Contract Event Planner Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our academic community.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Provides a wide range of full-service event planning on behalf of the school/division, including but not limited to, site and venue selection, the use of audio/visual equipment, setup needs, site visits and other activities associated with event planning and logistics.
• Develops standard operating procedures and service level agreements as required.
• Prepares post-event analysis to assess opportunities and make recommendations for future events and services for internal and external constituencies and implements as appropriate.
• Determines fiscal requirement for events, prepares budgetary recommendations and reviews all contracts on behalf of the school/division.
• Addresses requests for proposal development, vendor evaluations, contract negotiations, and management and implementation of new technology.
• Leads and directs speakers, staff, and volunteers during event program/production.
• Provides project management oversight, including documentation of unique event processes for building event capacity and strategy throughout the school/division.
• Prepares budgets and provides periodic progress reports to budget owners for each event project.
• Manages and tracks event finances including creation and submission of invoice payments and financial reporting.
• The position manages revenue-generating room rental requests that help offset the department’s operational expenses.
• Communicates with internal stakeholders, ensuring they are abreast of all relevant event information, including providing ongoing and regular communications regarding event updates and details.
• May works with designers to create invitations, promotional items, and other printed materials.
• Serves in leadership role on special projects as necessary, including space planning project, change management etc.
• May serves as backup in the absence of the Director.
• Performs related duties as required.  

ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS:

Working Conditions: The position requires regular interaction with clients, vendors, staff, students, and university leadership. Some evening and weekend work is required based on the event schedule. Occasional travel may be required. The position may also require extended periods of standing or walking and the ability to assist with the movement, setup, and inspection of event-related furniture, equipment, and supplies.

This position works in an open, shared office environment that is highly visible, customer-facing, and frequently experiences significant walk-in traffic. The individual must be comfortable working in a fast-paced setting while providing responsive, professional service to faculty, staff, students, visitors, vendors, and other internal and external customers.

The successful candidate must be approachable, customer-focused, flexible, and able to communicate clearly and professionally through verbal, written, and nonverbal interactions. The position requires the ability to manage interruptions, shifting priorities, and multiple requests while maintaining a welcoming and service-oriented presence.

The individual must be willing to learn additional operational functions and provide coverage or assistance outside of their primary responsibilities when needed. This may include supporting critical schoolwide events, responding to urgent operational demands, assisting colleagues during periods of increased activity, and contributing to the overall effectiveness of the team.

The position may also participate in executive-level or high-level planning meetings related to major events, special programs, emergency preparedness, facility operations, or other schoolwide initiativesthat extend beyond routine responsibilities. The individual must demonstrate professionalism, soundjudgment, discretion, adaptability, and the ability to represent the department effectively in thesesettings

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and five years of experience in events management, preferably in a university environment, or equivalent combination of experience, education and training.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Preferred bachelor’s degree and four years of progressively responsible experience in event planning, event management, conference services, hospitality, higher education administration, or a related field, including experience coordinating complex events and managing multiple priorities.
• Experience supervising, coaching, or directing event staff, temporary employees, vendors, or volunteers.
• Experience planning and executing large-scale, high-profile, or multi-day events.
• Experience managing event budgets, billing processes, vendor relationships, and service contracts.
• Experience overseeing event venues, furniture, equipment, supplies, and logistical operations.
• Experience working in a university, healthcare, nonprofit, corporate, conference, or hospitality environment.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with senior leadership and coordinating events involving executives, speakers, donors, alumni, students, or external partners.
• Knowledge of event-management software, room-scheduling systems, registration platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, customer-service, problem-solving, and project-management skills.
• Ability to remain composed, exercise sound judgment, and make timely decisions in a fast-paced event environment.

NOTE: Position tasks are required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location; working remote is not an option. Emory reserves the right to change this status with notice to employee.

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities). Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone: 404-727-9867 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD).

Emory University is committed to ensuring equal access and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to seek a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at accessibility@emory.edu or call 404-727-9877 (Voice) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). We kindly ask that requests be made at least seven business days in advance to allow adequate time for coordination.