Commencement Event Planner

Commencement Planner (Temp Role, 3 Months) If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country-and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future-consider WGU as the next step in your career. Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families. The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is: Grade: Professional 306 Pay Range: $29.85 - $44.80 Job Description Are you an experienced event professional who thrives on creating exceptional large-scale experiences? WGU is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Commencement Planner to support our Alumni Relations team during a busy commencement season. In this temporary role, you will lead the planning and execution of commencement ceremonies across the country, helping ensure every graduate enjoys a memorable and seamless celebration of their achievement. As a key contributor to the commencement team, you will manage logistics, vendors, communications, volunteer coordination, and onsite event execution while collaborating with internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver outstanding events. We are hiring a temporary (expected duration of 3 months) Commencement Planner to support the team with upcoming commencement ceremonies and related projects at WGU. What You'll Do * Lead the planning and execution of assigned commencement ceremonies from initial planning through post-event wrap-up. * Develop detailed project plans, timelines, checklists, budgets, and run-of-show schedules for each event. * Conduct venue site visits and coordinate logistics including transportation, signage, regalia, catering, accessibility accommodations, and event supplies. * Manage relationships with vendors, including AV production, photography, floral services, interpreters, merchandise providers, transportation partners, and other event support services. * Partner with internal teams to coordinate commencement communications, branding assets, ceremony materials, and graduate-facing resources. * Recruit, schedule, train, and support commencement ambassadors and volunteers to ensure smooth event operations. * Execute onsite event production, rehearsals, troubleshooting, and day-of coordination to deliver an exceptional graduate experience. What You'll Bring * Bachelor's degree required. * Minimum of 5 years of event planning experience required. * Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment. * Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills. * Ability to manage event budgets, vendor contracts, and complex... For full info follow application link. Western Governors Univeristy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other classification protected by federal, state or local law.