Events Management Trainee
About The Position
The University of Guelph Athletics Department is seeking an enthusiastic, organized, and service-oriented Events Management Trainee (EMT) to support the planning, coordination, and delivery of varsity athletics competitions, tournaments, championships, and special events. This is a hands-on, developmental role designed for individuals looking to build a career in sport and event management. The EMT will gain practical experience in event operations, staff leadership, concessions management, risk management, and game-day execution while helping deliver exceptional experiences for students, athletes, fans, and community partners. The typical schedule is Wednesday–Sunday, primarily evenings and weekends, aligned with varsity competition and major event schedules. This is an active role requiring walking, standing, lifting, and event setup/teardown activities; exposure to indoor and outdoor event environments and changing weather conditions; and participation in more than 120 varsity events annually plus major university special events.
Requirements
- Two year Community College graduation, along with some related experience.
- Valid Standard First Aid, CPR, AED, WHMIS, and AODA certifications.
- Strong organizational, communication, and customer-service skills.
- Ability to work independently and part of a team, in a fast-paced environment.
- Valid G Driver’s Licence.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Teams, Word) and event-related technology, such as a ticketing platform.
- Flexible work hours and scheduling.
- Must be able to work evenings and weekends.
Nice To Haves
- Undergraduate degree (or nearing completion) in Sport Management, Event Management, Sports Administration, or a related field is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Coordinate and support home varsity games, tournaments, championships, convocation, Orientation Week, private rentals, and special university events.
- Assist with event planning, logistics, facility setup, signage, AV equipment, sponsorship activations, VIP areas, and game-day operations.
- Provide on-site leadership and troubleshoot operational issues in real time.
- Coordinate with campus partners, officials, clients, vendors, and event stakeholders.
- Support event teardown, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Promote a safe, welcoming, and engaging event experience for all participants and spectators.
- Assist with scheduling, hiring, onboarding, and payroll preparation for student staff.
- Mentor student staff and contribute to experiential learning opportunities.
- Foster a positive team culture focused on customer service, safety, and professionalism.
- Manage concessions inventory ordering, tracking, and replenishment.
- Support concessions reconciliation, reporting, and inventory.
- Identify opportunities to improve concessions operational efficiency and service delivery.
- Coordinate mascot appearances at varsity games, campus activities, and community events.
- Schedule mascot performers and maintain mascot costumes and equipment.
- Support community outreach initiatives and departmental promotional activities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Associate degree
