Event coordinator job description

• Event coordinator definition
• Job requirements
• Why an event coordinator?
• Education
• Experience
• Salary

Event coordinators, working anywhere from social to corporate settings, help organisations run successful events, handling the financial side, booking rented venues and managing client requests. They may be self-employed or hired by organisations to look after their events exclusively.

Event coordinators are hired to develop, plan, coordinate and deliver functions within business organisations, making sure every stage of the event runs as planned.

Coordinating special events calls for the skills to supervise, plan, coordinate, deliver and control the day-to-day running of events, whether social, educational, internal or external. The event coordinator has to respect the financial constraints and meet guests' requests and schedules.

Event coordinators bring experience and knowledge in an industry that never stops changing. They know their way around event budgets, catering, decor, venue hire and space requirements, which cuts down risk and mistakes in the planning.

A secondary school diploma is the standard requirement. Although a university degree in communication, marketing or business administration is useful and often preferred, it is not always required where there is significant experience in the sector.

Much of a coordinator's experience comes from delivering successful events. Starting with straightforward business meetings, weddings, social functions or events of 50 guests or fewer, planners can gradually build up the guest numbers, the size of the event and the complexity of what is involved.

Freelance event coordinators may charge a percentage of the event budget, though most work for a salary. Pay varies with experience, geographic location and the sector you work in.

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