Hubbard School Event Manager

About the Job

The Event Manager serves as the primary operational lead for event planning, logistics, purchasing, and execution within the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Housed in Murphy Hall, the Hubbard School is a dynamic, fast-paced environment that delivers a wide array of public, academic, and student engagement events designed to engage alumni, donors, industry professionals, and the campus community.

This role is tailored for an execution-minded professional who thrives on managing details, establishing reliable workflows, and driving daily tasks to completion. The Event Manager directly executes key school-wide initiatives which include major donor dinners, student recognition and graduation events, school celebrations, annual-biennial public-facing programs, and faculty-led conferences and core operational events. .Daily responsibilities include catering setup and take down, reviewing vendor contracts, purchasing branded swag, maintaining the central calendar of events, and ensuring event spaces in Murphy Hall remain functional and fully stocked.

While this position serves as the primary operational lead for logistics, event execution across the Hubbard School is a collaborative effort. The Event Manager acts as a convener, thought partner, and trainer who guides colleagues through University of Minnesota event protocols, offering strategic consultation, and providing hands-on logistical support for specialized initiatives across the School and its three research centers. Navigating the complexities of a large institution while managing a full portfolio of events requires a candidate with exceptional foresight, proactive planning skills, strong relationship-building capabilities, and a calm, consistently helpful presence.

The hourly wage range is $32.21 - $37.02 per hour ($67,000-$77,000) depending on qualifications.

This position is a 100% time, Civil Service, Continuous appointment. The work is based on the East Bank of the Twin Cities campus, with standard hours of Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM (event support may occasionally require earlier or later hours, with options to flex time). This is a hybrid-eligible role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week on campus, with a primary focus on in-person presence during the academic year.

Please include a resume and cover letter for consideration.

Final date to receive applications:
Review of applications will begin September 14, 2026. This position will remain open until filled.

• Event Planning, Directing, and Execution (50%)
  • End-to-End Execution: Lead direct logistics, run-of-show design, catering, and on-site setup/tear-down for School events, including major donor dinners, student recognition/graduation events, school celebrations, faculty-led conferences, orientations, and research talks.
  • Vendor & Contract Management: Serve as the primary contact for external vendors (caterers, photographers, sales reps, and venue managers). Negotiate vendor agreements, issue purchase orders, and manage project-level spending.
  • Financial & Compliance Oversight: Manage and reconcile event budgets in partnership with the finance team. Ensure strict compliance with UMN policies regarding food/beverage permits, contracts, and safety protocols.
  • Partner & External Convenings: Act as the primary operational liaison for co-sponsored events and visiting organizations, including regional/national media and scholastic groups in journalism, strategic communication, and public relations (e.g., Associated Collegiate Press, The Brand Lab).
  • Technical Integration: Partner with School and University technology teams to coordinate AV setups, recordings, and hybrid/virtual event modalities.
• Event Administration and Project Management (25%)
  • Master Calendar Management: Maintain the central, authoritative School Calendar of Events to manage workload, track status, and prevent scheduling conflicts.
  • Internal Communication: Convene regular planning meetings with key stakeholders such as Director's Office, Student Services, Development, and Communications teams to advise on upcoming event volume, align timelines, and clarify operational roles.
  • Institut…