Events and Facility Coordinator - Student Union - UTK

The University of Tennessee Student Union is a vibrant hub of student activity located in the heart of the Knoxville campus. It serves as a central gathering place where students can eat, study, work, and relax while fostering a strong sense of community and engagement. The Student Union not only provides diverse services but also houses vital university 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, the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration, the VolShop, and VolTech. The Division of Student Life, which oversees the Student Union, is dedicated to creating student-centered opportunities that enhance the overall Volunteer Experience by encouraging personal growth, leadership, engagement, and service.

This position is a lead professional role primarily responsible for the daily operations, event management, and facility oversight of the Student Union. The successful candidate will ensure that the Student Union remains a safe and welcoming environment for all its users. They will oversee specific functional areas within the Union, such as the Set-up Team, Big Orange Tickets, and Information Desk, among others, managing the recruitment, training, scheduling, and continuous development of student employees to build a high-performing operational team. The role involves advancing campus community through designing and assessing co-curricular learning experiences that foster student engagement, leadership development, and transferable professional skills via Student Union programs, events, and services.

Key functions of this role include facility operations and event management, personnel management and student staff development, student learning and co-curricular engagement, as well as outreach and partnership building. The individual will provide facility oversight and be the lead professional staff person during events, coordinate with other Union staff for service consistency, consult with event users on logistics and policies, and support technical setups. They will supervise operational areas within the Union, manage event crowd control, monitor safety and security, and resolve operational issues quickly.

In the area of personnel management, the leader will supervise specific operational teams, coordinate recruitment, hiring, training, scheduling, and evaluation of over 100 student employees, and develop comprehensive training programs focused on operational procedures, customer service, leadership, and risk management. They will offer ongoing coaching, mentoring, and feedback while managing budgets, payroll, and collaborating with custodial and facility staff.

Regarding student learning and development, the role designs, implements, and assesses co-curricular learning experiences linked to Student Union services and events. The individual will work with campus partners and student organizations to create educational opportunities that promote engagement, leadership, and personal growth. The position includes serving as an educator who facilitates reflective and experiential learning opportunities for students involved in Union operations and programs, ensuring that initiatives support student development goals and community building.

Additional responsibilities include outreach efforts, maintaining positive relationships with campus and community partners, collaborating with marketing and communications teams to promote Student Union opportunities, managing equipment inventories, and serving on university committees. The position may allow for some remote work depending on event schedules. The role offers a compensation aligned with the UT market range MR08.

This position offers the unique opportunity to contribute to a dynamic campus environment, influencing student experiences and growth through operational excellence, innovative programming, and collaborative partnerships. It is ideal for professionals passionate about student development, event and facility management, and creating inclusive, engaging campus communities.