College Director- Events & Programming

COLLEGE DIRECTOR- EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING

HAROLD WASHINGTON

CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO

Since 1911, City Colleges of Chicago has been connecting students from across Chicago’s neighborhoods to economic opportunity. By offering a quality education at an unprecedented value, City Colleges provides our students and alumni with a pathway to upward mobility. City Colleges of Chicago is the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity—empowering its students to take part in building a stronger and more just city. As Illinois’ largest community college system, City Colleges is comprised of seven colleges and five satellite sites across Chicago. 

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE
Reporting to the President, the College Director-Events and Programming develops and leads a strategic portfolio of events varying in size and complexity that advance campus-wide initiatives, recognizes major achievements, enhances the visibility of HWC among key stakeholders, cultivates  relationships with prospective donors, and builds awareness and support for the college’s mission and goals.

The position also oversees and supports the programming of high-profile college events and functions including but not limited to: Commencement, Welcome Week, Employee and Community Engagement Programs, and other events that foster a strong sense of community and institutional affinity across the college and CCC.

   
Serves as the President’s designee to advance priority initiatives, including change management and performance metrics. Performs related duties as required.

Harold Washington College is proud to be a member of the Caring Campus network. Caring Campus is a model of professional development that works to implement strong and consistent behavioral commitments for all employees in regard to how they interact with students. As a result of this work, employees become engaged with students on a level that has not occurred before. The core benefit of this work is making a connection with students, many of whom have not had an adult who has cared about them in an educational system.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
•    Plans and executes HWC’s high-quality internal and external-facing events including concept development, design, coordination, production, and implementation. 
•    Develops and coordinates post-event financial and outcomes evaluations to assess achievement of objectives and inform continuous improvement. 
•    Creates and maintains a master events calendar, proactively identifying issues that may impact the successful execution of the President’s commitments. 
•    Manages the President’s calendar, including scheduling meetings and events, and providing regular updates on daily appointments and commitments; exercises independent judgment to prioritize requests, anticipate and resolve scheduling conflicts, and adjust commitments to ensure alignment with institutional priorities and optimal use of the President’s time.
•    Develops a series of content-rich, mission-aligned events that educate and engage internal and external stakeholders, in collaboration with the President and executive leadership.
•    Organizes and manages planning committees as needed and coordinates with campus departments to successfully execute events, ensuring a high-quality, customer-focused experience.   
•    Directs staff and collaborates with the Director of Auxiliary Services on event logistics, including use and set-up of facility space, lighting/audio, photography, vendor selection, contract negotiations, and purchasing. 
•    Manages college-wide internal communication and engagement initiatives, working with key stakeholders to ensure consistent and aligned messaging across all areas of the college.
•    Manages and provides oversight of event budgets, ensuring large-scale events operate within budget; tracks expenses and reconciles financial reports. 
•    Creates and implements event marketing and communication plans to publicize and promote events to targeted audiences, in coordination with the district’s Marketing Department.   
•    Oversees campus staff and Reprographics Department in preparing and distributing event marketing and general communications materials.  Maintains and updates college event-related web content. 
•    Develops and implements strategies to increase utilization and revenue generation from campus facilities.
•    Maintains detailed guidelines and protocols for appropriate event management.
•    Acts on behalf of the President to oversee critical projects, with a primary focus on key 
initiatives affecting overall college performance. 
•    Coordinates and orchestrates projects or commitments directly involving the President and senior leadership, ensuring alignment on scope, timelines, and stakeholder expectations, while identifying risks and recommending mitigation strategies.
•    Develops and maintains an inventory of critical path projects requiring the President’s visibility and engagement.
•    Provides back-up coverage as needed for the Executive Support Liaison in the Office of the President.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports To        College President 
Direct Supervision    Reprographics Staff

QUALIFICATIONS
•    A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. 
•    Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least three (3) years of experience in event management, project management, or a related field. 
•    An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered at the discretion of management.
•    Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and coordinating the work of cross-functional teams. 
•    Experience in a higher education setting preferred.
•    Experience updating and maintaining web content preferred.
•    Experience managing budgets and financial oversight for events or programs preferred.
•    Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. 
•    Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills. 
•    Ability to resolve both interpersonal and logistical challenges effectively.
•    Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and constituencies. 
•    Ability to work independently, exercising a high degree of judgment and discretion.
•    Ability to work within a culturally diverse environment.
•    Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

Approved by Compensation Design & Strategy            Date:    May 19, 2026

The intent of this job description is to provide a general description of the duties and responsibilities of this position.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive set of the duties and responsibilities, nor all of the necessary qualifications to perform the work.

Job Title created July 2022. Duties and qualifications updated May 2026.