(Temporary) Part-Time Venue Coordinator

The University of North Carolina System; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

The North Carolina Arboretum is seeking a Part-Time, Seasonal Venue Coordinator to help manage weddings, Winter Lights, and other events in a beautiful Asheville setting.

This role requires weekend availability and a strong focus on dependable, organized behind-the-scenes support, with shifts totaling about 30 hours per week. Pay is $22 per hour and post entails coordinating with clients and vendors to ensure memorable events.

Qualifications

• Weekend and some evening availability is required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; one year of event experience or equivalent.
• Strong organizational and communication skills for coordinating events.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate onsite event setup and venue layout with staff and vendors.
• Enforce event policies and assist clients and vendors during events.
• Assist Events Supervisor in planning and managing weddings, Winter Lights and other events.
• Coordinate catering needs and on-site coordination with vendors.

Skills

Weekend availability

Event coordination

Attention to detail

Education

Four-year degree

Event experience

Tools

Google Workspace

Calendar software

Job description

Being part of the magic at The North Carolina Arboretum starts here. As a part-time, seasonal Venue Coordinator, you'll help bring to life weddings, Winter Lights, and a variety of special rentals in one of the region's most beautiful settings. This role is an excellent fit for someone who enjoys creating smooth, memorable experiences, works well behind the scenes, and takes pride in being dependable and organized. Weekend availability is essential, pay is $22 per hour and most shifts happen during our busiest and most joyful moments. If you're looking for extra income and meaningful work in a vibrant, nature-filled environment, we'd love to welcome you to the team. This role will work 30 hours per week.

This position will perform a variety of wedding and event support duties such as onsite coordination of event set up, enforcement of TNCA event policies and procedures assisting client and vendors, attending to bridal needs, supervision of alcoholic beverage service, and event breakdown. This position will also assist the Events Supervisor in collaboration with a planning team in managing special events at the Arboretum, including but not limited to plant shows, member events, and Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum. This effort will involve communicating with vendors, customers and staff to determine and document set-up requirements, coordinate with entertainers and caterers where applicable, and help to assign duties to events management personnel.

Venue Coordination often means:

• Touring the venue with potential event clients
• Supervising Event Staff
• Preparing the venue: Ensuring the venue is clean, well-maintained, and in good working order
• Set Up: placing tables and chairs, ceremony chairs, and reception tables
• Managing the layout: Assisting with floor plans and room flips
• Catering: Formalizing catering needs and handling on-site catering coordination
• Vendors: Providing a preferred list of vendors, scheduling site visits, and directing vendor unloading
• Timeline: Assisting with creating a timeline and confirming it with the event coordinator
• Guests: Managing guest arrival and parking
• End of event: Removing guest, vendor, and personal items
• Other: Handling issues with lights, electricity, kitchen equipment, and garbage
• Policies: Enforcing venue policies during the event

To successfully support indoor and outdoor events and rentals, this staff member must be able to work out doors under a variety of temperatures and weather conditions, and will spend extended periods of time standing, walking and sitting. Moderate lifting will be employed to assist with positioning furniture, supplies and equipment. Weekend availability is necessary.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit

The North Carolina Arboretum is a 434 acre public garden affiliated with the University of North Carolina featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits, educational activities, and plant-centered research and economic development programs.

The North Carolina Arboretum Society is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supports the Arboretum's mission of cultivating connections between people and plants through the membership program, individual and corporate giving programs, retail operations, sponsored research activities and fee-based educational program and exhibits and green events.

The Guest Service & Experiences department of the North Carolina Arboretum oversees design, exhibits, retail sales, and events management.

Minimum Education, Experience, and Skills

This position requires weekend and some evening availability.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills

Preferred qualifications are a four-year degree in a related field and one year of event experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Competencies

Communication: Must have excellent and courteous written and verbal communication skills for interaction with both internal and external publics.
Ability to screen and direct clients and visitors to the appropriate source, inform the public about services, processes, procedures and guidelines. This position will need to follow both written and oral instructions.
Customer Service: This position will require strong customer service skills including a solid knowledge of event procedures, attentiveness to customer feedback and the ability to use positive language. This role will schedule adequate staffing and setup to ensure successful event delivery while representing the Arboretum and its mission.
Office Technology: This position utilizes a variety of equipment and office systems (i.e. telephone, computer with standard software, Google products such as calendar and docs, fax, copier, etc.) and will require a strong administration foundation.
Work Management: Ability to coordinate tasks and establish priorities in response to workflow, be detail-oriented and have a high level of organization. Must be able to manage multiple projects with accuracy and exhibit stellar time management skills. This position will carry out plans and duties as assigned by the Events Coordinators.
Alcohol Management: Ability to coordinate and oversee alcohol service for events while following applicable policies, procedures, and regulations. Ensure appropriate staffing, setup, service, and responsible handling of alcohol to support a safe and successful event experience.

• Classification: (Temporary/Seasonal) Part-Time Venue Coordinator
• Position Competency Level:
• Position Number: UNCSO-ATNCA3
• Employment Type: Hourly
• Appointment Type: Temporary
• Full-Time/Part-Time: Part-Time
• Recruitment Salary Range: $20.00
• Location: 100 Fredrick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806 USA
• Posting Open Date: 9/11/2026
• Posting Close Date: 9/28/2026
• Posting Number: req752

EEO

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
To claim veteran's preference, all eligible persons shall submit a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, along with a State Application for Employment (Form PD-107 or equivalent) to the appointing authority.
The UNC System Office (includes PBS NC, NCSEAA, and NC Arboretum) participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

EEO Contact Information

Applicants needing assistance with the application process are asked to contact: [e-mail]