department, this position will serve as a backup to the other two specialists when needed and may occasionally attend meetings in the director's absence.

The Sr. Events Specialist supports the director's role as the liaison between other City departments, downtown businesses, community organizations, event organizers, the Wilmington Convention Center operator, and other assigned external partners.

• Project Management and Staff Collaboration
  1. Serves as the department's senior operational specialist.
  2. Responsible for implementing assigned programs and working with the director and other specialists to implement the department's strategic goals.
  3. Performs other duties as assigned.
• Event, Programming, and Public-Space Operations
  1. Coordinates overall events, permitting, programming, activation, and project calendar.
  2. Reviews complex events and collaborates with the specialist handling film permitting matters.
  3. Make policy and procedure recommendations to the director.
  4. Supports the director with downtown public space activation and programming (Riverwalk, alleys, plazas, seasonal activities, arts and culture, placemaking).
  5. Handles assigned downtown programs and projects from concept through implementation (scope, schedule, budget, permitting, logistics, evaluation).
• Convention Center and Contract Management
  1. Administers and monitors the City's Convention Center management contract, evaluates contractor performance, and makes recommendations to the Director.
  2. Support the director in monitoring the Convention Center contractor's performance, operating requirements, maintenance, and capital needs.
  3. Coordinate with the City's Asset Management Department on convention center maintenance and capital improvements provided by the city.

• Master's Degree in Communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, digital media, and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in local government, program management, special events, complex program management, community development, convention center operations, or a related field, including supervisory or lead experience.
• Or, Bachelor's Degree in Communications, public relations, journalism, marketing, digital media, or a related field, and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in local government, program management, special events, complex program management, community development, convention center operations, or a related field, including supervisory or lead experience.
• Or, any other equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.