Meeting and Event Planner

Join Our Mission-Driven Team as a Meeting and Event Planner

Are you an experienced event professional who thrives on creating seamless, high-quality conference experiences from concept to completion? We are seeking a Meeting & Event Planner to lead the planning and execution of our in-person, hybrid, and virtual events across Kansas and Nebraska.

In this role, you will oversee every detail of event logistics — from vendor sourcing and contract negotiations to budgets, registration systems, onsite coordination, and post-event evaluation. You'll collaborate closely with internal teams, volunteers, and external partners to ensure each event aligns with organizational goals while delivering an exceptional experience for attendees.

If you are highly organized, tech-savvy, enjoy managing multiple moving pieces, and want your work to have meaningful impact within a mission-driven organization, we invite you to apply and help shape unforgettable events for our community.

Salary Range: $52,000 – $60,000
Reports to: Communications Director
Location: Topeka, KS

Core job objectives (Not limited to):

To plan, coordinate, and execute high-quality in-person, hybrid, and virtual conference events by managing logistics, vendors, budgets, and stakeholder communications, ensuring each event aligns with organizational goals, operates within approved financial parameters, and delivers an exceptional experience for attendees, staff, and volunteers.

Core job tasks to accomplish job objectives (Not limited to):

Event Planning & Coordination

• Develop and manage event timelines, budgets, and logistics for all conference-sponsored events (in-person, hybrid, and virtual).
• Coordinate venue selection, contract negotiation, room blocks, catering, A/V, and other vendor services.
• Oversee event registration processes, including fee collection, attendee communications, and special accommodations.
• Collaborate with department leads and planning committees to ensure event goals and content are met.

Vendor & Contract Management

• Source, negotiate, and manage contracts with hotels, retreat centers, caterers, speakers, and other external vendors.
• Ensure compliance with conference policies and legal requirements.

Onsite & Virtual Event Execution

• Serve as the primary onsite contact for major events, overseeing setup, troubleshooting, and teardown.
• Manage virtual event platforms and support hybrid event logistics.

Budget & Financial Oversight

• Prepare and monitor event budgets, track expenses, and ensure cost control.
• Reconcile invoices and payments with the finance office.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Communicate regularly with staff, volunteers, planning committees, and external partners.
• Provide guidance and support to volunteer event teams.

Process Improvement

• Develop and maintain event planning templates, checklists, and best practices.
• Evaluate event outcomes and recommend improvements for future events.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications (Not limited to):

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality, event management, business administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3+ years of professional experience in event planning, conference management, or hospitality.
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, multi-day events and complex logistics.
• Strong negotiation, budgeting, and vendor management skills.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal abilities.
• Proficiency with event registration platforms, virtual meeting technology, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Skills or Experience:

• Experience working with faith-based or nonprofit organizations.
• Familiarity with hybrid event formats and online registration systems.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities.

Job-Related Physical Requirements (Not limited to):

• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds
• Must be able to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
• Operate office equipment such as computers and accessories, phone system, copier and AV equipment.
• This position requires travel across Kansas and Nebraska, with occasional duties beyond the boundaries of the Great Plains Conference.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $52, $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending