Events Project Coordinator

Graduate Programs Office Student Engagement & Community Coordinator

Are you looking to continue or grow your career working in academics at a prestigious university? Are you enthusiastic about supporting students and providing co-curricular academic events in support of their academic and career goals? The Graduate Programs Office based in the Academics Department at the School of Professional Studies (SPS) is looking for an organized, student-focused individual to support the academic programs with an aim to provide enriching academic and career focused events for graduate and undergraduate students at SPS. This job is great for a detail-oriented individual who is interested in an opportunity to shape the academic and student life experience of professional graduate students throughout their academic career. This individual will also get to work closely with international students in a full-time program. The ideal candidate will demonstrate flexibility and willingness to collaborate, solid written and verbal communication skills, and experience in event planning and student support. Applicants with experience in higher education are preferred. In addition to joining a collaborative and hard-working academic team that values strong relationships, Northwestern employees take advantage of excellent benefits.

The Student Engagement & Community Coordinator provides operational planning and oversight of various co-curricular events, designed to further enrich the academic experience of students enrolled in full-time graduate programs and part-time online programs at the School of Professional Studies. Provides management for an education, research &/or operations program/project, recommending goals, assessing feasibility and ongoing performance & providing day-to-day oversight of administrative & operational functions.

Some evening and weekend hours necessary. Flexibility in working between the Evanston and Chicago campus. This position does have a weekly hybrid schedule.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Coordinates comprehensive programming, educational, student, alumni, workshops, meetings, etc. including speakers, agendas, etc.
• Develops plans and arranges meetings, workshops, events, etc. designed to provide opportunities for students to understand the industry, innovation and research in the field, and exchange information with valuable stakeholders.
• Ensures that event details including communication, venues, presenters, travel arrangements, materials, refreshments and technology are arranged and completed in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Plan and manage a yearly events calendar.
• Plan and execute orientations for incoming full-time students.
• Develop and execute a mentoring program with alumni and current students in the program, in coordination with the SPS Alumni Coordinator and NUAA.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Develops coordinated, consistent messages.
• Creates and maintains state-of-the-art website.
• Incorporates social media and networking into program/project aspects as appropriate.
• Strengthens partnerships with external resources by defining, promoting and marketing benefits of participation and involvement in the organization.
• Creates and nurtures relationships with organizations (including internal to NU, e.g. student and alumni boards) to develop a network of enthusiastic organizations engaged via active participation in the success of program/project.
• Reviews market trends to recommend future plans to increase revenue, participation, engagement, etc.
• Assist with the academic adviser to provide student communication to provide support at key student lifecycle points.
• Collaborate with the NU community to develop valuable relationships to offer greater services and opportunities to the student community.
• Manages program/project seminars, presentations, workshops, learning experiences, chat rooms, websites, social networking, etc. based on goals/objectives.
• Identifies & obtains external expertise as needed and works with content experts to develop valuable student-facing events and opportunities.
• Manages speaker selection, communication, and topic development.
• Leads program/project updates and improvements.
• Implements strategy regarding structure, process, & staff support of students in compliance with NU policy.
• Develop systems to assist faculty and students in career advising.
• Collaborates with academic advising to provide educational support to students.
• Participates in budget preparation.
• Maintains budget & associated analysis & reports.
• Observes program sessions and interacts with participants for purpose of gaining consumer insight, growing and strengthening program knowledge, and optimizing student satisfaction.
• Coordinates the collection, analysis & reporting of required information for surveys, review documents, etc.
• In coordination with the SPS Alumni Coordinator, track job placement of students for practical analysis of the success of the program.
• Analyzes evaluation data from instructors, students, participants, etc. to assist in further development and updated to events and other programs to serve students.
• Implements corrective actions required as a result of surveys or other indicators.
• Manages day-to-day operations.
• Ensures that program/project mission, values, guidelines, policies & procedures are implemented & maintained.
• Manages design and development of program student databases; compiles & analyzes data; prepares reports.
• Reviews processes and recommends changes to incorporate state-of-the-art technology as appropriate into administrative, recruitment, and educational components.
• Identifies service improvement opportunities that will better enable program/project to achieve its goals and objectives.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 1 year program/project administration, event planning, project management, or other relevant experience.

Minimum competencies include:

• Computer Proficiency: Successfully uses multiple software programs independently. Software may include Excel, Outlook, Word, Office
• Communication, Oral and Written: Communicates effectively one-on-one, in small groups, and in public speaking contexts; writes precise, well-organized emails, letters, and memos while using appropriate vocabulary and grammar.
• Customer focus: Regularly monitors student satisfaction; provides suggestions to improve quality and value to students.
• Efficiency: Effectively performs duties and responsibilities; displays attention to detail; supports organizational policies; anticipates demands/pressures of assignments and adjusts accordingly.
• Organization: Plans, organizes and schedules in an efficient, productive manner; anticipates contingencies and pays attention to detail; targets projects or initiatives that require special attention and focuses on key tasks when faced with limited time and/or resources.
• Problem Solving: Formulates realistic plans and contingencies and establishes appropriate measurements of anticipated results.
• Coachability: Being receptive to feedback, willing to learn, embracing continuous improvement.
• Cultural competency: Aware of and sensitive to different cultures and norms represented by the diverse populations of SPS and NU, and able to foster an inclusive and equitable environment for faculty and students.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Master's degree.
• 3-5 years previous experience in event planning, project management, or similar experience.

Preferred competencies include:

• Business Acumen: Possesses business savvy and demonstrates the activity to foster and lead cost-efficient initiatives without sacrificing quality or core values.
• Creativity: Explores alternatives to existing products and services; identifies opportunities to improve procedures and practices; shows imagination.
• Familiarity with NU or higher education

Target hiring range for this position will be between $56,000 to $60,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.