Events Manager - Academic Conferences

The Academic Conference Events Manager oversees the end-to-end execution of Wellesley College’s two flagship student showcases: the Tanner Conference and the Ruhlman Conference in support of student reflection and articulation of academic inquiry and experiential learning. This role works collaboratively across departments and disciplines and with a variety of administrative units and committees across the College. The role additionally supports events within the Madeleine Albright Institute of Global Affairs (MKAI), a center within the Wagner Centers for Wellesley in the World, and works closely to provide financial and budgetary support for the Committee on Lectures and Cultural Events.

Manages two-large scale academic and experiential learning conferences, Wellesley’s premier student showcase events. The Tanner Conference is held in the fall and celebrates the relationship between the liberal arts classroom and student engagement in the world beyond the Wellesley College campus. The Ruhlman Conference held in the spring, fostering collaboration among students and faculty across the disciplines and enhancing the intellectual life of the College.

• Manages the execution of each conference, including venue coordination, technology needs, and full-day catering for breakfast, breaks, lunch, and receptions.
• Manages the student application process, committee reviews, and selection meetings, working closely with the faculty Career Education Committee that advises Tanner and Ruhlman.
• Creates comprehensive event programs and poster session documents; coordinates with Public Affairs on branding, logos, and social media promotion.
• Actively audits event budgets to identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising quality.
• Collaborates with LTS to integrate, manage, and improve application processes into Workday.
• Coordinates and oversees staff and student workers, ensuring both groups have the information and run‑of‑show details needed to successfully support the programs.
• Works closely with members of the Provost’s Office, Events and Facilities teams, Communications and Public Affairs, Finance Office, Career Education and Experiential Learning team, Wagner Centers for Wellesley in the World, and the Development Office.

• Provides event management support for the Kenner Lecture, a recurring speaker event in the fall.
• Provides event management support to other Albright Institute campus‑wide events including the Korbel Lecture, Faculty Affiliate Research Showcase and ad‑hoc events.
• Supports event logistics for two high‑profile meal events during the multi‑week immersive Albright Fellows Winter‑session program held in January – the Distinguished Visiting Professor dinner and the Closing Ceremony Luncheon. Also supports a Keynote Lecture event held during Winter‑session.

• Coordinates with members of the CLCE, a faculty committee of the College’s Academic Council.
• Reviews program applications, updates the website, ensures financial coordination, and provides promotional support coordination for several lectures across campus such as the Wilson Lecture with the President's Office.

• This position requires a Bachelor's degree with three to five years of relevant experience, including experience managing larger‑scale events (400 plus attendees), attention to detail, excellent organizational abilities, project management skills, and experience with event staffing and budgets.
• Experience with outside vendors, such as catering a must.
• Candidates must be problem solvers and work collaboratively and quickly across multiple departments and stakeholders.
• Technical proficiency in managing registration platforms and event websites is a must.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer’s sponsorship now or in the future.

The successful candidate must possess project management and administrative skills, meticulous attention to detail, as well as the ability to be flexible, collaborative, diplomatic, and able to work with…