• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $78,000- $81,000

Position Summary

The Senior Events Manager is responsible for supporting senior staff in the management, design, planning, and execution of the University Programs and Events (UPE) portfolio within the Office of the President, the President’s House, as well as on and off-campus.

The incumbent must demonstrate a high level of hospitality and customer service across all communication channels, including email, phone, and in-person interactions. They should exercise independent judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Event Logistics

• Under the direction of senior staff, manages all logistical arrangements to consistently meet the standards of excellence of the Office of the President, including vendor selection and negotiations.
• Supports the events team with event budgeting, exercising responsible budget management, and tracking event and program budgets, as well as expense summaries.
• Evaluates post-event and program recommendations.
• Develops strategies and plans to improve and grow events, including presidential programming and events. 
• Collaborates to develop and execute ideas, themes, and concepts for events.
• Manages and maintains day-to-day relationships with vendors and internal counterparts responsible for event planning and coordination.
• Conducts research to identify possible new vendors and best practices across the University.
• Collect event data analytics and reporting.
• Assesses event results, including audience attendance and breakdown, and make recommendations for upcoming events.
• Serves as primary lead for President’s house events; responsible for managing the design, planning, and execution of events at the President’s House to ensure they are of the highest standard.
  • Supervises assigned team members, facilitates information sharing, and provides training to ensure all team members are educated regularly on House protocol and best practices.
  • Maintains a high level of decor and culinary expertise with a deep understanding of food, wine, and other beverages to elevate the level of table-side service at the President’s House.
  • Proposes meeting/event set-up and partners with house team to create service plans based on the type of function; manages and hires vendors, including rentals, movers, floral, and A/V.
  • Oversees rentals and event-related deliveries and staff arrivals and departures; interviews and hires casual wait staff as needed; greets guests upon arrival and staffs residential functions; and oversees house closure after events and all other logistics. Maintains compliance with building safety and security protocols.

Hospitality, Communication, and Customer Service

• Deliver exceptional hospitality and onsite support for events, including setup, meeting coordination, and overall guest services to ensure smooth operations and a memorable attendee experience.
• Liaises with program participants and special guests as appropriate to ensure flawless execution of programming.
• Oversees internal mailing lists and manages in-house and external mailings. Manages event inboxes and drafts, formats, and edits correspondence.
• Develops web content, printed and digital materials for events, and works with the programs team to market events and maintain exceptional knowledge of the Office of the President's style guide.
• Prepare relevant content for briefings and executive communications for events and programs.

Team Support

• Serves as a representative of UPE and interfaces with the highest levels of internal and external clients and partners, including Government Officials, Columbia University Trustees, and Senior Administrators.
• Responsible for the oversight of all event management platforms, project management systems, and registration software. Explores new technologies and alternatives to achieve optimal efficiency, providing recommendations to senior staff.
• Work with the team to archive event materials (digital and printed)
• Additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or its equivalent required. Minimum three years of related experience.

Additional Minimum Qualifications

• Must demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a calm and professional demeanor. 
• Excellent professional interpersonal and communication skills are required, both written and verbal. 
• Must be highly detail-oriented.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks at once. 
• Meet deadlines under pressure and with accuracy. 
• Must exercise a high degree of diplomacy, collaboration, and problem-solving. 
• Confidentiality and discretion are required. 
• Some evening and weekend work is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Marketing or event production experience preferred.
• Experience in a university, major cultural institution, or other comparable environment is desirable.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.