Alumni Events Specialist

4 Kalamazoo, MI Kalamazoo, MI Full-time Full-time Estimated: $45. 1K a year Estimated: $45. Kalamazoo College is a community of students, faculty, staff and alumni who are committed to making an exceptional place to learn, live, and work. Nature of Duties Oversee the execution of a successful Commencement weekend which includes the coordination of communications regarding Baccalaureate and Commencement with seniors and their parents, the coordination of commencement responsibilities relative to the entire campus community, and use of the website and email communications to publicize event and inform attendees Plan and execute all aspects of the first-year student Convocation ceremony, which occurs at the beginning of the academic year in the fall Support affinity reunions: Manage affinity reunions that occur during homecoming weekend and would include collaborating with alumni engagement colleagues to ensure that these events are appropriately integrated into the general homecoming and reunion schedules and activities Manage affinity reunions occurring throughout the year, which are separate from homecoming events Serve as the reunion liaison for the 5th through the 45th reunion groups: Work in partnership with alumni engagement colleagues to ensure that the reunions for these groups flow seamlessly into the general homecoming plans Guide the room layout for all on-campus reunions Coordinate the rentals and decorations for the reunions Provide support with the planning and implementation of the annual alumni awards ceremony, which occurs during homecoming weekend Develop relationships with faculty and other administrators to work collaboratively on events and programs; assist the President's Office, Student Development, Career Development, Athletics and other College departments in event planning for alumni/student activities: Organize and host various virtual events occurring on Zoom or in Microsoft Teams and in-person events Coordinate with coaches to hold alumni events for their respective sports, assist in registration, communications, and being a host at the event Establish a rapport with faculty and academic department coordinators to support and promote the academic-related lecture series, which occur across campus throughout the academic year. Bachelor's degree is preferred Experience in strategic event planning and management is required; 3 to 5 years of in-depth experience or completion of a Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) certification is preferred Experience in the hospitality industry is desired Energetic self-starter with superior organization and planning skills Ability to think logically and comprehensively in order to make budgetary and programmatic decisions as they relate to events planning Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously with accuracy, attention to detail and professionalism Must be very accurate and detail oriented Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel Must be outgoing, tactful, and able to work with diverse constituencies Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills High motivation for success coupled with diplomacy, tact, and consistent follow through Willingness and ability to work both independently and as part of a team Willingness and ability to travel on occasion to alumni events in other cities, if necessary, and participate in evening and weekend alumni activities in addition to the regular work day Physical requirements include the ability to move between and within campus buildings; and to work in an office environment with extensive use of computers and telephones; to read, write and handle paper documents; to lift up to thirty pounds Benefits Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Retirement plan Vision insurance About College Advancement and Kalamazoo College The division of College Advancement is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff and cultivating a culture of inclusion and connectedness.