Manager of Event & Conference Operations and New Student Experience

Department: 291100 - Campus Life

Position Summary

The Manager of Event & Conference Operations and New Student Experience oversees the day-to-day coordination and implementation of campus-wide event operations, conference services, summer programs, and new student transition initiatives. Serving as a central operational resource for campus events and conferences, the Manager implements and maintains systems, service standards, timelines, and collaborative processes that support coordinated, welcoming, and effective experiences for students, families, guests, and campus partners.

The position also oversees the planning, coordination, and continuous improvement of New Student Orientation, Welcome Weekend, First Five Weeks programming, family engagement initiatives, and other transition experiences designed to foster student belonging, connection, and success. The Manager advances La Salle University's commitment to student success, belonging, community engagement, and Lasallian values through innovative programming, effective collaboration, and operational excellence. Working closely with the Director of Student Engagement and Belonging and partners across the University, the Manager translates strategic priorities into project plans, operational practices, and high-quality program delivery, utilizing strong project management, hospitality, cross-functional collaboration, and assessment.

Essential Duties

Event & Conference Operations
Manage day-to-day coordination and implementation of campus-wide event and conference operations, maintaining systems, service standards, timelines, and processes that support consistent, efficient, and effective event delivery.
Serve as a central point of coordination and operational support for University departments planning events, providing consultation and guidance on event design, logistics, space utilization, hospitality, guest experience, staffing, resource needs, and operational planning.
Coordinate cross-functional event needs with Facilities, Public Safety, Dining Services, Information Technology, Marketing and Communications, external vendors, and other campus partners.
Develop, implement, and maintain event policies, procedures, request processes, planning tools, and communication standards in collaboration with the Director of Student Engagement and Belonging and campus partners.
Manage conference services and summer program operations, coordinating logistics, campus resources, service needs, and communication with internal and external partners, including external organizations using the University facilities.
Identify and recommend opportunities to improve event operations, resource utilization, institutional coordination, and service delivery.
Support coordinated campus event scheduling by identifying potential conflicts, competing resource needs, and opportunities for collaboration across University programs and events.

New Student Experience & Transition Programs
Manage the planning, coordination, implementation, and assessment of New Student Orientation, Welcome Weekend, First Five Weeks programming, and other new student transition initiatives for first-year, transfer, commuter, and residential students.
Coordinate transition experiences that promote continuity across all NSE programs and ongoing student engagement, reinforcing key messages, relationships, resources, and developmental outcomes that support student belonging, connection, confidence, independence, and successful navigation of the University.
Partner with Enrollment, Academic Affairs, Student Success and Support, Student Health and Counseling, Residence Life and Housing, and other campus partners to ensure continuity across the prospective student, enrollment, orientation, and continuing student experience, including appropriate referrals and connections to campus resources.
Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, timelines, staffing schedules, communication strategies, training resources, and operational procedures for major new student transition programs.
Coordinate family engagement initiatives connected to new student transition, major campus programs, and the student experience.
Identify and recommend opportunities to strengthen family education and engagement while supporting students' independence, self-advocacy, and development.
Coordinate the recruitment, training, supervision, and development of student leaders involved in orientation and transition programming, creating meaningful leadership opportunities and clear expectations for performance, service, and peer support.
Use participation data, student feedback, and assessment results to evaluate program effectiveness, identify barriers to engagement, and inform continuous improvement of new student transition initiatives.
Supervision, Operations, and Resource Management
Monitor expenditures and provide regular budget updates, projections, and recommendations to the Director of Student Engagement and Belonging to support responsible resource stewardship and planning.
Coordinate purchasing, vendor relationships, contracts, and service arrangements in accordance with University policies and approval processes.
Develop and coordinate staffing plans for major events, conferences, and other transition programs, ensuring appropriate coverage and effective use of professional staff, graduate assistants, student employees, volunteers, and campus partners.
Provide day-to-day supervision, training, development, and performance feedback to graduate assistants and student employees, establishing clear expectations, and creating meaningful opportunities for professional and leadership development.
Maintain appropriate documentation, procedures, records, and operational plans to support continuity, safety, risk management, and effective program delivery.
Anticipate operational, staffing, space, technology, and resource needs for upcoming events and transition programs and communicate needs, risks, and recommendations to the Director in a timely manner.
Assessment, Planning, and Continuous Improvement
Implement assessment strategies for event, conference, orientation, transition, and family engagement initiatives, collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative measures of participation, satisfaction, learning, belonging, operational outcomes, and program effectiveness.
Use assessment findings to identify trends, strengths, recurring challenges, service gaps, and resource constraints; recommend improvements to program delivery, operations, coordination, and the campus partner experience.
Collaborate with the Director of Student Engagement and Belonging to align portfolio assessment with divisional priorities and student success and retention goals, demonstrate impact, and contribute to divisional assessment and reporting.
Secondary Responsibilities
Partners with colleagues across the Student Engagement and Belonging team and the Division of Campus Life to support student activities, events, signature programs, and other divisional initiatives, including providing additional staffing and operational support as needed.
Serves on University and divisional committees, task forces, and working groups as assigned.
Represents the division at events and University-wide initiatives and supports partnerships with internal and external stakeholders as needed.
Supports policy implementation, operational planning, strategic initiatives, and special projects related to event and conference operations, new student experience and transitions, family engagement, and student success.
May participate in the divisional on-call rotation as assigned.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
# of Direct Reports: 0

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Business Administration, Hospitality, Event Management, Education, Leadership, Communications, or a related field.
Three or more years of experience in higher education, event operations, conference services, orientation or transition programs, hospitality, student engagement, or a related area, including experience coordinating the operations of complex events, programs, projects, or operational initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
Demonstrated experience in project and operational planning, budget monitoring, resource coordination, process improvement, and assessment.
Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships, manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, solve problems, and work independently in fast-moving environments.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
Demonstrated commitment to student development, belonging, hospitality, inclusion, and the mission of La Salle University.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in the supervision and development of student employees, graduate assistants, volunteers, temporary staff, and/or project teams.
Experience working within a mission-driven, Catholic, or Lasallian institution.
Experience utilizing assessment and student feedback data to support continuous improvement and student success initiatives.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours
This is an in-person, campus-based position requiring a regular on-campus presence to support student engagement, event and conference operations, and new student transition programs.
Evening, weekend, and summer work will be required during peak times and for major campus programs and signature campus events.
Some local travel may be required for University programs, professional development, community engagement, or off-campus student-related needs.
Must be able to move across campus, including residence halls, the Union, event spaces, outdoor program areas, and other campus facilities.
Responsibilities may include attending events in crowded or active spaces and responding to student or operational needs during programs and events.
Responsibilities may include moving program materials, supplies, or event-related items.
Special Instructions to Applicant

La Salle University is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek candidates who will contribute to a positive, inclusive, and supportive community, and who are committed to working collaboratively with students, fostering critical thinking, supporting their success, and helping them realize their full potential.

La Salle University offers its eligible employees comprehensive medical and dental plans, employer paid life and disability insurance, retirement benefits, generous paid time off (vacation, sick leave, and holidays), and tuition benefits such as no cost undergraduate and graduate degree programs for its employees (with no wait period) and no cost undergraduate degree programs for its employees' dependents (after completing the required years of service).

Application Open Date: 10/27/2026

Application Close Date: 11/28/2026