Events Coordinator

Position Location: Boston, MA (Hybrid)

We will close the application on November 8, 2024, or once we've received 300 applications, whichever occurs first.

About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

 To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.  

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

 We seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

About the Position 

Housed within the Marketing & Communications department, the Events team is looking for a Coordinator, Events to help produce 40+ events each year comprising of in-person and virtual convenings. These events range in size and scope, and include small VIP dinners, 20-person advisory groups, 200-person peer learning institutes, and our flagship annual summit, Horizons, which brings in a growing audience of over 2,000. We are a “soup-to-nuts” team, providing support and guidance on all aspects of a JFF event, from conception to execution.  

Reporting to the Senior Director, Events, the Coordinator, Events will support the Events team to produce impactful in-person and digital events supporting JFF’s business units and programmatic teams. This role will largely support administrative pieces of event planning, execution, and production, such as calendaring support and managing registration sites. In addition, this role will also develop relationships with program managers across JFF’s Centers and Practices in order to manage smaller virtual events.

This is an exciting opportunity to build event skills and support JFF to grow and scale our presence in the workforce development and education field. The ideal candidate will leverage a customer service orientation and be extremely well-organized, possess excellent attention to detail, and be someone who takes the initiative to support the events team where needed.

What You'll Do  

Assist the Events team in the planning and execution of all virtual and in person events:

• Create and design registration websites and custom email communications including invitations, reminders, and confirmations on various registration platforms including Cvent, Eventbrite, and Hubspot
• Manage registration and registration lists, sending program staff clients updated lists of event attendees 
• Support the development of materials such as Best Practices, FAQs, and training slides to support meeting hosts, speakers, and event support staff 
• In partnership with the team, serve as an onsite contact at all events to coordinate and run registration; distribute materials; set up, support, and take down audio-visual; meet with venue staff; and provide professional and helpful customer service to all event participants 
• Manage travel and hotel arrangements for participants and speakers when appropriate; act as a liaison with JFF’s travel agent
• Coordinate the assembly and shipment of all events materials 
• Work with new and existing vendors to order supplies for all events 
• Manage internal JFF Events and OneJFF calendars

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You have an interest in or exposure to supporting teams through administrative and/or operations activities, ideally with relevant events experience (New hires at the Coordinator level at JFF typically bring 0-2 years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions) 
• You are a curious learner who is eager to leverage feedback, training, and professional development opportunities to continuously improve your work.
• You are highly organized with the ability to prioritize your workload, multitask, and deliver quality work that supports you and your team’s ambitious goals.
• You can quickly learn and adopt new approaches, processes, and technology that support you and your team’s work.
• You value relationships and make it a priority to build positive relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders
• You are skilled at communicating clearly, respectfully, and accurately both verbally and in writing
• You know how to listen attentively and seek out relevant information in order to inform your work and respond effectively to the needs of others
• You demonstrate sound judgement in your decision-making and problem-solving
• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work   
• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work, including embracing the differences and celebrating the diversity that each individual brings to JFF 
• You value building positive and collaborative relationships with others, including people whose identities and backgrounds differ from your own
• You are able and willing to travel domestically up to 35% as required for JFF events/convenings and will be able to work in-person at the Boston office at least one day per week

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

 JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.  

The hiring range for this role is $64,000 - $70,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Coordinator salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Mindy Martin, Senior Director, Events, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

 We are accepting applications through November 8, 2024, or when we reach 300 applications for the role, whichever occurs first. Candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the week of November 18, 2024.  

 At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at hiringaccommodations@jff.org. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.