Event Operations Manager, Wharton San Francisco
Job Description Summary
Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic staff population representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.
Wharton San Francisco (WSF) is the West Coast campus of the world's leading business school, serving as a hub for learning, innovation, and industry connections. Our mission is to support education, act as a connector, and amplify the Wharton brand through high-impact programs and events. Our dynamic Embarcadero location offers stunning views of the Bay Bridge, a vibrant professional ecosystem, and proximity to major tech and business hubs. The San Francisco campus provides an inspiring environment for collaboration, networking, and innovation, making it an incredible place to work and engage with leaders from various industries.
The Event Operations Manager plays a crucial role in advancing WSF's mission by developing and executing a strategic event vision that enhances engagement, drives revenue, and maximizes facility utilization. This position requires both strategic planning and hands-on execution, ensuring that every event and class session reflects Wharton's excellence and strengthens its presence in the Bay Area.
The Event Operations Manager is responsible for developing and executing the strategic vision for events at Wharton San Francisco while also being hands-on and on-site during events to ensure seamless execution. This role ensures that events align with Wharton's mission, enhance engagement, drive revenue, and maximize the use of WSF's facilities. The role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple moving pieces in a dynamic campus environment.
In addition to event strategy and execution, this position manages core academic scheduling and classroom operations for the San Francisco campus, including room assignments and coordination with faculty and program staff. By overseeing planning, logistics, vendor relationships, and class scheduling, the Event Operations Manager plays a key role in delivering high-quality, mission-driven, and financially sustainable events and programs.
Job Responsibilities
- Event Strategy & Planning - Develop a long-term event strategy that aligns with Wharton's academic, alumni, and industry engagement goals.
- Revenue & Facility Optimization - Identify and implement strategies to increase external bookings and optimize event space usage for efficiency and financial sustainability.
- Client & Stakeholder Engagement - Partner with faculty, students, alumni, and external clients to create impactful event experiences.
- Vendor & Budget Management - Oversee contracts, negotiations, and event budgets to ensure cost-effective and high-quality execution.
- Marketing & Brand Impact - Develop marketing strategies to expand event reach, attract corporate partners, and amplify Wharton's presence in the Bay Area.
- On-Site Event Management - Be present during events to oversee setup, execution, and troubleshooting, ensuring a smooth experience for attendees.
- Academic Scheduling and Classroom Operations - Manage and lead all class scheduling logistics for Wharton San Francisco. Oversee room assignments, academic calendar alignment, faculty scheduling needs, technology and facilities coordination, and resolution of space conflicts. Implement real-time adjustments throughout the term to support smooth academic delivery across multiple programs.
- Collaboration & Support - Work closely with the Senior Client Services Manager to ensure seamless operations and provide backup support for event execution.
This role requires a proactive, hands-on leader who can develop event strategy while also being actively involved in execution, ensuring high-quality, engaging experiences at Wharton San Francisco.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in event management, hospitality, business administration, marketing, or a related field and 3-5 years of experience in a professional setting with event planning, operations, or venue management, preferably in a higher education, corporate, or nonprofit setting; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Ability to handle high-pressure situations with professionalism and problem-solving skills.
- Strong attention to detail to ensure seamless attendee experiences.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills to collaborate with faculty, students, alumni, and corporate clients.
- Ability to tailor event experiences to different audiences, ensuring alignment with the organization's mission.
- Skilled in managing client expectations and delivering high-impact event experiences.
- Adaptability and flexibility to step in where needed for seamless event execution.
- Ability to serve as a collaborative, cross-functional team player who works effectively across diverse constituencies, including faculty, students, staff, alumni, and external clients, adapting communication and approach to meet varying needs while contributing to shared goals and seamless operations.
Preferred:
- Experience in negotiating contracts with vendors, caterers, AV providers, and other service providers.
- Proficiency in event management software (e.g., Cvent, Eventbrite, EMS, Salesforce) or knowledge of event space management software and systems for scheduling and tracking usage.
- Experience in identifying and implementing strategies to increase external bookings and optimize space utilization.
- Proven experience designing event programs that drive engagement, revenue, and brand impact with an ability to manage multiple events simultaneously, from intimate gatherings to large-scale conferences.
Job Location - City, State
San Francisco, California
Compensation Note
In compliance with California law, the minimum salary for this position is $70,304 annually.
Pay Range
$66,000.00 - $91,232.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
Department / School
Wharton School
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