Commencement Planner (Temp Role, 3 Months)
About The Position
WGU is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Commencement Planner to support our Alumni Relations team during a busy commencement season. In this temporary role, you will lead the planning and execution of commencement ceremonies across the country, helping ensure every graduate enjoys a memorable and seamless celebration of their achievement. As a key contributor to the commencement team, you will manage logistics, vendors, communications, volunteer coordination, and onsite event execution while collaborating with internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver outstanding events. This is a temporary role, expected to last for 3 months, to support the team with upcoming commencement ceremonies and related projects at WGU.
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
