External Engagement Specialist

Department: LANG - Office of the Dean

Position covered by the Collective Agreement with USW Local 4120

If you are a current employee of the University of Guelph you must apply on the internal Career Page in order to be considered as an internal applicant. 
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General Purpose

Reporting to the Manager, External Engagement, the External Engagement Specialist is directly responsible for the development, planning, attendee engagement and execution of all external-focused events run by the LANG Dean’s Office. This includes all recruitment, community-focused, donor and alumni events run through the Dean’s Office that often include the attendance of internal and external stakeholders of the University and LANG School.The Specialist will ensure the quality and professionalism of these events are adhered to and align with the mission of LANG. The Specialist will assist other LANG academic units with events and represent the School in campus-wide events, as deemed appropriate by the Manager, External Engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Specialist works closely with the Manager, External Engagement and LANG leadership team to execute strategic events and initiatives that result in alumni, donor and student engagement. The Specialist will also work closely with the marketing and communications team within the Dean’s Office to ensure proper communication and marketing best practices are employed for events.

The Specialist will be the point of contact for all Dean’s Office events and will oversee the supervision of supporting staff (co-op or volunteer students), as well as third party vendors. The Specialist is the first-line of contact for all event attendees which may include faculty, staff, students, corporate partners, alumni, guest speakers and donors. Therefore, the ability to communicate effectively with a high level of professionalism and a precise attention to detail is critical.

Requirements

• Two (2) year College Diploma (Bachelor’s degree preferred) in a related field along with at least two years’ experience performing duties related to event management, administrative management, and communication management in a fast-paced office environment or an equivalent combination of related education and experience.
• Self-motivated problem solver and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a small, fast-paced team.
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills with an eye for detail.
• Familiarity with event management trends and technology.
• Experience planning, coordinating large-scale, high-impact events.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft 365.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and work with tight deadlines.
• Experience coordinating and executing complex projects.
• An understanding of the School’s and University’s expectations, policies and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate and identify problems; analyze, recommend and execute solutions.
• Creative thinking, problem solving and consensus building skills.

The candidate we are seeking is well-acquainted with event management and has a strong aptitude in building partnerships with a lasting positive impact. They possess excellent project management skills to plan and execute multiple events simultaneously.

Employee Type: Regular 
Position Number: 10195043 
Classification: USW, Local 4120 Salary: Band 5  
USW Local 4120 Wage Grid

*Tentative evaluation; subject to final review.

At the University of Guelph, fostering a culture of inclusion is an institutional imperative. The University invites and encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in employment, who may contribute to further diversification of our Institution.

Posting Date: 10/16/2026  
Closing Date: 10/23/2026