Events Officer - Development and Alumni Relations Office - 107800 - Grade 6

The Events Officer will work within the Development and Alumni Relations Office (DARO) to deliver creative, sector-leading events for the University's global community of alumni, donors, and volunteers. The role involves delivering both in-person and online events, from mass engagement series like 'Bringing Birmingham to You' to bespoke events hosted by senior staff, ensuring a high-quality and tailored experience for all attendees. The officer will contribute to the busy events programme leading up to the close of the Birmingham in Action fundraising campaign, working collaboratively with the events team and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Working as part of the Events team to deliver the overall DARO events programme
• Supporting the Events Programme Manager with delivery of the full DARO events programme, which supports all DARO audiences as part of the Birmingham in Action campaign, including alumni, donors, volunteers, VIPs, staff and students
• Delivering a range of events from conception through to evaluation; scoping venues, approaching speakers, writing invitations, updating the website, overseeing the event budget, managing registrations, arranging briefings and debriefs
• Working collaboratively with the Events Programme Manager, Events Manager, and Events Co-ordinator to plan and deliver departmental events around the close of the Birmingham in Action campaign
• Together with the Events Programme Manager, Events Manager and Events Co-ordinator, participating in the review, evaluation and creative planning activity of the events programme, seeking out new opportunities and proposing improvements
• Supporting the Events Programme Manager with - and potentially leading on – high profile events with the Vice-Chancellor, Chancellor and influential alumni
• Developing collaborative working relationships with key staff, both within DARO and across the University
• Managing a personal portfolio of our ‘Bringing Birmingham To You’ event series, which are held both in person and online, bringing academic expertise to our global alumni audience
• Identifying and working with key academics to shine a light on their research excellence, with a focus on taking their research out of the labs and lecture theatres and sharing it with alumni through our Bringing Birmingham to You event series
• Ability to produce newsletters, presentations, speeches and information in an interesting and informative manner
• Using the Customer Relationship Manager system efficiently to monitor registration, attendance, and event outcomes and to evaluate success to inform future programming
• Any other duties as deemed commensurate to the role
• Promoting equality and valuing diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture
• Supporting the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working

Requirements

• Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications). Where no equivalent qualification is held, significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a similar role will be required.
• Significant experience of delivering complex events and events programmes.
• The ability to think and plan strategically, both in the short and long-term.
• The ability to work independently with initiative, to take decisions and think creatively and laterally.
• Experience of effectively managing a complex workload, with multiple projects running simultaneously.
• Able to perform effectively under pressure with excellent personal organisation and time management skills.
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders, internal, and external audiences.
• Ability to build rapport with alumni, donors, VIPs, academics, and colleagues in Professional Services at all levels.
• Strong negotiation skills and the ability to persuade and influence with diplomacy and sensitivity.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to write speeches, letters, articles, and reports for a range of audiences and stakeholders, modifying language and style accordingly.
• The ability to work calmly and effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Adaptable and flexible when dealing with change and uncertainty.
• The ability to work effectively both in a team and independently.
• The ability to represent the University with confidence, diplomacy, and authority.
• The desire to support colleagues in the achievement of their individual and the collective goals, and to celebrate others’ success as positively as your own.
• Highly proficient IT skills, including the wider MS Office suite of programmes including excel and PowerPoint.
• The flexibility to work unsociable hours (evenings and weekends) when required.
• Ability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation, and to develop a good understanding of how the University and higher education institutions work.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Benefits

• People are at the heart of what we are and do.
• The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
• We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
• We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
• Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
• The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
• Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham