Sr. Event Planner, Conference and Event Services

Student & Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic, and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters, including public service, health, wellbeing, connection and belonging, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations, including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

Campus Life Enterprise Services (CLES) is the primary revenue-generating unit within Student and Campus Life, inclusive of Cornell Dining, Cornell Catering, Housing and Residential Life, Conference and Event Services, The Cornell Store(s), and a dedicated CLES Marketing and Communications team. CLES is a large campus-wide organization with an annual budget of approximately $200 million and employs over 800 regular (union and non-union) staff members and over 800 contingent and student employees to successfully operate its broad-ranging business operations.

As a part of the Campus Life Enterprise group, the Conference and Event Services (CES) supports the planning and execution of high-volume conferences and special on-campus events, ranging from small meetings to large university-wide events. This team is driven by a passion for attention to detail, providing an excellent guest and user experience, and working collaboratively with a very broad range of university constituents to ensure operational coordination and delivery.

   

The Sr. Conference & Event Planner is a critical point person for coordinating meetings, special programs, and events for both university and non-university groups. This role takes the lead on planning, organizing, and executing 30-40 key conferences each year, with most of the conference activity being delivered in the summer months. In addition, this role helps generate new business, negotiate, and finalize contracts, and assist with billing and tracking information related to the conference services business. Serving as the primary point of contact, this role ensures that all the key elements needed to execute a successful conference or meeting (food, transportation, room layouts, lodging, etc.) are in place and works with the team to deliver an overall excellent hospitality experience for clients using Cornell's venues and services.

In addition, this elevated role will serve as a role model for the team and support the training and development of new staff.  This role will take the lead in scheduling and leading regular meetings with critical stakeholders such as the CES Concierge team, Cornell Catering, West Campus House Systems, Residential Life, Building Care, and Facilities. Additionally, the Sr Conference & Event Planner will seek to develop relationships with other stakeholders on campus and look to suggest, or assist in developing new business strategies, procedures, processes, or projects to increase efficiency and productivity.

A successful Sr. Conference Planner will:

• Have a passion for problem-solving and be able to successfully manage multiple ongoing projects and events in various stages of delivery.
• Function with a high level of autonomy and independence and demonstrate a willingness to take initiative and respond appropriately to emerging priorities
• Possess a service-minded approach in order to interact collaboratively with a broad range of internal and community stakeholders as well as clients and customers and will leverage those relationships to ensure excellent service delivery to clients.
• Hire and train student support staff and assist with developing coworkers to deliver exceptional customer service and assist with event management tasks
• Ensure all accounting, finance, and policy requirements are being adhered to and reconciling any variances.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail when preparing and reviewing written materials, including contracts and event agreements.

This position requires occasional evening and weekend work, as required to meet business needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent, with at least two years of conference and event planning experience or equivalent
• Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation
• Proficient computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Cvent, and calendar management programs
• Proven experience connecting inclusion, belonging, and wellbeing practices to