Events Operations Manager

About The Consortium The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM) is a mission-driven community that connects prospective MBA students, member schools, alumni, and corporate partners to expand access and opportunity in graduate management education. We recruit and support talented applicants, collaborate closely with our member schools, and convene the community through our Orientation Program and year-round recruitment and engagement events. Our work is student-centered, operationally rigorous, and deeply mission-aligned—focused on delivering a high-quality candidate experience while helping our member schools build strong, diverse incoming classes. About the Role We are hiring a Events Operations Manager to serve as The Consortium's primary internal owner of our annual conference/Orientation Program, working closely with an external conference management firm to ensure all event logistics, budgets, timelines, communications, technology platforms and vendor relationships are effectively managed. In addition to OP, the Events Manager may oversee planning and logistics for other organizational events throughout the year including board meetings, student recruitment events, corporate retreats and leadership meetings. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, financially savvy and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously with minimal supervision. This individual will serve as a key representative of The Consortium with external vendors, venues, consultants and service providers, ensuring all events are executed with professionalism and excellence. Annual Orientation Program Management (60%) Serve as The Consortium's primary internal lead for the Annual Orientation Program. Manage project timelines, planning calendars, deliverables and key milestones. Partner closely with the external conference management firm and monitor progress against project plans. Ensure alignment between organizational goals and event execution. Coordinate logistics including venue management, hotel accommodations, catering, audiovisual services, transportation, signage and other event requirements. Track corporate partner benefits and oversee deliverables. Manage registration processes and attendee communications. Draft event budget and track expenditures, provide post event financial reporting. Manage contracts, invoices and vendor payments. Support onsite event execution and troubleshoot issues as they arise. Conduct post-event evaluations and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Event Technology & Registration Management (15%) Serve as the primary administrator for The Consortium's event management platform (e.g., Cvent or similar system). Build and maintain event websites, registration forms, attendee workflows and communication campaigns. Manage attendee registration and reporting processes. Coordinate invitations, confirmations, reminders and post-event surveys. Generate registration, attendance and engagement reports. Ensure data accuracy and integrity across event platforms and internal systems. Identify opportunities to improve event technology and participant experience. Organizational Event Planning & Logistics (15%) Plan and coordinate logistics for board meetings, retreats, leadership meetings, staff events, and other organizational gatherings. Source and manage venues, catering, audiovisual services, and other vendors as needed. Develop event timelines, run-of-show documents and operational plans. Maintain event calendars, planning documents, and logistical checklists. Ensure events are executed on time, within budget and to organizational standards. Vendor & Financial Management (10%) Serve as the primary point of contact for venues, caterers, hotels, transportation providers and other event vendors. Build and maintain strong vendor relationships. Solicit proposals, compare pricing and evaluate vendor options. Support contract negotiations and vendor selection processes. Track budgets and expenditures across all assigned events. Process invoices and monitor vendor payments. Maintain accurate records and financial documentation. Prepare budget updates and post-event financial summaries. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Communications, Business or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Three to five years of experience managing events, preferably within a nonprofit, higher education or association environment. Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex projects, budgets and competing priorities. Experience managing vendor relationships, contracts, invoices and event logistics. Preferred Experience Experience managing large-scale conferences, leadership meetings or multi-day events. Experience with event registration platforms, mobile event applications or attendee management systems. Familiarity with CRM or fundraising platforms such as Salesforce or Raiser's Edge. Experience identifying operational efficiencies and implementing process improvements. Experience working in a mission-driven nonprofit, higher education or membership organization. Salary Range: $65,000-$70,000 #J-18808-Ljbffr