Programs and Events Specialist

The Organization 

Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF) is committed to building a vibrant city and enriching the lives of all Edmontonians. We do this by providing an average of over $33 million in community grants and scholarships each year, thanks to the generous support of thousands of donors. As the largest non-governmental funder of the charitable sector in our City, ECF is in a unique position to address long-term, complex community needs by working with donors, charities, volunteers, government and community partners.   

The Opportunity 

Reporting to the Director, Marketing and Communications, the Programs and Events Specialist is responsible for planning, managing, executing and evaluating a variety of learning, educational, fund development and networking opportunities. As an innovative, proactive and detail-oriented individual, the successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the seamless operation of programs from conception through to completion, delivering outstanding experiences for participants and stakeholders.  

Key Roles & Responsibilities: 

• Planning and Execution: 
  • Plan, organize, and execute a wide range of events including conferences, workshops, fund development, and community engagement activities. 
  • Lead the organization of key corporate events such as ECF’s Annual Luncheon and Donor Appreciation events, ensuring exceptional customer experience with seamless planning, budgeting, logistics coordination, attendee engagement and post-event analysis. 
  • Coordinate with internal and external interest-holders to develop event outlines and content and ensure all programmatic content is aligned with organizational objectives. 
  • Work closely with Marketing to develop event day materials, promote events and ensure optimal attendance. 
  • Recruit and coordinate staff and volunteers to support program and event execution. 
    

• Program Development and Management: 
  • In collaboration with both the ECF Philanthropy and Granting teams, design and implement engaging and educational learning opportunities for donors and grantees. 
  • Lead the execution of virtual or in-person programs, including creating project plans, invitations, slide decks, participant materials, event surveys, and follow-up communications. 
  • Identify and recruit subject matter experts and external partners to develop relevant and impactful content.  
  • In collaboration with the Philanthropy team, manage the administration of ongoing programs, such as Wills Week and the Endowment Sustainability Program including scheduling, participant communication, and evaluation.
    

• Partnerships and Collaboration: 
  • Build and maintain relationships with vendors, sponsors, and community partners to support events and programs. 
  • Coordinate with internal teams to ensure alignment with organizational and department priorities as well as smooth program and event delivery. 
  • Identify opportunities for partnerships to enhance program impact and reach. 
  • Act as the primary point of contact for event partners and sponsors, ensuring their needs are met and expectations exceeded.
    

• Budgeting: 
  • Assist in developing and managing budgets for events and programs, ensuring cost-effectiveness and adherence to financial constraints. 
  • Negotiate vendor contracts and optimize resources to ensure cost-effective program and event delivery. 
  • Track event expenses; provide expended budget updates as needed.

• Reporting and Evaluation: 
  • Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for events and educational programs to measure success and impact. 
  • Implement evaluation strategies, including surveys and feedback mechanisms to assess program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. 
  • Prepare post-event reports, including metrics such as attendance, engagement, and financial outcomes as well as lessons learned and future recommendations.
    

The Ideal Candidate 

As the ideal candidate, you will possess the following qualifications: 

• A university degree in Event Management, Marketing, Communications, Commerce, Business Administration or a related field. 
• A minimum of 3-5 years directly related work experience in event planning and management, program delivery and/or project management. Equivalent combinations of related post-secondary education and directly related work experience will be considered. 
• Demonstrated experience organizing large-scale events (e.g., conferences, workshops, fundraisers) both in-person and virtual. 
• Proven experience in developing and delivering educational or learning programs.  
• Strong experience in collaborating with internal teams, vendors, sponsors, and community partners.
  

Additional requirements include: 

• Strong project management skills, including the creation of project plans, timelines, coordinating multiple tasks and stakeholders.   
• Adept at designing and delivering immersive and engaging experiences for attendees, ensuring events are memorable and impactful. 
• Knowledge of adult and experiential learning principles and practices is an asset. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, with strong attention to detail and deadlines. 
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with stakeholders and vendors. 
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to stay calm under pressure. 
• Highly organized and detail-oriented. 
• Strong program design and facilitation skills. 
• Proficiency with event management platforms and software, budgeting tools, and Microsoft Office Suite. 
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as required for event execution.
  

If you have all these qualities and are excited about the opportunity to be part of an organization that truly makes a difference, we would like to hear from you! 

What we Offer  

We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We also offer a competitive salary and benefits package, professional development opportunities and a supportive work environment including: 

• Salary Range: $61,000-$80,000/year.
• A 35-hour standard work week. 
• Downtown work location with free parking available. 
• Extended Health, Dental and Short/Long Term Disability Benefits, Life Insurance and a Health Spending Account. 
• A 9% contribution to our group RRSP.  
• A hybrid work environment where employees collaborate on site a minimum of 3 days per week with the flexibility to work remotely up to 2 days per week. 
• Vacation starts at three weeks per year.  
• 12 combined personal and sick days.
  

How to Apply 

We’re excited to partner with Involvi Human Resources! This Edmonton-based firm is assisting us in our search for top talent.  To apply, send your cover letter and resume to Recruitment@involvi.ca. 

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is found.  We are eager to fill this role and our review of applications will begin November 24, 2024. Apply now to get the jump on a new career!