Event Manager

Job Details

Salary:
Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Event Manager

Job Summary:

The School of Medicine and Public Health is seeking our next Event Manager to join the Dean’s Office Signature Events team, supporting the planning and execution of more than 40 events each year. Our event portfolio spans a dynamic mix of offerings: annual celebrations that honor learners, faculty, and staff; innovative school‑wide gatherings designed to strengthen community; and meetings, presentations, town halls, and Q&A sessions that advance our mission of creating “Healthy People, Healthy Communities.” Together, these events play an essential role in building connection, celebrating achievement, and fostering shared purpose across the school.

In this role, you’ll help bring meaningful experiences to life for learners, faculty, and staff by managing the advance planning and day‑of execution of major school events. Your days will include coordinating logistics, supervising a talented student events team, and partnering with campus units and external vendors to arrange catering, AV services, décor, creative assets, livestreaming, and more. Some periods of the year will give you time to focus on documentation, writing, and organization, while others will be fast‑paced with several events happening in close proximity—requiring nimble prioritization and steady attention to detail. Success in this position calls for a creative problem solver with a commitment to inclusive event design and working knowledge of A/V, webinar, and hybrid‑event technology. You’ll interact comfortably with leaders across the school, campus, and UW Health, as well as with student employees who are vital to our team.

Your style matters just as much as your skill set. You should thrive as part of a collaborative team, value process improvement, and embrace personal and professional growth. You’re someone who communicates openly, gives and receives feedback with maturity, and maintains grace during high‑pressure moments. A sense of humor is also essential—our work is rewarding, meaningful, and occasionally unpredictable, and we’ve found that keeping things light helps us deliver exceptional events while always centering the audience experience in every decision we make.

• This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
• Must provide a valid driver's license. Employees may use their own transportation or receive approval for University Car Fleet usage. Employment is conditional pending the results of a Pre-hire Driver Authorization Check. See https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/#become-authorized-driver (click on “Become an authorized driver;” then click on “Required criteria”).

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Establishes and sustains relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Establishes and executes day-to-day operational functions and goals of events to align with existing strategy
• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees
• Identifies, proposes, and implements new or revised unit operational policies and procedures
• Monitors the budget and approves expenditures

Department:
School of Medicine and Public Health, Dean's Office, Signature Events

Compensation:

• The starting salary wage for the position is $65,000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
• Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage. SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026

Required Qualifications:

• 2 years of experience providing event support

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success supervising student employees or mentoring students
• Demonstrated success running hybrid events

Education:
Bachelor's Degree Preferred

How to Apply:

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To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under . You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

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• Cover letter required
• Resume

Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected.

University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. [This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility OR This position is currently scheduled to end DATE and will require eligibility to work until that time]. If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

Contact Information:

Kim McFarlane, kmmcfarlane@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.