Events & Engagement Manager

Do you enjoy designing events and experiences that meaningfully - and purposefully - engage people? Do you thrive managing project details - and take satisfaction in how they add up to advance bigger goals? Would you like to do this work in service of a more equitable, sustainable future?

The Institute on the Environment (IonE) is seeking a Senior Events & Engagement Manager to lead a portfolio of conferences, events, and communications designed to engage the networks of people necessary to collectively advance sustainability. This is a newly created, supervisory position reflecting growth in the institute's portfolio of larger convenings, public-facing events, and other network-building activities. In this role, you will...

• Manage major recurring convenings and conferences, including the Midwest Carbon Leadership Project, Speaking Science, and the IonE Annual Meeting;
• Design strategies that support ongoing engagement with convening participants and other key audiences, in particular our network of formally affiliated faculty and UMN staff;
• Produce an annual line-up of public-facing IonE events that amplify new ideas, showcase people and projects, and build momentum around key environmental goals;
• Supervise an events & engagement coordinator, who will support event logistics and communications

Reporting to our director of public interest communications, this role requires strong project management skills, so experience overseeing complex programs or projects, including large events, will benefit you. Strong verbal and visual communication skills; an audience-centered orientation; and a commitment to accessibility are also a must. Experience integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice into event planning, content and communications, and engagement strategy will also benefit you, as environmental work requires these lenses, and every team at IonE has a role to play in our DEIJ action plan.

The starting range for this position is $75-87.5K, with UMN P&A employee group benefits. You'll be based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and our team works remotely two or three days a week. (Due to the nature of the role, which includes in-person gatherings, candidates must reside locally - or be willing to relocate.)

We particularly encourage applications from individuals who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented in environmental work and in academia, including those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, those with disabilities, veterans, and those from LGBTQIA+ communities.

Interested? Click here for a recording of the informational webinar from Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Read on for more information about the position and how to apply (cover letter, resume, one work sample). The application deadline is Sunday, December 1. (And we can't wait to read your materials!)

This category of work is about managing the events and convenings portfolio - delivering creative and engaging experiences that advance both organizational and sustainability objectives. Some of our larger convenings are well established, such as the IonE Annual Meeting, while others are still taking shape.

• Lead the planning and execution of major convenings/conferences, all of which are part of ongoing initiatives to strengthen networks, build skills, and/or seed collaboration:
  • Midwest Carbon Leadership Project - a biennial gathering of some 125 private sector, finance, and academic participants to explore long-range unknowns in decarbonization
  • Food Systems Forum - a newly funded project, similar to the MWCLP (biennial), focused on building a network of collaborators to advance sustainable food systems
  • Speaking Science - an annual conference for UMN faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students to strengthen science communication skills
  • IonE Annual Meeting - a convening of the "IonE community," our statewide network of UMN faculty and staff, project partners, and programming participants
• Plan and produce an annual line-up of public-facing events (virtual, hybrid, in-person) that leverage the work of IonE; our current virtual series is People & Planet
• Oversee all event logistics, including venue selection, catering, setup/teardown, and audiovisual needs, ensuring sustainable, accessible, and engaging experiences
• Oversee attendee/participant communications, including registration, event reminders, on-site materials, and post-event follow-up and evaluation
• Manage relationships with speakers, including coordinating invitations, overseeing speaker prep/briefings, and ensuring a seamless experience from initial outreach onward
• Manage event budgets and oversee vendor selection, ensuring cost-effectiveness and quality
• Develop and oversee the execution of marketing strategies for events and conferences, working in close collaboration with the communications team
• Track and evaluate event/convening metrics, using data and feedback to improve future experiences

This category of work is about what happens in between events and major convenings - the communications and other interactions, including interim gatherings, that support longer-range audience journeys. In this category, we're focused specifically on our major convening participants and our IonE affiliates network.

• Design and implement engagement strategies that both sustain and build momentum with major convening participants, IonE affiliates, and other key audiences
• Develop various types of content and communications, such as newsletters, email/website updates, etc., to help keep key audiences informed and engaged in between larger events/convenings
• Organize interim gatherings (such as mixers, coffee chats) or smaller, spin-off events (such as a panel discussion that builds on a topic raised at a major conference)
• Use data and feedback to assess the success of these efforts and inform iterative strategies
• Coordinate with colleagues who are also interacting with key audiences (for example: through professional development programming), identifying opportunities to streamline efforts and helping to create an integrated experience from the audience/participant perspective

This category of work reflects the time and care it takes to be an effective supervisor, as well as to facilitate teams of event collaborators, from external partners to staff from other groups within IonE.

• Supervise an events & engagement coordinator (new position), providing guidance and direction as they support all event logistics and communications, as well as ongoing engagement activities
• Facilitate event advisory groups and teams of event contributors, supporting role clarity and collaboration among staff, collaborators from other UMN units, external committee members, etc.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment that encourages professional growth and development
• Supervise undergraduate student staff, part-time employees, and/or contractors, as needed
  

• Stay current on trends and best practices in virtual, hybrid, and in-person event design
• Stay informed on the latest trends in event marketing, incorporating best practices into IonE's promotional strategies to enhance event visibility and impact
• Engage in professional development and contribute to IonE's culture of learning and innovation
• Apply insights from IonE's strategic plan, DEIJ action plan, and theory of change to your work, ensuring alignment with the broader goals of the institute

• BA/BS degree plus at least six years of professional experience (UMN classification requirement)
• Proven ability to plan and execute medium- to large-scale events, including hybrid or virtual formats
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to keep multiple projects on track and to adapt, as needed, when conditions change
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to support your work facilitating event teams, preparing event speakers, and collaborating with colleagues
• Experience integrating diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) principles into event planning, content and communications, and engagement strategy
• An eye for strong visual design, as it relates to effective marketing materials and other event content and collateral
• Proficiency in event management platforms and tools, including budgeting, financial tracking, and registration system, and experience managing vendors, including contract negotiation
• Familiarity with event marketing strategies and experience working collaboratively with communications teams to promote events

• A mission-driven orientation - and a growth mindset
• Supervisory experience or experience that translates to becoming a supervisor
• Knowledge of participant/audience engagement strategies and experience using data-driven evaluation methods to inform event improvements
• Ability to craft compelling narratives for event marketing and participant engagement, drawing connections between event content and organizational objectives
• Experience facilitating complex meetings or workshops, especially those involving diverse stakeholders, to achieve consensus and actionable outcomes
• Experience incorporating sustainability practices into event planning and execution

The University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment (IonE) is a nationally recognized interdisciplinary institution that works to advance sustainability through collaborative research, leadership and education programming, and public-interest storytelling and communications.

Pay Range: $75-87.5K; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

The application period closes on Sunday, December 1, at 11:59 p.m. CT.

To apply, submit a brief cover letter, a resume, and one work sample - with a few sentences explaining your role in creating it and why you selected it. The work sample can be anything that you feel best showcases your event or engagement work, from a public-facing piece to an internal organizing document.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Submit all materials as PDFs; if your work sample is online, submit a PDF with the link. The application portal will prompt you to upload a cover letter and a resume; to add additional attachments to your applicant account, click the "Add Attachment" button. This will take you to the My Cover Letters and Attachment page, where you can upload various types of documents. Please indicate your pronouns in your materials.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).