Senior Events Specialist - Higher Ed & Alumni Engagement

The Pennsylvania State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 54,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Fox Graduate School seeks an Events Specialist to lead planning and execution of events that support student engagement, alumni recognition, and the school’s visibility.

Based at Penn State, this role reports to the Director of Development and Alumni Relations and collaborates with GES and OGEEP to manage a wide portfolio of events, from orientations to commencement and awards, with occasional evenings and weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience planning and executing university events.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills managing multiple priorities.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Experience managing large-scale or high-profile events and resolving issues in real time.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and event management platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of Fox Graduate School events.
• Coordinate logistics: venue, catering, AV, transportation, signage, decor, and registration.
• Serve as primary contact for vendors, guests, and internal stakeholders.
• Manage event operations, staffing, and on-site issue resolution.
• Conduct post-event assessments and implement improvements.
• Collaborate with Strategic Marketing and Communications on event materials and communications.

Skills

Event planning

Communication

Organization

Independent work

Problem solving

Customer service

MS 365

Event platforms

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft 365

Event management platforms

Job description

The Pennsylvania State University’s Fox Graduate School seeks an Events Specialist to lead planning and execution of events that support student engagement, alumni recognition, and the school’s visibility.

Based at Penn State, this role reports to the Director of Development and Alumni Relations and collaborates with GES and OGEEP to manage a wide portfolio of events, from orientations to commencement and awards, with occasional evenings and weekends as needed.