Events Operations Manager

About The Consortium

The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management (CGSM) is a mission-driven organization dedicated to connecting prospective MBA students, member schools, alumni, and corporate partners to broaden access to graduate management education. We focus on recruiting and supporting talented applicants, collaborating with member schools, and hosting engagement events including our annual Orientation Program and ongoing recruitment activities. Our mission centers on providing a superior candidate experience and supporting diverse, high-quality incoming classes for our member institutions.

Role Overview

We seek an Events Operations Manager to lead the internal coordination of our annual conference and Orientation Program, collaborating closely with an external conference management company. The role includes overseeing all event logistics, budget management, scheduling, communication strategies, technology platforms, and vendor relationships to ensure a seamless event experience. Additionally, this position supports other key organizational events such as board meetings, recruitment activities, corporate retreats, and leadership gatherings throughout the year.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of the Annual Orientation Program, managing timelines, deliverables, and coordination with external partners.
• Oversee all event logistics including venue, accommodation, catering, audiovisual, transportation, and signage.
• Manage registration processes, attendee communications, and monitor corporate partner commitments.
• Prepare and monitor event budgets, track expenditures, handle contracts and vendor payments, and provide financial reporting.
• Support onsite event management, promptly addressing issues as they arise, and conduct post-event evaluations for continuous improvement.
• Administer the event management platform (such as Cvent), building event websites, managing registration workflows, participant communications, and generating analytical reports.
• Organize additional internal events like board and leadership meetings, ensuring logistical excellence and budget adherence.
• Maintain and cultivate productive relationships with vendors, negotiate contracts, solicit proposals, and oversee vendor selection.
• Maintain accurate financial records, processing invoices and finalizing budget summaries post-events.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Communications, Business, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Three to five years of event management experience, ideally within nonprofit, higher education, or association sectors.
• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects, budgets, and priorities simultaneously.
• Experience in managing vendor relationships, contracts, invoicing, and detailed event logistics.

Preferred Experience

• Background in overseeing large conferences, leadership meetings, or multi-day events.
• Familiarity with event registration and attendee management platforms, including mobile event applications.
• Knowledge of CRM or fundraising systems such as Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge.
• Experience in identifying operational improvements and enhancing process efficiencies.
• Work experience in mission-driven nonprofits, higher education, or membership organizations.

Additional Information

• Salary range: $65,000 to $70,000 annually.
• Position requires regular domestic travel for recruitment events.
• Candidates should work Eastern Time zone hours (9am-5pm ET).
• Application deadline: August 15, 2026.
• Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and responses to screening questions regarding travel availability, work time zone, and earliest start date.