Events and Student Engagement Specialist

Overview:
**Term: 8 months.**

The Events & Student Engagement Specialist is responsible for three critical areas: event management, oversight and coordination; student engagement in enrichment activities with respect to entrepreneurship, commercialization and digital media; logístical support and student advising for the Global Business and Digital Arts (GBDA) Internship recruitment cycles. This person works closely with internal and external contacts to ensure quality project delivery, execution, mutually-beneficial partnerships, and excellent communications and processes.

**Responsibilities**:
Event management including, but not limited to:

- Leads all planning and execution of all Stratford School events, both internal and external
- Develops annual strategic plan for roster of events that support the objectives of Stratford School
- Acts as point of contact with internal and external stakeholders to provide knowledgeable and timely communication that ensure the delivery of successful events
- Supports Development and Alumni Affairs in developing and executing donor recognition and alumni events
- Develops and implements an integrated communications plan for the promotion of events using both print and electronic media; manages and monitors web-based communication (promotion, registration, post event feedback, etc.)
Establishes targets of success (including event registration/attendance), measures event outcomes and acts accordingly
Plans and oversees event associated budgets, ensuring compliance with UW financial policies and procedures
Oversees and organizes technical support (audio and visuals), logistics and event deliverables, including digital assets, catering requirements and third-party procurements
Leads project meetings associated with events; organizes and oversees execution of all details
Leads post-mortem meetings and follow-up with all stakeholders, actions post-event report
- Manages supplier relationships to ensure quality, budget and delivery objectives are met
- Establishes best practices for registration and oversees this system for all events
- Approves and completes contracts and all appropriate documentation associated with event requests and Stratford School room bookings
- Provides superior customer service to internal and external stakeholders
- Recruits and manages volunteers to support the delivery of events

Student engagement: entrepreneurship and commercialization
- Develops and implements student engagement programming that promotes entrepreneurship and professional development opportunities
- Seeks and fosters relationships with internal and external mentors and partners (Velocity, Accelerator Centre, etc.) to establish and strengthen entrepreneurial activities on campus and beyond
- Builds relationships with faculty members to understand and support value-add educational activities both in the classroom and extra-circularly (ex: lunch and learns, guest speakers)
- Creates and maintains a roster of guest lectures and workshop leaders that compliment program objectives
- Collaborates extensively with colleagues to identify gaps and act on opportunities with respect to extra-curricular activities that promote intellectual, personal, and professional development
- Provides direction and advice to student groups with the Stratford School regarding student-led events
- Monitors and reports regularly on student engagement initiatives; provides end-of-term statistics so that initiatives may be assessed for effectiveness

Provides organizational and logístical support for the GBDA Internship recruitment cycles at the Stratford School:

- Administers and communicates/supports the processes, procedures and programs led by CECA and WatPD Office in order to facilitate the hiring of GBDA students/graduates
- Collaborates with the appropriate CECA representatives to ensure a smooth interview experience for both students and employers, identifying and troubleshooting issues as they arise
- Promotes student/employer communication at the Stratford School for the duration of the matching process and interview weeks
- Manages appropriate interview space at the Stratford School and oversees required setup
- Hosts employers at the Stratford School when appropriate

Qualifications:

- Post-secondary degree, college diploma or equivalent experience
- Minimum of 3-years experience demonstrated in one or more of: event planning and management, partnership building, community engagement
- Proven ability to multi-task and manage a large volume of work, conflicting priorities and deadlines
- Knowledge of the Stratford programs, UW entrepreneurship ecosystem (i.e., Velocity, Accelerator Centre) and understanding of student experience in Stratford and at UW an asset
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated superior planning and organizational skills
- Effective problem solving and conflict management skills
- Ability to exercise proactive project leadership, communicate e