Overview

Now is the time to join us and make a difference. Be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Here at the American Heart Association, you matter and so does your career.

The American Heart Association has an opportunity for an Event Planning Specialist in Columbia, South Carolina. In this position, you will coordinate logistics for major fundraising events, in person and/or virtual events. Responsibilities will also include prioritizing and motivating volunteers, assisting with logistics of auxiliary fundraising events, coordinating event administration, schedules, and meetings; controlling inventory/implementation of marketing, presentation, or fundraising materials, and preparing financial or operations reports. You will also be responsible for ensuring sponsorship fulfillment of benefits, securing, and coordinating all vendor relationships, and ensuring Association policies and procedures for events are followed.

This position will support 2 Heart Balls, 3 Heart Walks, 1 Go Red for Women luncheon and 1 Hard Hats with Heart luncheon in the assigned territory of Columbia, SC, Sumter, SC and Florence, SC.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

\#TheAHALife is our company culture, our way of life, reflecting our diversity, equity & inclusion, our focus on work-life harmonization and our Guiding Values. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued™ at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and at heart.org.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and collaborate with vendors or volunteers to execute logistics for a large fundraising event or multiple smaller events such as Heart Walks and Heart Balls, including infrastructure, lighting, sound, food, and beverage, etc.
• Prepare, edit and maintain fundraising materials and presentations as well as event collateral and marketing material.
• Coordinate the vendor contract process for assigned events to ensure that each site is following American Heart Association best practices, guidelines, and procedures. Track vendors’ adherence to contractual obligations and perform as agreed upon. Coordinate logistics for auxiliary events and virtual events.
• Virtual Event Production – collaborate with staff and volunteers to conduct virtual core events (Heart Walk and Heart Ball) including volunteer/speaker coordination, production support, technical guidance, and coordination with communications to conduct successful events. Pre and post events also apply.
• Ensure accuracy and adherence to the latest policies and practices of the American Heart Association as they relate to fiscal and event financials. Ensure expenses for events are coordinated with the Data Specialist Team. Monitor event budget. Coordinate and track invoicing, expenses, and peripheral accounts for event. Prepare and distribute reports as requested.
• Prepare and communicate schedules and meetings, and ensure deadlines are met. Ensure markets are meeting deadlines for successful event production.
• Train volunteers and run assignments on-site during event. Act as volunteer liaison.
• Travel will be required to events in assigned territory.

In this role, you will report to the Event Specialist Manager and will work with a team of fundraisers to lead logistics for events in the assigned territory. The ideal candidate would be located in Columbia, SC.

Qualifications

• 1 year of prior administrative support experience in related environment; broad knowledge and understanding of event management.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization of workflow and calendars, verbal, and non-verbal communication with highly effective organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to prioritize and develop solutions for effective decision making.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize and handle multiple tasks while managing multiple territories simultaneously.
• Proficient with all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook.
• Ability to work outside of standard hours which may involve some evenings and/or weekends.
• Ability and willingness to travel periodically throughout assigned geographical territory.
• Ability to lift and/or move large objects (such as boxes) with the expectation that heavier items would be broken down into smaller components or requesting additional assistance may be required before lifting and/or moving.
• Experience using Canva preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package. Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details.

• Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary. That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed.
• Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success by merit increases and incentive programs, based on the type of position.
• Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution. As a mark of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation.
• Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. HeartU is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule.
• Work-Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees. The number of days will increase based on seniority level. You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year.
• Tuition Assistance - We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization.

The American Heart Association’s 2024 Goal: Every person deserves the opportunity for a full, healthy life. As champions for health equity, by 2024, the American Heart Association will advance cardiovascular health for all, including identifying and removing barriers to health care access and quality.

At American Heart Association | American Stroke Association, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity applies to both our workforce and the communities we serve as it relates to heart health and stroke prevention.

This position not a match with your skills? Click here to see other opportunities.

EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities

The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. We fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide critical tools and information to save and improve lives.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

The size and scope of our organization, along with our more than 40 million volunteers and supporters, allows us to make a real impact on our shared focus of cardiovascular and overall health.