Strategic Engagement and Events Manager, Graduate School of Education

The Graduate School of Education (GSE) at the University at Buffalo is seeking an experienced and visionary professional to serve as the Strategic Engagement and Events Manager, a centralized leadership position responsible for advancing audience engagement, strengthening student experience and providing strategic oversight for the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of events and engagement initiatives that support GSE's academic mission, strategic priorities and institutional visibility. This is a full-time, professional position that operates primarily in an on-campus environment to support the planning, coordination and execution of events, engagement initiatives and stakeholder activities across the Graduate School of Education. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor's degree in event management, higher education administration, communications, public relations, marketing, project management, business administration or a related field.Minimum of five (3) years of professional experience in event planning, engagement initiatives, student affairs, project management or related functions within a higher education environment.Demonstrated experience planning and managing complex events or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.Experience managing event logistics, vendor coordination, contracts and operational planning.Experience developing and managing budgets and monitoring expenditures.Strong project management, organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, administrators and external partners.Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.Experience using event registration systems, survey tools, CRM platforms or related technology systems.Ability to analyze data, assess outcomes and develop recommendations for continuous improvement.Ability to work evenings and weekends as required by event schedules and institutional needs. Preferred Qualifications Five (5) or more years of experience leading commencement ceremonies or events of similar scale, complexity and visibility.Experience supporting large-scale academic events including conferences, symposia, lectures, ceremonies or recognition programs.Experience with University at Buffalo systems, procurement processes, event procedures and administrative workflows, including familiarity with university approvals, purchasing practices, contracts, reimbursements, event registrations and coordination with campus support units.Experience with event management software, CRM systems, CMS platforms, Qualtrics, reporting tools and marketing technologies.Experience managing event communications, audience development and participation strategies in collaboration with marketing teams. Is a background check required for this posting?