Events and Operations Coordinator

The University of Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

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JOB DETAILS

SKILLS

Athletics, Coaching, Compensation and Benefits, Cost Effectiveness Analysis, Data Analysis, Dental Insurance, Donor Development, Donor Program, Donor Relations, Driver's License, Editing, Establish Priorities, Event Management, Event Strategy Development, Federal Laws and Regulations, Funding, Fundraising, Genetics, Health Science, Higher Education, Leadership, Marketing Communications, Nonprofit, Performance Analysis, Performance Management, Publications, Quality Management, RSVP (Reservation Protocol), Social Media, State Laws and Regulations, Stewardship, Storytelling, Strategic Planning, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Systems Analysis, Training/Teaching, Trend Analysis, Vendor/Supplier Evaluation, Vendor/Supplier Relations, Vision Plan, Willing to Travel

LOCATION

Knoxville, TN

POSTED

2 days ago

Job Description

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Events and Operations Coordinator for the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. Reporting to the Associate Athletic Director of Advancement, the Events and Operations Coordinator is responsible for leading, coordinating and facilitating signature events and operations for the Mocs club with UTC Athletics and UC Foundation.

This role will develop strategy for and lead hospitality and signature donor events for UTC Athletics donors, and operational tasks including stewardship communications and social media strategy.

Responsibilities

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Event Management: Develops and implements comprehensive strategies for donor hospitality events tied to UTC Athletics, exercising independent judgment in prioritizing events based on donor engagement goals. Leads and manages vendor relationships for UTC Athletics events, including soliciting in-kind donations; evaluates vendor performance and makes recommendations to improve event quality and cost-effectiveness. Plans and executes signature events, including setting strategic direction for event programming and the donor experience. Designs and manages RSVP and event management systems, analyzing participation data to identify trends and inform future event strategy.

Stewardship and Communications: Develops and executes strategy for the design, format, and distribution of stewardship communications, including Mocs Club updates, donor and student-athlete stories, and premium stewardship publications, while managing all editing and approval workflows to ensure alignment with fundraising goals. Analyzes engagement data with the Senior Director of Marketing to assess communication performance and recommend improvements. Identifies donor-related news for Advancement and Athletics platforms and advises leadership on strategic storytelling opportunities. Creates an annual stewardship plan for Mocs Club donors and VIP Athletics supporters, presenting recommendations to the Associate AD/Development, and oversees accurate gift entry in partnership with UC Foundation and UTFI Central Services. Designs stewardship programming with UTC coaches and student-athletes, guiding leadership on innovative approaches to donor appreciation and engagement.

Operations: Serves as an advisory resource to the Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics on donor experience approaches and engagement strategies. Staffs Advancement-related events as needed, providing on-site expertise to inform future event planning decisions.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

The candidate who fills the Events and Operations Coordinator position is required to have:

Bachelor's degree

1+ years of experience in event management, with a preference towards event management in an athletics related field

Demonstrated ability to show communications experience in previous roles

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances. In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position.

Preferred Education and Experience

In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have:

1+ years of intercollegiate athletics fundraising experience

Application Process: Priority will be given to applications received on or before May 11th via our DASH application system. Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, and resume. Candidates selected to move forward in the evaluation process will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.

When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org.

Target Start Date: August 2026

Benefits: The Foundation's greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes:

Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days

Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members

Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses

Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans

Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods

The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is a national model for metropolitan universities. In collaboration with our many regional partners, we offer an experiential learning environment with outstanding teaching scholars in bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs. UTC is the campus of choice for over 11,350 students. Our four colleges offer over 55 bachelor's programs with 128 program concentrations. Our graduate school offers over 50 master's programs with 45 program concentrations and five doctoral degrees with six program concentrations. UTC educates our students for success in a global society at a reasonable rate.

The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.

Events and Operations Coordinator

The University of Tennessee

Knoxville, TN

About the Company

The University of Tennessee

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