Commencement Planner (Temp Role, 3 Months)

Western Governors University • Salt Lake, UT

6d • Onsite

About The Position

WGU is seeking a temporary Commencement Planner to support the Alumni Relations team during a busy commencement season. This role is responsible for leading the planning and execution of commencement ceremonies across the country, ensuring a memorable and seamless celebration for graduates. The planner will manage logistics, vendors, communications, volunteer coordination, and onsite event execution, collaborating with internal and external partners. This is a temporary position, expected to last for 3 months.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years of event planning experience required.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage event budgets, vendor contracts, and complex logistics.
• Experience coordinating large groups of volunteers, participants, or stakeholders.
• Proficiency with project tracking tools, spreadsheets, and event management systems.

Nice To Haves

• Large-scale event planning experience strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting live productions, ceremonies, conferences, or higher education events.
• Experience coordinating onsite event operations and working with AV production teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of assigned commencement ceremonies from initial planning through post-event wrap-up.
• Develop detailed project plans, timelines, checklists, budgets, and run-of-show schedules for each event.
• Conduct venue site visits and coordinate logistics including transportation, signage, regalia, catering, accessibility accommodations, and event supplies.
• Manage relationships with vendors, including AV production, photography, floral services, interpreters, merchandise providers, transportation partners, and other event support services.
• Partner with internal teams to coordinate commencement communications, branding assets, ceremony materials, and graduate-facing resources.
• Recruit, schedule, train, and support commencement ambassadors and volunteers to ensure smooth event operations.
• Execute onsite event production, rehearsals, troubleshooting, and day-of coordination to deliver an exceptional graduate experience.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare
• health savings account and flexible spending account
• basic and voluntary life insurance
• disability coverage
• accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages
• legal and identity theft coverage
• retirement savings plan
• wellbeing program
• discounted WGU tuition
• flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual
• flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual
• 11 paid holidays
• other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level