Events and Venue Planner, The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership s eeks applications for a n Event and Venue Planner. The Planner will handle the logistics for educational programs and events, with a primary focus on securing hotel rooms, arranging for other venues and dining options , negotiating event proposals with vendors, and managing the invitation/registration processes for participants in Sorensen’s programs and events.

The person in this position will report to the Director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership .

The attributes of the ideal applicant will include being self-motivated and able to: thrive in a collegial environment among people strongly committed to Sorensen’s mission; work independently as part of a team focused on institutional priorities; work calmly and professionally, especially during those occasional times when the team finds itself in pressure situations; and uphold ethical standards generally and, particularly, with respect to handling confidential information.

Event and Venue Planner key responsibilities include :

• Work independently within a team structure to fulfill defined organizational goals

• Within a budget established by Sorensen : negotiate, confirm and manage hotel room reservations and other venue and dining needs for Sorensen programs and events
  
• Ensure delivery of services and goods by vendors
  
• Work with vendors to accommodate participant dietary restrictions, allergies, medical needs, mobility/accessibility/disability concerns
  
• Work with Sorensen program associates to communicate venue needs, entry procedures, security measures, and other information needed by program participants and guest speakers
  
• Ensure procurement and purchasing procedures are followed and managed within budget ary limits
  
• Anticipate recurring events, reviewing previous procedures, materials, and attendance trends
  
• Manage event invitation and reply processes from start to completion, including maintaining invitation lists , compiling invitation materials, organizing response systems, and communicating with invitees via email and phone
  
• Implement event registration procedures (advance and on site), tracking systems for event participant information, ticket sales, publicity, and attendee profile management
  
• Oversee the accounting, sale, allocation, distribution, and revenue generated from ticket sales for larger events
  
• Organize electronic storage of relevant documentation
  
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned
  

Qualified applicants will have a bachelor's degree with at least one year of experience in project or event management . Additional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree . Preference will be given to candidates with a degree, experience or demonstrated interest in public policy, politics or government . Familiarity with UVA’s purchasing and contracting portal ( The Marketplace ) is not required but is a plus.

The position will be based in Charlottesville, though some remote work may be permitted and wil l require o ccasional travel, including overnight, for program support, event support, advance informational site visits

Physical Demands :

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of a computer. A valid driver’s license is required .

Compensation :

The salary range for the position is $ 3 7 ,000-$45,000 . The University of Virginia offers a competitive benefits package . For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits .

Application Instructions:

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission and vision of the Sorensen Institute as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated above. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected. All inquiries will be held in confidence. Please visit the UVA job board and search for “ R0055319”.

For additional information about the application process please contact Ashley Cochran, Senior Recruiter at alc6dk@virginia.edu .

To nominate a candidate, please contact Lawrence Roberts, Director of the Sorensen Institute: larry.roberts@virginia.edu

For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/ .

Organization Description :

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership was founded in 1993 to bring together diverse individuals with a passion for public policy and public service who have a wide variety of viewpoints and backgrounds but want to work together for the common good. Our non-partisan educational mission is to develop leaders who can strengthen and enhance the quality of government , politics, and civic engagement at all levels throughout Virginia.

Through a variety of programs-for high school and college leaders as well as emerging leaders and mid- to -late career leaders -- t he Sorensen Institute has established itself as a powerful and effective force for restoring effectiveness in our political system.

The Sorensen Institute is housed within the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. The Cooper Center provides leadership development; consulting; data analysis; and research-based, unbiased information to state and local officials, policy makers, community leaders, and members of the general public in urban , suburban, and rural areas alike. As a unit in the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia, the Cooper Center is an experiential expression of the Institute’s study and support of democracy worldwide, and actively demonstrates UVA’s dedication to public service.

Non-discrimination :

The University of Virginia, including the Sorensen Institute, is fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion :

Over its first two hundred years, the University of Virginia has been at the forefront of producing global citizen leaders, groundbreaking research and scholarship, and world-class patient care. As the University enters its third century, it continuously seeks to define and redefine itself, motivated by its shared passion for discovery, innovation, community, service, and social justice. One of the University’s top priorities is to create a living, learning, and work environment that supports - and challenges - its academic community. To achieve its mission, the University must be a place in which all faculty, students, and staff are active participants in its work, where those groups historically excluded from participation in University life are present in numbers that prevent isolation of the spirit and of the mind, and where each individual is conscious of how they contribute to the creation and dissemination of knowledge that enhances the well-being of the community, the state, the nation, and the world. Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, University Advancement honors your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. It strives to create and maintain working environments that are inclusive, equitable , and welcoming so it can best achieve its mission of supporting its broadly diverse partners, schools, and networks of engaged alumni, parents, and friends of the University.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.