Event and Promotion Manager Job at University of South Carolina in Columbia

Overview

The Event & Promotion Manager for the College of Education plays a key role in planning, organizing, and executing a wide range of events, while also leading promotional strategies to drive strong attendance and engagement. Working closely with the Dean’s Office, this role supports the College’s priorities around special events, alumni relations, and related initiatives. The position will draw on best practices in alumni and external relations to help implement programs and strategies that highlight the College’s activities, initiatives, and impact to key audiences. The ideal candidate will bring exceptional organizational skills, strong communication abilities, and a passion for creating meaningful and memorable experiences for the College of Education community.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 1 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Responsibilities and duties

• Event Planning / Execution: Collaborate with university departments, student organizations, and external partners to conceptualize, plan, and execute a wide range of events that align with the university’s mission, values, and strategic priorities. Coordinate all logistical aspects of events, including venue selection, scheduling, room setup, catering, audiovisual equipment rentals, transportation, and on-site coordination. Develop detailed event timelines, budgets, and production schedules, ensuring all resources are allocated efficiently and deadlines are met. Liaise with campus facilities management, security, and other relevant departments to obtain necessary permits, approvals, and support services for events. Provide guidance and support to event organizers, volunteers, and student leaders to ensure successful event execution and adherence to university policies and procedures. Spearhead and oversee alumni activities and services to include alumni reunions, alumni interest groups, liaising with vendors and suppliers, arranging meetings, and handling calls and correspondence. Plan alumni cultivation events and activities and contribute to the COE Alumni LinkedIn Group when necessary.
• Vendor and Stakeholder Management: Cultivate and maintain relationships with vendors, sponsors, partners, and other stakeholders to secure support, resources, and sponsorship opportunities for events. Negotiate contracts, agreements, and partnerships with external vendors and sponsors, ensuring favorable terms and mutually beneficial outcomes. Coordinate with internal departments and external partners to fulfill sponsor obligations, deliver promotional benefits, and maximize sponsor visibility and ROI. Serve as the primary point of contact for vendors, sponsors, and event partners, addressing inquiries, resolving issues, and fostering positive relationships.
• Promotional Strategy: Design and implement strategic promotional campaigns to increase event awareness and participation among students, faculty, and the broader community. Utilize a variety of marketing channels, including social media, email newsletters, posters, and campus-wide announcements, to effectively promote events. Create engaging and visually appealing promotional materials, such as flyers, banners, and digital content. Monitor and analyze promotional metrics to assess the effectiveness of marketing strategies and make data-driven improvements. Collaborate on marketing and collateral pieces to include programs and invitations, as well as the Eventbrite events website and email communications strategy per event.
• Budget and Alumni Relations Database System Oversight: Develop and manage event budgets, forecasts, and financial projections, ensuring expenditures are within approved budgets and financial goals are met. Monitor expenses, track financial transactions, and reconcile invoices and receipts in a timely manner, maintaining accurate records and documentation. Identify cost-saving opportunities, negotiate pricing with vendors, and implement budget optimization strategies to maximize cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Maintains the Development and Alumni Relations database system, known as Blackbaud CRM, and runs specific queries and reports.
• Evaluation and Reporting: Conduct post-event evaluations to assess successes, challenges, and areas for improvement. Solicit feedback from attendees, volunteers, and stakeholders to gauge satisfaction and gather suggestions for future events. Maintain accurate records of event attendance, feedback, and performance metrics for future reference and analysis. Utilize data analytics tools to extract insights from promotional campaigns and attendee demographics, informing targeted marketing strategies. Generate reports and presentations summarizing key findings and recommendations for optimizing future events and promotional efforts to senior leadership.
• Other Duties: Contributes to college efforts by performing other duties assigned or required.

Qualifications

Essential Functions: Yes

• Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 45

Additional Duties

• Vendor and Stakeholder Management (5%): See above responsibilities.
• Promotional Strategy (30%): See above responsibilities.
• Budget and Alumni Relations Database System Oversight (10%): See above responsibilities.
• Evaluation and Reporting (5%): See above responsibilities.

Work Details

• Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive: No
• Hazardous weather category: Non-Essential
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Job Open Date: 10/16/2025
• Job Close Date: 11/30/2025
• Open Until Filled: No

Equal Opportunity

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

Advertised Job Summary

The Event & Promotion Manager for the College of Education plays a key role in planning, organizing, and executing a wide range of events, while also leading promotional strategies to drive strong attendance and engagement. Working closely with the Dean’s Office, this role supports the College’s priorities around special events, alumni relations, and related initiatives. The position will draw on best practices in alumni and external relations to help implement programs and strategies that highlight the College’s activities, initiatives, and impact to key audiences. The ideal candidate will bring exceptional organizational skills, strong communication abilities, and a passion for creating meaningful and memorable experiences for the College of Education community.