Visitor Center Special Events Temporary Assistant (Part-time), Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Visitor Center Special Events Temporary Assistant (Part-time), Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Ithaca, NY

About The Department

The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a world leader in inspiring people to contribute to science and become advocates for birds and life on earth. Our model for change is to bring curiosity to scale through education and participatory science to gain insight into how natural systems work and address global conservation challenges. The Visitor Center, part of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Lab, sheds light on this mission by providing a highly engaging experience to visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

The Lab connects with millions of people a year through our innovative educational platforms and data-powered participatory science enterprises. The Cornell Lab is committed to fostering a healthy workplace that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds as well as supporting growth and advancement opportunities. The Lab welcomes staff who are still learning in their careers and who are motivated to take on new challenges.

About The Opportunity

We are seeking a part-time Special Events Temporary Assistant to join a dynamic team of educators, program coordinators, and public information specialists on the Visitor Center team. The Cornell Lab’s Visitor Center in Sapsucker Woods recently reopened after extensive renovations, offering visitors from near and far a unique chance to connect with the Lab and our mission to interpret and conserve the earth’s biodiversity.

We are looking for a highly organized Events Assistant to join our team. The ideal candidate will have previous experience in event planning and management, excellent communication skills, and strong attention to detail. This is a busy and sometimes demanding role that requires an individual who can manage many different personalities, work styles and shifting priorities.

As the Special Events Temporary Assistant, you will work to support our public-facing efforts. Job responsibilities include:

• Use event planning software to calendar, organize and execute internal to Lab, internal to Cornell, and external events from conception to completion.

• Collaborate with internal teams such as Facilities and IT to ensure seamless event execution

• Prepare budgets and manage costs for assigned events

• Create detailed event timelines and coordinate all logistics

• Serve as the main point of contact for vendors, partners, catering and event guests

• Manage event budgets and finances, negotiate contracts, and handle all vendor and sponsor relationships

• Stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices to ensure events are innovative and successful

• Provide on-site support to clients and event guests and handle any issues that may arise

• Provide revenue projections and reports on a quarterly basis

• Demonstrate excellent customer service that helps maintain strong and lasting relationships with our clients by ensuring all event inquiries, calls, and emails are returned in a timely way

• Possess effective decision-making and communication skills as well as display flexibility and creativity to put internal staff and clients at ease and address unique concerns efficiently and effectively

• Exhibit strong organizational skills to ensure appropriate follow-up with past and current clients and help keep up to date on new food and catering trends for student groups, departments,

• Support and look for new growth opportunities within departments across Cornell Campus and beyond to exceed targeted sales goals

• Be highly adaptable and flexible, working varied hours, in a team-based but constantly changing environment to support a diverse team that ultimately ensures the clients' satisfaction

This is a part-time temporary 6-month position with the possibility of renewal, depending on available work and funding; Flexible schedule of 20 hours/week based on event needs, including weekend and evening hours. Some coordination work may be done remotely.

What We Need

The successful candidate will have formal training beyond a HS diploma of 6 months to 1 year. Two years of experience in event coordination, catering, and/or hospitality-related fields.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple events simultaneously and prioritize accordingly

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including effective sales and negotiating skills

• Technical/computer skills, including experience with MS Word Office productivity tools

• Availability to