Exhibits Project Manager

Department Summary

University of Oregon Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) connects UO with regional communities. Working in partnership with UO schools and colleges, selected vendors, and national credentialing associations, CPE serves the public by enabling learning outside of the traditional university setting. Participants do not have to be admitted students at the University of Oregon to participate in CPE programs. Individuals can access vibrant professional development opportunities, lifelong learning enrichment courses, and community engagement activities that serve nearly 5,000 participants annually at local continuing ed programs.

Through CPE’s mission to produce or aid in the delivery of educational programs for purposes of lifelong learning and professional development, the Conference Services sub-unit provides an important resource to this mission in two ways : first, by providing specialized operational support to academic departments, individual faculty members in their hosting of on-campus events and noncredit workshops, or other auxiliary units (e.g. UO Housing); second, by providing technically-sophisticated and integrated conference management and customer service solutions to externally-facing professional associations for the administration and production of educational conferences and tradeshows (both small and large-scale : 10,000+ attendees).

Continuing and Professional Education programs are self-supported and fee-based; they do not use state dollars. CPE reports to the Division of Student Services and Enrollment Management.

Position Summary

The Exhibits and Corporate Engagement Department is a core service area within Conference Services responsible for exhibit and sponsorship sales, and the associated fulfillment and management functions, for contracted events and meetings. The department also facilitates and supports the fulfillment of operations and logistics duties across other core service areas during pre-planning and onsite deployment. Members of this department deliver a full range of services that include but are not limited to, sales and outreach, sales database maintenance and expansion, sponsorship and branding opportunities definition and fulfillment, web-based application / contract development, website content definition and maintenance, floor plan development and management, digital and print collateral definition and design, communication development, email / phone customer service, client relations, and onsite logistics.

The position of Exhibits Project Manager is a crucial member of the Exhibits and Corporate Engagement service area, responsible for driving the successful delivery of assigned projects while functioning as the lead and liaison to both the client and the general services contractor(s) on said projects across multiple conferences and events. They are dedicated to developing flexible, customer-oriented project management plans that support creativity and high-quality delivery.

The Exhibits Project Manager regularly exercises independent judgment and possesses a deep understanding of the Conference Services sub-team, its events and services, and personnel. They handle sensitive, confidential matters, and are instrumental in fostering positive relationships with clients, contractors and staff while effectively managing multiple projects with strict, competing deadlines. The Exhibits Project Manager utilizes strong leadership skills to direct work teams in relation to project delivery across Conference Services, and will require travel between 8-30 nights per year to event locations, as well as specialty site visit travel to meet with clients.

Projects are in support of the Exhibits and Corporate Engagement service area, and include but are not limited to :

• definition of large-scale public space designs and installations for events
• exhibit floorplan development
• interpretation of established designs and application to structures and other graphic installations
• order fulfillment with facilities and general service contractors for building-wide events
• fulfillment of pre-conference and onsite booth sales
• exhibitor / sponsor relationship management

The Exhibits Project Manager is responsible for direct supervision of 1-3 classified temps, with lead work / oversight of 2 professional staff and 5 student staff. This position reports to the Associate Director of Conference Services.

Minimum Requirements