EVENT MANAGER

MERCATUS CENTER INC•Arlington, VA

9d•$65,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University is seeking an Event Manager to join the events team and lead the planning and execution of exceptional events that advance the mission of Mercatus. This role will also include planning, executing, and supporting events for other teams across the organization as needed. The Event Manager will provide primary strategic development and logistical planning for a range of events including conferences, workshops, and policy events. From initial planning through post-event review, the Event Manager will oversee and execute all aspects of each event, including venue selection and coordination, contract negotiation, strategic program planning, marketing, and measuring event success. This role will work closely with the event and program teams to ensure each event achieves its goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and work experience.
A minimum of 4 years of related work experience in event strategy, planning, and execution including complex and high-profile events.
Excellent written and verbal communication.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely across all levels of the organization.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Experience with event registration and management platforms.
Proficiency with Google communication tools.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
Excellent teamwork and customer service skills.
Ability to think critically, respond effectively to unexpected situations, and exercise sound judgment under pressure.
Availability to travel and work nights and weekends as needed.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience with Cvent is preferred.
Salesforce experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Coordinates attendee travel and lodging for events in portfolio.
Coordinates and oversees on-site event logistics, including venue setup, food and beverage, security, and volunteer and support staff.
Builds and manages relationships with vendors, staff, scholars, attendees, and other constituents.
Prepares event materials and sets up event spaces as needed.
Leads post-event debriefs to identify improvements and uphold the Mercatus standard of excellence.
Plans exceptional events while managing costs, tracking expenses, and overseeing event budgets.
Submits timely expense reports and invoice payments.
Provides additional planning and onsite assistance for events managed by other events team members as needed.