Special Events Coordinator

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Job Requisition ID:
2026-03377
Time Type:
Full time
Employee Group:
Staff
Job Category:
Event Management
Employment Type:
Permanent
Department:
Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association - Community and Events
Hiring Range:
$56,494.16 - $70,617.70
Posting Information:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
The internal posting deadline for this position is October 29, 2026 at 11:59PM
Job Description:
Primary Purpose
The Special Events Coordinator is responsible for developing, coordinating, and delivering diverse programs and large-scale campus wide events aimed at enhancing the student life experience for the undergraduate students on campus. The Special Events Coordinator will function primarily in the area of entertainment involving student engagement, programming and event management, volunteer management and administrative capacities.
Key Accountabilities
Event Development, Delivery and Evaluation
Responsible for delivering successful large scale (5000+ attendees) campus wide events with positive attendee experiences and programs tailored for the students at the University of Waterloo
Researches current campus programming options by keeping up with industry trends, collaborating with other institutions/unions and attending conferences/exhibitions
Negotiates with agencies to book performers where contract costs stay within budget and positively impact the experience of our students
Develops clear Event documentation highlighting objectives, risk, resource requirements, people requirements and timelines and evaluation metrics
Ensures diversity in programming efforts to maximize the reach and participation of efforts throughout the year
Performs post event evaluation to highlight and review results of programming efforts, overall impact, and identify areas of improvement for future events
Leads all corporate events as assigned by the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association including (general meetings, grand openings, anniversaries/celebrations etc.)
Student Volunteer Management
Responsible for the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of 100+ student volunteers to help with planning and delivery of programs & events
Ensures student input is gathered during development of events by enabling student volunteer to champion efforts and incorporated into the overall efforts
Engages students by empowering them to take on various responsibilities with respect to the execution, marketing, and planning of special events
Ensures volunteers are provided with effective training and development programs and equipped with the right tools and resources to meet deliverables
Organizes and executes a volunteer appreciation event for students directly involved in the executed events
Relationship Management & Outreach
Raises $40k+ annually in sponsorship dollars and materials with off campus businesses & partners to enhance programming efforts
Works with key stakeholders and partners across campus to (plant ops, bookings, safety office, grounds, athletics etc…) throughout event development and delivery efforts
Maintains positive relationships with vendors that we purchase/book good, services or equipment from
Works closely with the Marketing Specialist to ensure programming efforts are effectively marketed and developed successfully for the current student market and their needs/wants
Budgeting & Procurement
Prepares annual programming plan and budget of $100k+ to senior management for review and board/council approval
Ensures all submitted expenses are within budget and revenue projections are met for sponsorships & ticket sales
Responsible for purchasing good, equipment and services for programming and ensuring the organization is purchasing efforts result in best value for money
Responsible for pricing events and programs to ensure adequate cost recovery and participation
Risk Management
Responsible for completing risk assessment for all major programming efforts highlighting areas of risk, mitigation efforts and overall risk factor for review of senior management prior to any programs/events being booked
Ensuing all major events/programs have comprehensive Emergency Action Plans (EAP)
Training volunteers to efficiently and safely execute emergency action plan protocols at times of need
Work with partners to ensure risk is mitigated at all events (Campus Response, Safety Office, Police Services)
Required Qualifications
Education
Post-secondary degree in a related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience
Several years’ experience with large scale event planning and management, with at least 2 years in a management/leadership position.
Experience successfully recruiting and managing staff or volunteers.
Demonstrated ability to be creative and engaging in event/idea generation.
Previous experience effectively booking live entertainment and negotiating contracts.
Previous experience in reaching targets set for sponsorship of events.
Several years’ experience with program assessment.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Demonstrated ability to relate to