Event Support Specialist

ORAU•Oak Ridge, TN

1d•$63,918 - $88,934•Hybrid

About The Position

The Event Support Specialist will work with Project Managers in the planning and execution of peer reviews, scientific meetings, and technical workshops. Ensures events run efficiently from pre-planning through post-event follow-up. Responsible for ensuring all Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) and Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) procedures, policies, and regulations are met and maintained within the activity. Participates with other peer review managers and other ORISE and ORAU staff in planning and developing activities for peer review and the broader ORISE/ORAU organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and three to five years of job-related experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience performing duties as described may be substituted for the minimum requirements.
Ability to work with vendors, clients, and internal teams efficiently and effectively.
Experience executing all aspects of large- and small-scale events which includes logistics, audio visual, menu planning, vendor management, event management, customer relations, and on-site support.
Ability to work in the office at the Oak Ridge, TN campus for a minimum of 50% of the work week with some weeks requiring additional time in the office.
Knowledge of event planning, management, and coordination for peer reviews and other scientific meetings.
Attention to detail is required.
Ability to work at a fast tempo for extended periods.
Excellent written and oral communications skills are required.
Ability to interact effectively with all levels of ORAU staff, customers, and event venue staff.
Excellent organizational and personal time management skills are required.
Ability to manage and track multiple activities for meeting support services group.

Nice To Haves

Event management and coordination experience preferred.
Certified Meeting Planner certification is preferred.
Certified Government Meeting Professional certification is preferred.
Knowledge of ORAU/ORISE business operations, government contract regulations, and best practices is preferred.
Knowledge of grants management/peer review and meeting logistics operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serves as a liaison between ORAU and contracted facilities and/or properties.
Works collaboratively with Procurement and subcontractors to ensure contracts meet the needs of the scientific meetings and are executed within ORISE and ORAU guidelines and policies.
Manages event timelines, checklists, budgets, and post-event reports.
Responsible for event logistics, audio visual, menu planning, banquet event orders (BEOs), rooming lists, vendor management, event management, layout planning, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory requirements, and invoice reconciliation.
Ensures all event details are in place before onsite team travels to event and trouble-shoots any issues that may arise while they are onsite.
Assists with on-site execution for larger meetings, as requested.
Promotes customer focus and meeting customer needs.
Organizes activities to meet business objectives.
Maintains frequent customer contact to ensure work is acceptable and timely.
Maintains relationships with existing properties.
Works to ensure customers understand the ORAU business model as it pertains to executing meetings and events for ORAU.
Coordinates with internal customers to determine funding needs and ensures adequate funding is available before expenditure commitments are made.
Prepares budgets and control expenditures in accordance with agreed upon deliverables and ORISE and ORAU requirements.
Works collaboratively with ORAU procurement office and General Counsel.
Represents peer review in cross-organizational initiatives, reviews, issue resolution, and corrective actions.
Other tasks as assigned.