Senior Events Coordinator

Duke University; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke University, Office of Climate and Sustainability, is seeking a Senior Events Coordinator to lead planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of Climate Commitment events and engagement activities. You will translate priorities into high-quality experiences, advance collaboration, and elevate awareness of climate initiatives across Duke and beyond.

You will oversee end-to-end event management, collaborate with communications and university partners, manage budgets, and ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of relevant experience.
• Experience managing multiple events and priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Ability to work in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of Climate Commitment events.
• Coordinate venue, catering, travel, tech, registration and accessibility.
• Manage event budgets and timelines; ensure on-time delivery.
• Develop run-of-show documents and production schedules; oversee on-site execution.
• Draft event communications and attendee communications; promote events.
• Collect feedback and contribute to post-event evaluation and reporting.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder coordination

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Senior Events Coordinator

Office of Climate and Sustainability | Duke University

Occupational Summary

As an integral member of Duke University’s Office of Climate and Sustainability (OCS), the Senior Events Coordinator leads the planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of events and engagement activities that advance the goals of the Duke Climate Commitment.

Be You.

Senior Events Coordinator

Office of Climate and Sustainability | Duke University

Occupational Summary

As an integral member of Duke University’s Office of Climate and Sustainability (OCS), the Senior Events Coordinator leads the planning, coordination, execution, and evaluation of events and engagement activities that advance the goals of the Duke Climate Commitment.

Working under the direction of the Assistant Director of Strategy and Administration, the Senior Events Coordinator translates strategic communications and engagement priorities into high-quality events and experiences that strengthen participation, foster collaboration, and elevate awareness of climate and sustainability initiatives across Duke and beyond.

The Senior Events Coordinator oversees a diverse portfolio of concurrent events and engagement activities, balancing competing priorities, timelines, budgets, and stakeholder needs while ensuring consistent quality and execution across Climate Commitment programs. The position manages all aspects of event implementation, including project management, logistics, communications coordination, vendor management, budget tracking, stakeholder engagement, and post-event evaluation.

Through exceptional execution and attention to detail, the Senior Events Coordinator ensures that Climate Commitment events reflect Duke’s commitment to excellence while supporting institutional goals for engagement, education, partnership development, and impact.

What You’ll Do

Event Planning and Execution (40%)

• The role serves as the primary project manager for Climate Commitment events and engagement activities, ensuring successful implementation of a diverse portfolio of programs, convenings, and experiences.
• Lead planning and execution of signature Climate Commitment events, including annual climate and sustainability summits, Climate Commitment town halls, Climate Commitment Awards, special invited speakers, Climate Weeks and Earth Month activities, and other high-profile convenings.
• Develop and manage project plans, timelines, production schedules, event workplans, and detailed run-of-show documents.
• Coordinate venue reservations, catering, travel, lodging, technology, registration systems, accessibility accommodations, staffing plans, and event logistics.
• Manage event budgets, monitor expenditures, and ensure responsible stewardship of resources.
• Anticipate operational challenges and develop solutions to ensure successful event delivery and positive participant experiences.
• Establish and maintain event management procedures, planning tools, and operational standards that support consistency and efficiency across OCS.
• Support on-site event management and oversee successful event execution from planning through completion.

Communications and Promotional Coordination (25%)

• The role supports implementation of communications and engagement strategies developed by the Director of Communications for Climate and Sustainability and ensures effective promotion and participant communications for Climate Commitment events.
• Coordinate execution of event communications and promotional plans across multiple channels, which will require different levels of support per event.
• Develop and manage communications timelines and production schedules that support event objectives.
• Draft and coordinate event-related materials including invitations, attendee communications, event webpages, digital content, calendar listings, and promotional materials.
• Ensure timely communication with event participants before, during, and after events.
• Maintain Climate Commitment event calendars and coordinate event information across university communication platforms.
• Collaborate with OCS communications staff and university partners to ensure messaging consistency and timely promotion.

Stakeholder and Vendor Coordination (20%)

• The role serves as the primary operational liaison for event-related partners, vendors, and collaborators.
• Coordinate with faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, university departments, and external partners involved in event planning and implementation.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with vendors, venues, production companies, caterers, and other service providers.
• Facilitate communication among stakeholders throughout the event planning process to ensure alignment and effective coordination.
• Support collaboration across OCS teams to ensure events advance Climate Commitment priorities and organizational goals.
• Represent OCS professionally when working with internal and external event partners.

Assessment, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement (10%)

• The role supports evaluation and continuous improvement of Climate Commitment events and engagement activities.
• Collect and analyze event participation, attendee engagement, budget, and feedback metrics.
• Develop post-event reports and recommendations that inform future planning and decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to improve event effectiveness, operational efficiency, participant experience, and organizational impact.
• Support reporting related to Climate Commitment engagement and outreach activities.

OCS Administration and Support (5%)

• Support OCS-wide initiatives, programs, and events as needed.
• Complete administrative responsibilities necessary to ensure effective program delivery.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment and support cross-functional priorities across the Office of Climate and Sustainability.

What You’ll Bring

Minimum Education/Training Job Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex projects, events, and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Strong project management, organizational, and execution skills.
• Experience coordinating events involving diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to high-quality execution.
• Proficiency with event management, communications, and project management tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, sustainability, communications, public relations, or related environments.
• Experience supporting executive-level events and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Familiarity with climate, sustainability, education, or mission-driven programming.
• Experience with event assessment, reporting, and data management.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $49,939.00 to USD $79,487.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: [e-mail]; phone: [phone]).