Events and Facility Coordinator - Student Union - UTK

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a renowned institution with a rich history dating back to 1794. Serving as Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, UT Knoxville boasts more than 38,000 students and 10,000 employees statewide, all unified under the Volunteer spirit of leadership, service, and innovation. The university offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools, coupled with significant research activity and partnerships, including those with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and various industry leaders. The Knoxville campus supports a diverse range of academic and service units, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, making it a hub for academic excellence, community engagement, and professional growth. UT Knoxville values its employees highly, providing resources aimed at fostering work-life balance, career development, continued education, and leadership innovation.

The role available is a lead professional staff position within the Student Union at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, located at 1502 Cumberland Ave. This position is pivotal in managing the day-to-day operations, event management, and overall facility oversight of the Student Union. The Student Union itself is a vibrant center on campus that serves as a communal space where students, faculty, and visitors can eat, study, relax, and engage in campus life. It houses essential offices such as the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life, the Jones Center for Leadership and Service, the Dean of Students Office, the Center for Student Engagement, the Visitors Center, and others.

As a lead professional staff member, the individual will oversee a specific functional area within the Student Union—this could include the Set-up Team, Big Orange Tickets, Information Desk, and similar units. A core responsibility will be supervising student employees, which involves recruiting, training, scheduling, coaching, and developing these students to foster a high-performing operational team. The role requires advanced skills in event operations and facility management, ensuring that all events are conducted smoothly, safely, and energetically enhancing the student experience.

Moreover, this position is dedicated to advancing the campus community by designing and assessing co-curricular learning experiences that promote student engagement, leadership development, and transferable professional skills. It involves collaborating with various campus partners, student organizations, and Union staff to create educational programs that encourage belonging, civic responsibility, and professional growth. The role also includes supporting marketing efforts and managing vendor relations to promote the Student Union's mission and services.

This position demands a professional who excels in multitasking, problem-solving, leadership, and communication, with the ability to make judicious decisions that enhance the student experience. The University offers a competitive market range salary (MR08) and a comprehensive benefits package to support the individual both professionally and personally. Some remote work may be permitted depending on event schedules, providing flexibility.

Applicants should have at minimum a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in facility management or event operations, alongside excellent interpersonal skills and the capacity to work independently. Preferred candidates will have a master’s degree and extensive experience with multi-functional facilities and student union operations. Beyond operational tasks, this role is an opportunity for those passionate about student development, community building, and promoting the Volunteer spirit through transformative student experiences and exceptional service delivery within a vibrant campus setting.