Special Events Coordinator Senior

The University of Kentucky, a prominent public research university located in Lexington, KY, is dedicated to providing exceptional educational, research, and community service opportunities. With a commitment to fostering innovation and excellence, the university serves a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff across multiple disciplines. The university is also renowned for its vibrant campus life, dynamic community engagement, and strong emphasis on inclusivity and equal opportunity for all individuals. This esteemed institution offers a supportive and collaborative work environment that encourages professional growth, development, and meaningful contributions to the campus community.

The University of Kentucky is actively seeking a skilled Special Event Manager to join its Aux Services - University Events department on a full-time basis. This position is classified as staff, with a competitive salary range of $43,805 to $70,075 per year and a grade level of 44. The Special Event Manager role is a key operational leadership position responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of two of the university's marquee events: the Commencement ceremonies and the College Business Management Institute (CBMI) Conference. This role demands a proactive, detail-oriented professional with strong project management abilities and excellent communication skills who can manage multiple large-scale events effectively.

In this challenging and rewarding position, the Special Event Manager will handle comprehensive event management responsibilities, including developing detailed event plans, managing logistics, coordinating with internal university departments and external vendors, and ensuring seamless event delivery. The manager will also oversee registration processes, attendee communication, and on-site event operations, ensuring high-quality experiences for event participants, including students, faculty, staff, and conference attendees. Collaboration is central to this role, requiring close partnership with event committees, university leadership, sponsors, and various campus stakeholders.

Beyond event execution, the Special Event Manager will contribute to broader university-wide event scheduling and reservation management efforts, lead special projects, and implement continuous process improvements to increase operational efficiency. Candidates should bring at least four years of related experience, ideally in event management, conference planning, or a similar field within higher education or a comparable setting. A bachelor's degree is required, preferably in event management, hospitality, communications, or an equivalent discipline. This position also demands physical capabilities such as lifting up to 50 pounds and mobility across campus, with standard work shifts from Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, though additional hours may be necessary to meet departmental needs.

This role offers an outstanding opportunity to have a meaningful impact by leading some of the university’s most visible and celebrated events. The work environment is dynamic, engaging, and provides professional growth opportunities in event management and strategic operations. The university fosters a tobacco- and drug-free campus and is committed to nondiscrimination, providing equal opportunities to all employees and applicants. Joining the University of Kentucky in this capacity means contributing to a rich tradition of excellence and inclusivity while advancing career development in a supportive academic atmosphere.