Who We Are:

A new nonprofit organization established in 2018, Uptown Grand Rapids Inc. consists of the four central-city business districts of East Fulton, East Hills, Wealthy Street, and Eastown plus five surrounding neighborhoods (Midtown, Fulton Heights, East Hills, Baxter and Eastown) with a mission to bring together people, partnerships and possibilities to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district through planning, coordinating, and communicating with and between all sectors of the Uptown community and beyond. Uptown is currently staffed by a full-time Executive Director, a full-time Community Engagement Coordinator, and a part-time Marketing & Communications Specialist. With a steadily growing budget, increasing property values, expanding community involvement and emerging city-wide support for creative entrepreneurial initiatives, Uptown is now poised to hire an Events Specialist.

Core Values:

Diversity; welcoming, mutual trust and respect for people and the place
Collaboration
Transparency/open and honest communication
Stewardship
Flexibility and responsiveness to changing needs and circumstances

We are currently looking for a full-time, non-exempt, remote (Grand Rapids, MI Area only), self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented Events Specialist who thrives in a fast-paced environment that provides variety and collaboration. This person will get to research, imagine, plan, coordinate, build, and execute a series of Uptown Grand Rapids events and event support programs including fundraising events and community engagement activities to achieve Uptown's overall mission.

While this is a remote position, due to the nature of this role, we are only considering candidates local to the Grand Rapids, MI area who can be present on-site during the events they will be coordinating and to build relationships with vendors and business and community leaders throughout the year.

What You'll Get to Do:

Planning and Execution:

Plan, organize, and secure sponsorships for and execute approximately 3 Uptown-led districtwide events and approximately 3-5 internal events including but not limited to retail events, tours, small business training and networking, and community outreach programs.
Determine additional programming opportunities that Uptown might consider to support the Uptown experience for visitors, residents, and businesses.
Coordinate logistics such as venue selection, permitting needs are met, event timelines, catering, audiovisual requirements, and event registration.
Identify and source/assemble all support personnel as needed via volunteers, sub-contractors, digital influencers, vendors, etc.
Develop event budgets, event plans, monitor expenses, and ensure events are cost-effective and aligned with organizational goals.
Network with business associations and business owners to ensure even allocation of resources and event support.
Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to ensure seamless event execution.
Develop and maintain relationships with area event vendors and key stakeholders involved in events management.
Oversee event setup, registration, and breakdown to ensure a positive attendee experience.

Marketing and Promotion:

Collaborate with the marketing staff to develop event marketing plans, including online and offline promotional activities

Volunteer Management:

Recruit, train, and manage event volunteers, ensuring they are well-prepared and motivated to support event activities.
Provide clear instructions and assign tasks to volunteers during events, ensuring smooth operations and a positive volunteer experience.
Foster relationships with volunteers to encourage continued engagement and support for future events.

Event Evaluation and Reporting:

Collect and analyze event data, including attendance, participant feedback, and fundraising results.
Prepare post-event reports, highlighting successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Use evaluation findings to inform future event planning and enhance the organization's overall event strategy.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have/Be:

Located in the Grand Rapids, MI area. Although this position is considered fully remote our Event Specialist will need to be on site at different vendors and during events to properly perform the essential functions of the job.
A Bachelor's degree in event management, marketing, communications, or a related field preferred or equivalent experience.
1 to 3 years of proven experience in organizing and managing successful events, preferably within the nonprofit sector.
An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted, as long as it directly relates to the essential duties and responsibilities of the position.
Preference will be given to candidates with a working knowledge of Uptown Grand Rapids and its constituent organizations.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple objectives and meet deadlines.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and to work collaboratively with diverse staff, volunteers, and external stakeholders.
Technology use - ability to utilize registration and email platforms with proficiency in online ticketing platforms, Google Workspace, and other software as needed that supports efficiency.
Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a keen eye for detail.
Knowledge of fundraising principles and strategies.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as required by event schedules.

What You'll Get:

Competitive compensation (Base Hourly Rate Range of $23/hour to $26/hr. commensurate with skills, knowledge, experience) and benefits, including:
- 2 weeks of paid time off
- A retirement plan with a match.
- Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Account
Appreciation for work/life balance.
A flexible and professional work environment.
Opportunity to contribute to the efforts to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district.

Uptown Grand Rapids Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, Search, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Go to https://uptowngr.com/ to learn more about us. Resumes can be submitted via the job posting link or by visiting our website.

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