Events Specialist

Great Parks of Hamilton County•Cincinnati, OH

21h

About The Position

Great Parks is seeking a creative, detail-oriented Events Specialist to help plan and execute high-profile, community-facing outdoor experiences and milestone celebrations. As a member of the Special Events team, the specialist oversees a portfolio of events from concept development through post-event evaluation, including large-scale special events, ribbon cuttings, festivals, and conferences. The role covers thematic design, venue coordination, décor, printed materials, guest experience, sponsorship fulfillment, event logistics, and on-site management. The Events Specialist works collaboratively with internal teams, vendors, volunteers, and part-time employees to coordinate event staffing and operations, maintain event budgets and documentation, support marketing and promotional materials, and improve future events through evaluation and feedback. The position requires work outside the normal schedule as needed, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Hospitality, Event Management, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field, or an appropriate combination of education, training, coursework, and experience.
Minimum of 3 years of experience working in events, marketing, community relations, and/or public relations.
Ability to document identity and employment eligibility within three days of original appointment, as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act.
State Motor Vehicle Operator’s License that meets current GPHC carrier guidelines.
Ability to work outside the normal schedule as required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Responsibilities

Oversee events from creative ideation through post-event evaluation, including large-scale special events and milestone events such as ribbon cuttings, festivals, and conferences.
Develop and execute distinctive event concepts, managing details such as thematic design, venue coordination, décor, printed materials, guest experience, and sponsorship fulfillment.
Coordinate event setup, operation, and teardown, including purchasing and transporting supplies, assigning duties to staff and volunteers, coordinating vendor arrivals, and troubleshooting.
Serve as an on-site, day-of lead for special events and selected events and programs.
Act as the primary staff liaison to internal teams for special and milestone events; communicate updates, request staffing and support, create day-of schedules, solicit ideas and feedback, and address potential conflicts or issues.
Consult with team leads across Great Parks and provide guidance, solutions, concepts, best practices, and logistical support for events and engagement.
Source and schedule rented assets, entertainment, and food trucks; ensure required licenses, insurance, and contracts are received in accordance with Great Parks policies.
Provide administrative support for vendor contracts and maintain organized documentation of procurement, licenses, and insurance.
Partner with the volunteer department to recruit event volunteers and provide direction to part-time employees and volunteers; refer disciplinary issues to the Director of Events.
Help maintain exhibits, displays, equipment, and facilities related to Special Events; refer major repairs and event-site issues to appropriate internal divisions or contractors.
Prepare event descriptions, registration and ticket pages, and content for the Website Manager and Marketing & Brand Strategy team.
Coordinate website and calendar updates with the Website Manager and Internal Content Coordinator.
Coordinate with the Marketing Project Manager on event signage, visual elements, and copy for public-facing materials, including brochures, press releases, website pages, program guides, and annual reports.
Work with the Director of Events to create and maintain event budgets and track expenses and revenue against approved limits.
Help design and administer training for full-time employees, part-time employees, and volunteers across Great Parks divisions.
Handle cash transactions, collect and deposit program and event fees, and comply with cash-handling and cash-control procedures, including POS operation, deposits, tills, logs, and audits.
Support the development and implementation of event evaluation processes; collect feedback and data to improve future events.
Identify and help resolve logistical challenges to support smooth event operations.
Work the assigned schedule, maintain regular and punctual attendance, follow Great Parks policies and performance expectations, maintain confidentiality, and perform other duties as assigned.