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CO
College of the Desert (CA)
Events Manager
Career Insights for Event Planner
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What they do
An Event Planner coordinates promotional sales events, professional meetings and family events. Works with clients, develops event plans and budgets, finds appropriate sites, contracts for services and supplies, coordinates with on-site staff, oversees finances and assists during an event.
$60,733 / year median in California
+6% projected growth
Job Description
The Events Manager is a pivotal role responsible for centralizing, coordinating, and managing all events within District facilities, with a strong emphasis on maximizing revenue generation through external facility rentals. This position will serve as the District's primary point of contact for both internal and external groups seeking to utilize college spaces, ensuring seamless event execution, compliance with college policies, and efficient resource allocation. The Events Manager will lead a team of event setup staff and foster collaborative relationships across various college departments.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direct supervision from the Vice President of Administrative Services or designee. Exercises supervision over assigned personnel. The duties listed are intended to provide examples of the types of work performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. The District reserves the right to modify or assign additional duties consistent with the classification. The following duties are representative of the essential functions of this position: 1. Serve as the primary institutional point of contact for the rental of District facilities, including but not limited to, gymnasiums, athletic fields, meeting rooms, and specialized external areas across all campuses. 2. Develop and execute marketing strategies to promote facility use to external community partners to optimize rental revenue. 3. Regularly evaluate and update the facility fee schedule to ensure fiscal sustainability and market competitiveness. 4. Manage the full lifecycle of event billing, including invoicing, income tracking, and the calculation of associated costs for staffing (overtime and regular rates). Oversee the facility fee waiver process, ensuring all documentation is prepared for Superintendent/Presidential or designee approval and tracked annually. Implement risk management protocols by ensuring all liability forms and insurance certificates are executed and on file for both internal and external facility users. 5. Facilitate comprehensive logistical support for a diverse range of campus events and programs sponsored by internal departments, student organizations (including ASCOD), administrative units, and other institutional stakeholders. Centralize the management of event resources, including the procurement, inventory, and maintenance of equipment such as tents, tables, chairs, and audiovisual assets. Coordinate directly with Maintenance & Operations (M&O), Campus Safety, and Information Technology to ensure seamless service delivery for on campus activities. 6. Serve as the system administrator for the District's event scheduling software to track assets and facilitate District-wide communication. Maintain a centralized college events calendar in coordination with the Public Relations Office to ensure broad notification via the website, email, and VIP alerts. Chair regular event stakeholder meetings and coordinate annual scheduling with external partners, such as the McCallum Theatre, to prevent facility conflicts. 7. Supervise, train, and evaluate the performance of assigned event setup and support staff. Manage staff schedules to ensure adequate coverage for evening and weekend events while monitoring departmental labor costs and efficiency.Other Duties:
8. Attend workshops or conferences related to event management, safety, or California Education Code compliance regarding facility use (Civic Center Act). 9. Participate in District-wide committees as assigned by the supervisor. 10. Perform other related duties as assigned. Education & Experience Any combination equivalent to: Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Business Administration, or a related field, AND three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in event planning, facility management, or a related field.KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES
Knowledge of:
- Comprehensive principles and practices of event coordination, site logistics, and execution for both small-scale meetings and large-scale public events.
- Principles of budgeting, billing, and invoicing; methods for tracking expenses and revenue; and basic cost-recovery modeling.
- Applicable Federal, State, and District laws and regulations, including the Civic Center Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as they pertain to physical access and event accommodations.
- Understanding of basic insurance requirements (including Certificates of Insurance), hold harmless agreements, and safety protocols for public gatherings.
- Modern event scheduling software, centralized calendar management, and standard office productivity applications.
- Effective methods for managing equipment inventory and coordinating multi-departmental service requests involving Maintenance & Operations (M&O), Information Technology (IT), and Campus Safety.
- Basic principles of public relations and promotional strategies to drive facility rental interest and revenue.
- Customer service best practices and effective communication techniques for engaging with a diverse campus population and external community partners.
Ability to:
- Demonstrate sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and staff.
- Plan and coordinate events from start to finish, ensuring they are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to a diverse community.
- Manage multiple priorities, stay organized, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Monitor budgets and support fiscally responsible decision-making.
- Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Build and maintain respectful, collaborative relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Lead, supervise, train, and motivate staff and event support teams to achieve operational goals and deliver high-quality services.
- Identify issues proactively and implement practical, timely solutions with sound judgment and minimal supervision.
- Apply policies and procedures consistently and fairly.
- Provide a high level of customer service while maintaining professionalism and responsiveness.