The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is one of the top urban park systems in the nation! We are seeking an innovative, results-oriented Special Events Coordinator who will use their wide-ranging skills to coordinate County and department sponsored special events, and help plan, develop, and execute internal and external communications and engagement for the department.

Specific duties include:

• 
  Performing pre-event and on-site coordination for County and department sponsored events, including groundbreaking ceremonies and ribbon cuttings for capital projects, including the Latino Americano Festival, Feel the Heritage, MLK Tribute and others;
• Serving as the County liaison to the Arlington County Fair, including coordinating County support services, managing service contracts, on-site programming, event applications, and internal communications with County staff and the County Board;
• Consulting and collaborating with subject matter experts and department leadership to provide effective responses on behalf of DPR to the County Board, County Manager’s Office, and others;
• Providing communication and public engagement services to the public and staff to ensure messages and programs are successful;
• Performing event management including benchmarking, program planning, budgeting, fundraising, marketing, advertising, entertainment programming, outreach, contract negotiations, partnerships, sponsorships, facility rentals and other areas that support the management of special events;
• Developing marketing tools and strategies, including outreach and inclusive messaging to reduce barriers to participation in parks and recreation facilities and programs; and
• Supporting the Public Relations Unit with creating newsletters, fliers, and performing other duties as assigned.

• Excellent communication, strategic public engagement, and exceptional customer service skills;
• Comprehensive understanding of community trends and interests;
• Strong time-management skills to balance workloads, meet deadlines and coordinate communication efforts across a large organization; and
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction on some projects, while working as part of a team on others.

Minimum:

• 
  Bachelor's degree in Communications, Business, Event Management, Recreation Management, or related field; and
• Some experience planning and coordinating events, recreation programming and planning, communications, or related field.

• Developing communications strategies and surveys, writing, editing, graphic design, marketing, and/or social media;
• Performing project planning, design, and construction in communications;
• Professional photography to take pictures of projects;
• Video and video editing and publishing on the web; and/or
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Publisher, and Excel), Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premier, Wordpress.

Note: Please attach to your application an example of a marketing sign, poster, flyer, or communications project or presentation you developed.

The selected candidate must possess, or obtain by time of appointment, a valid driver license, and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official driving record. Any offer of employment may be contingent upon favorable review of the applicants driving record.

A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.

COVID-19 Vaccination: Arlington County Government is committed to the health, safety, and wellness for all staff. In support of that commitment, all current and newly hired employees are required to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination. For those qualified employees with a disability or sincerely held religious belief which prohibits them from receiving a vaccine, you will be able to contact the Office of Human Rights to request a reasonable accommodation. Adherence to this policy is a condition of employment.

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, core hours are 9:00am - 5:30pm, with a flexible work schedule and telework opportunities. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required for community meetings, engagements, special events or emergencies requiring a communications response.

The official job title is DPR Events Coordinator.

Please complete each section of the application. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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