Events Officer

Job Title: Events Officer (Fixed-term contract until 30/7/27)

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

Salary: £33,002 – 36,636 per annum, Band 4

About the Post

The University of Suffolk is looking for an experienced events organiser to support our small team to deliver our enhanced 10th anniversary events programme. The post will also partly cover a period of maternity leave, assisting the planning, management and delivery of high-profile student recruitment, community and corporate events.

We are looking for a dynamic, creative and extremely well-organised person to help us enhance the profile and reputation of the University through successful events including open days, graduation, higher education fairs, public open lectures and academic conferences.

Our 10th anniversary programme also includes the University’s first TEDx event, public engagement events around Suffolk and an alumni and supporters’ event in London.

You will be evidence-based in your approach, using feedback to implement improvements, and you will work flexibly to support events outside of normal office hours. In your role, you will:  

• Lead on a portfolio of events from onset to completion and take responsibility for core project areas within larger events (assigned by the Events Manager) to ensure delivery of a high-quality events programme.

• Provide events advice and services to colleagues across the University, delivering guidelines and training as required.  

• Maintain budgets for certain events, reporting to the Events Manager throughout. 
   
• Ensure processes are in place to manage guest lists and RSVPs and liaise with relevant external and internal teams regarding event set up and logistics, including catering, audio visual, risk assessment, security and technology. 

• Work closely with colleagues in Estates and Facilities to manage the conferencing and commercial bookings function at the University. 

About the Team

• The events officer will be part of the wider communications team which sits within the Directorate of Marketing, Communications and International.
• The Directorate is responsible for student recruitment, admissions, marketing, events, website, social media, external and internal communications.
• The team has a proactive social group which coordinates various activities through the year
• The team benefits from agile working, with on-campus time of at least 60%, however, many people choose to be in the office more often to work collaboratively.

About You

You will be a creative and highly organised person with excellent planning and interpersonal skills who is able to juggle multiple events and deadlines in a busy environment. You will have a solution orientated approach to problem solving and have good attention to detail. In addition, you will have:

• Significant experience of planning, organising and evaluating events.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. 

• Ability to think quickly and react calmly in high pressure, public situations.
   
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to find creative solutions.
   
• Excellent customer service.
   
• You will be competent in the use of digital systems including Microsoft Office applications and SharePoint.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days for Bands 1-4 and 30 days for Bands 5 and above, plus 8 bank holidays and any university closure days.
• Agile and flexible working, including family friendly policies.
• We offer a competitive pension scheme through USS.
• Staff discounts at a number of local amenities.

• Discounted membership at various Ipswich Fit sites: unlimited access to gyms, swimming lanes, fitness classes and discounted racket sports.
• We offer up to a 100% fee waiver for staff approved to study a Suffolk undergraduate or postgraduate course, subject to a set of criteria and conditions.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice.
• Wellbeing programmes.
• Staff recognition annual awards.

Closing Date: Monday 6 July

(Candidates being invited for interview will be informed by cop Monday 13 July and asked to prepare a short task to present at interview.)

Interview Date: Tuesday 21 July

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Jason Eghan j.eghan@uos.ac.uk

Please see the Job Application Guidance to support your application.

Please note:

We recommend that you apply as soon as possible, even if the closing date is in the future.

Applications received may be reviewed before the closing date and should we receive a high number of applications for this post, or high-quality applications which demonstrate suitability, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early. We may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date.

Internal candidates with ‘At Risk’ status will be considered for suitability ahead of all other applications.

We are a values driven organisation, committed to ensuring we remain a beacon for aspiration and achievement, while providing a great environment to work and study. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.