Events and Protocol Coordinator - Mobile, AL

Our organization is dedicated to supporting military-affiliated job seekers by partnering with companies to source qualified talent for a diverse range of roles. We specifically offer opportunities to Veterans, Transitioning Military personnel, National Guard and Reserve members, Military Spouses, Wounded Warriors, and their Caregivers. We understand the unique skills, discipline, and experiences that military-affiliated candidates bring to the civilian workforce, and we are committed to helping them find rewarding career paths that utilize their talents effectively. This commitment is aligned with providing on-site roles that encourage professional growth and stability.

The available position reports directly to the Senior Manager of Events and Community Relations at Austal USA, a distinguished shipbuilding company known for delivering advanced defense vessels for the United States Navy and allied forces. Austal USA has a robust presence in the shipbuilding industry, focusing on innovation, quality, and community engagement. The environment at Austal fosters teamwork, precision, and a commitment to excellence, making it an ideal workplace for detail-oriented and motivated professionals. This position is an on-site role, which involves close collaboration with various internal teams and external stakeholders in event planning and community relations.

The role primarily involves planning, organizing, coordinating, promoting, and assisting in executing official Austal USA events ranging from christening ceremonies, dinners, keel laying ceremonies, open houses, internal meetings, facility tours, and other special events. This role requires the ability to manage large-scale events with over 1,000 attendees, including managing invitations, tracking RSVPs, and liaising with high-profile groups such as the US Navy, Congressional leaders, and business executives. Maintaining excellent vendor relationships and managing the annual events calendar and budget are also critical responsibilities.

Additionally, the candidate will provide comprehensive meeting and event management support, including site selection, vendor negotiations, event design, budget estimating and tracking, guest speaker coordination, travel arrangements, on-site logistics, and audiovisual support. The role also demands proficiency in various business development tools such as MS Office 365, Canva, Swoogo, and Smartsheets to effectively create information packages, maintain databases, and gather event feedback to improve services continuously. Supporting emergent business development activities and providing administrative assistance further enhance the dynamic nature of this role.

Community relations play an important role in this position. The candidate will manage and track community relations requests, assist Growth Team efforts with invoice submission and budget tracking, build presentation decks for meetings and visits, and handle all visitor requests related to tours and events. Strong organizational skills are vital to managing event planning tasks and RSVP lists to ensure smooth execution.

Another significant aspect of the role is serving as an expert in protocol matters, particularly when engaging with Congressional leaders, US Navy members, and local government officials. The candidate will provide protocol guidance to Austal executives, employees, and committees and act as the liaison with the US Navy on all protocol-related issues. This involves scheduling, planning, and coordinating activities for distinguished visitors, including domestic and international VIPs. The role necessitates research into customs, cultures, and courtesies of visitors, coordination with relevant government agencies, arranging logistics and meetings, and identifying appropriate Department of Defense regulation compliant gifts.

In addition to these functions, the candidate will support all official tours of Austal USA and manage communications through conferences, executive and program meetings, protocol duties, and distinguished visitor events. This comprehensive role demands professionalism, meticulous attention to detail, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly visible corporate environment. The position offers an excellent opportunity for candidates with military backgrounds to leverage their protocol knowledge, leadership skills, and event management expertise in a civilian corporate setting.