Senior Event Technology Specialist

Description

ABOUT NAFSA: Association of International Educators

With more than 10,000 members, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the largest and most comprehensive association of professionals committed to advancing international higher education. Based in the United States, we provide programs, products, services, and a physical and virtual meeting space for the worldwide community of international educators. The association provides leadership to its varied constituencies through establishing principles of good practice and providing professional development opportunities. NAFSA encourages networking among professionals, convenes conferences and collaborative dialogues, and promotes research and knowledge creation to strengthen and serve the field. We lead the way in advocating for a better world through international education.

NAFSA believes that international education advances learning and scholarship, fosters under-standing and respect among people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives, is essential for developing globally competent individuals, and builds leadership for the global community. We believe that international education lies at the core of an interconnected world characterized by peace, security, and well-being for all.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Event Technology Specialist manages NAFSA’s Conference registration and exhibit infrastructure supporting virtual, in-person and hybrid events. In this role, they work closely with the Senior Director of Technology, the Event Technology Specialist, internal stakeholders, and vendors to ensure the event technology platforms remain current, evolve with the organization, and effectively support NAFSA’s events from small, stand-alone events to major conferences.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Systems Administration Support and Implementation (40%)

• Manage and support the annual systems setup and the implementation cycles for NAFSA annual and regional conferences and other events. Advise on recommendations or alternatives that address existing and potential trouble areas in event operations across the organization.
• Ensure accurate system setup and new feature implementation in event technology stack. Currently these include Maritz event registration, CadmiumCD, Cvent, Zoom, and a variety of SaaS tools.
• Work closely with vendors and NAFSA Annual and Regional event owners to create & execute implementation & testing timelines; Ensure timely implementation & smooth operations of registration and event technology systems for attendees and exhibitors.
• Partner with Event Logistics, Accounting, Senior Director of Technology, Technology Operations and vendors to plan on-site registration desk, hardware and infrastructure setup and staffing.
• Recommend modifications to process workflows, optimize user experience and backend data capture protocols in the iMIS AMS.
• Consult staff on using Zoom features to create engaging virtual events.
• Prepare and deliver reports, recommendations, or alternatives that address existing and potential trouble areas in event operations across the organization
• Ensure compatibility and interoperability of event and in-house computing systems.
• Support testing, including end-user reviews, for modified and new systems. Provide post-implementation support.
• Oversee active maintenance of system and business process documentation and training for effective knowledge transfer across NAFSA.

Strategy, Planning and Deployment (25%)

• Use the Event Technology Toolkit to facilitate event planning, scope and budget discussions with event owners across the organization.
• Partner with NAFSA event planning teams to plan event system implementations.
• Lead sessions to review and revise event systems functionality to best meet NAFSA’s specific events requirement.
• Consult decision makers, systems owners, and end users to define business, financial, and operations requirements and systems goals, and identify and resolve systems issues.
• Review and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of event systems and develop strategies for improving or further leveraging these systems.
• Actively maintain the event technology team workplan for all NAFSA events.
• Create and maintain realistic timelines in conjunction with event stakeholders for setup and implementation of event platforms.
• Research and recommend best practices, standards, and policies for NAFSA enterprise platforms supporting NAFSA events.
• Stay abreast of developments in virtual event technologies. Actively research and recommend emerging technologies to support innovation in NAFSA’s events and member landscape. Provide guidance to junior staff members.