Strategic Events Manager

Strategic Events Manager

Position Title & Department: Strategic Events Manager; School of Business

Posting # 5594

Department Description: The Knauss School of Business at USD embraces a stewardship approach to business education. Stewardship requires businesses to protect and care for society in pursuit of a greater good. The Knauss School community of faculty, staff, students and graduates, embrace stewardship by applying values-driven, free-enterprise skills to improve businesses, industries, and the lives of people in our community and around the world. We provide academically rigorous, relevant and values-based education and research. Degree programs in the Knauss School of Business are AACSB accredited, with the undergraduate and MBA programs being highly ranked both domestically and internationally.

University Description: The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background.

Detailed Description: Under direction from the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, the Strategic Events Manager oversees the Knauss School of Business schoolwide events portfolio, including events hosted by the Dean, administrative departments and Centers of Distinction. The Manager ensures strategic alignment of all events occurring within the Knauss School with the School's strategic plan and priorities. The position plans, coordinates, and executes end to end delivery of flagship public programs, academic events, student and faculty events, donor and VIP engagements, and internal engagements. The role develops event concepts and engagement plans, prepares budgets, manages vendors and contracts, and directs on-site production to ensure high-quality experiences. The Manager provides oversight to Centers/Institutes within the Knauss School that have events-related positions and provides oversight and support to those roles to ensure alignment with School event strategies and best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Events Planning and Management

• Reviews all proposed events within the Knauss School, including those within Centers of Distinction, to ensure alignment with School strategic priorities and goals
• Aligns event objectives with School strategy to elevate reputation and advance engagement goals.
• Ensures events across the School are scheduled in a manner that avoids overlap and increases opportunity for positive brand exposure amongst campus and community audiences
• Leads the design, calendar, and end-to-end production of major Knauss School events
• Coordinates with the Dean, Dean Team, Center Directors, Critical Operating Directors, and Advancement to use events for cultivation, stewardship, and alumni/community engagement.
• Implements pre- and post-event touchpoints (briefing notes, seating charts, talking points, follow-up communications).
• Tracks interactions and outcomes in the University's CRM to inform next-step strategies.
• Establishes success metrics (attendance, satisfaction, pipeline/activity generation, etc.) and conducts post-event assessments for continuous improvement.
• Ensures compliance with University policies, accessibility standards, and risk management protocols.
• Works with the Knauss School Finance and Administration Team to ensure proper contract execution and vendor payments are processed in adherence with University policies and guidelines

Communications and Branding Integration

• Partners with the Knauss School Marketing and Communications team to deliver cohesive, on-brand event campaigns across the web, email, social media, and print.
• Synchronize event objectives with marketing channel leads, to drive pre-event registration, as applicable, and architect post-event visibility strategies that convert event momentum into sustained brand equity; via work direction of the supervised Event Marketing Coordinator, and/or liaising with the Content Marketing staff in the broader MarComm team, as applicable.
• Oversees creative briefs, invitations, run-of-show content, web pages/registrations, and media coordination.
• Maintains editorial and visual standards; monitors campaign performance and optimizes reach and conversion.

Operational Oversight

• Manages event budgets, contracts, and vendor performance for Knauss School events, including the securing and oversight of any vendors during the events themselves; negotiates terms to ensure quality, value, and fiscal stewardship.
• Directs logistics (venue, AV, catering, security, accessibility, travel/hosting, etc.) and on-site production.
• Develops standard operating procedures, timelines, and checklists
• Leads after-event reviews to drive efficiencies
• Provides best practice and training to units engaging in events including but not limited to Centers of Distinction
• Provides supervision, training and support to the Strategic Events Coordinator

Cross-Campus and Community Coordination

• Serves as liaison to University departments and external partners to align calendars, resources, and priorities.
• Supports select School-wide or University events and special projects, as assigned.

Other duties as assigned

Special Conditions of Employment: Must be available to occasionally work nights and/or weekends.

Background check: Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with preference given to Business, Marketing and/or related field of study
• 3 years of work experience in event marketing, product marketing, email marketing, campaign planning, digital marketing, messaging, positioning, copywriting, project management, and/or related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college of university in Business, Marketing or a related field
• 3+ years of progressively responsible event marketing experience including product marketing, email marketing, digital marketing, messaging, copywriting and/or project management
• Experience working in higher education

Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Computers and software (including MS Word, Excel, Internet, Web, etc.)
• Anticipating, identifying and resolving technical software issues
• Excellent skill in using business software systems in the completion of work assignments; i.e. Word and Excel, PowerPoint, and customer relations management (CRM) software
• Ability to integrate communications, marketing, and donor engagement goals into cohesive event plans.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including comfort engaging with senior leaders, donors, and public figures.
• Event promotion and marketing
• Interacting with the professional business community
• Demonstrated knowledge of event strategy, design, and execution for academic or nonprofit institutions.
• Developing and managing event budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships effectively.
• Exercising self-initiative and creativity
• Be able to function with a high degree of autonomy
• Demonstrated capacity for developing and understanding strategy
• Operation of personal computer equipment and web management
• Time management and organization of multi-tasking work requirements
• Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to use mature judgment
• Ability to form productive working relationships with faculty, staff and administration
• Working with diverse personalities
• Being flexible and versatile in coping with evolving work situations
• Ability to focus on technical details in an environment with many distractions
• Ability to handle the stress of last-minute deadlines and changes
• Ability to assume responsibility and effectively resolve problems by exercising independent judgement

Posting Salary: $5,875 - $6,291.67 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions: Resume and Cover Letter Required

The Cover Letter should represent the candidate's original work, and not be generated by AI tools.

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers' review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Additional Details:

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. In addition, the Knauss School of Business offers two different compressed work schedule options following a 9/75 structure in which employees have 1 to 1.5 days off over every two-week period as well as a hybrid option for those positions that can complete some work remotely.

Closing date: July 5, 2026

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus.