Startup Mzansi Foundation is a grassroots, entrepreneur-led, non-profit organization to educate, celebrate, and accelerate entrepreneurial success in South Africa to create healthy, sustainable communities and a more competitive and prosperous South Africa.

We do through:
* Facilitating a national network of strong startup communities;
* Connecting entrepreneurs into these communities to accelerate their growth;
* Celebrating South African entrepreneurs to promote a strong entrepreneurial culture; and,
* Providing a strong, independent national voice for South African entrepreneurs.

About the Position
The Event Coordinator will report to the Director of Events and will be responsible for back-end and on-site coordination of both internal and external events and conferences. The ideal candidate for the position will quickly excel within the role and be well-poised to solely manage several events annually, which is a high-profile position among the tech industry’s most influential people.

This is a high-growth role at a fast-paced company and thus requires a candidate who is extremely motivated, dedicated, and passionate about their career.

Overall Responsibilities
1.       Event Production: Production assistance with internal and external conferences and events such as:
* Startup Assembly
* Startitup Tour
* Startup 101 Workshops
2.       External Business Development: Partnership acquisition with tech’s leading companies, such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Yahoo, Twitter, Salesforce, and LinkedIn. You will work alongside the Events Director and will quickly learn how to build partnerships effectively within the Startup Mzansi landscape.

3.       Internal Business Development: Building relationships with our portfolio of 6000 startups and connecting them with event and partner opportunities at industry conferences, internal Startup Mzansi events, external Startup Community conferences, as well as introductions to other companies and executives.

Specific Responsibilities
* Research: Work with Events Director to research and compile pre-event data such as competitive events, marketing partner targets, sponsor targets, topics, and speakers.

* Project Management: Work with Events Director to engage relevant partners (event advisers), set-up meetings, and drive short and long-term goals.

* Content Production: Be part of the process…attend team meetings and participate in discussions with relevant parties about topics and speakers.

* Business Development: Engage the tech community…work with Events Director to secure event partnerships which involves research, conference calls, and in-person meetings.

* Marketing Strategy: Innovate our marketing channels…work with Events Director to brainstorm and solidify marketing strategy for events and conferences. This will involve a large amount of social media.

* Website Production: Alongside Events Director, work with designer to set-up event website, draft content, and incorporate social media platforms.

* Back-End Management: Manage back-end technologies and channels – Set-up and manage eventbrite page, plancast page, facebook page, twitter stream, and other event/social media platforms.

* Vendor Management: Coordinate with vendors as needed, such as printers, caterers, etc.

* Speaker Management: Collect relevant information from speakers such as photo, logo, bio, etc.

* Sponsor Management: Send contracts and invoices and collect payments from sponsors, as well as logos and photos.

* Volunteer Recruitment: Recruit event volunteers from volunteer database and local universities.

* Material Production: Alongside Events Director, make and assemble name badges for attendees, relevant signs, time cards, event production binders with all necessary information, etc.

* Event Management: Alongside Events Director, serve as “event producer” at most events during main stage and/or afternoon tracks. This is a “stage manager” role that involves constant timing, speaker management, management of audio visual technicians, and more.

* Speaker Management: Serve as contact for arriving speakers, provide them with instructions and information regarding their roles, assist them with file uploads, and work with audio visual technicians to test presentations with speakers.

* Volunteer Management: Alongside Registration Manager, oversee volunteers during event.

* Vendor Follow-up: Ensure that all vendor payments are complete and all accounts are closed.

* Sponsor Follow-up: Manage calls with sponsors to thank them and gather feedback.

* Speaker Follow-up: Draft and send hand-written thank you cards to all speakers.

* Attendee Follow-up: Draft and send post-conference thank you to all attendees, and manage any questions and comments.

* Serve as contact point to funnel opportunities from the events division to relevant members of the Startup Mzansi team, such as introductions and potential partnerships

* Maintain competitive events calendar and ensure that Events page on Startup Mzansi and StartupApp website is up to date.

* Maintain appropriate levels of event supplies such as name badges, printer ink, badge boxes, sign holders, paper, etc.

* Constantly innovate and think up new ideas, strategies, partnerships, and locations where we should focus – the ideal candidate will excel in this role, always be searching for new methods and technologies, and eventually will run several Startup Mzansi events independently.

* Education: College/University degree

* Location: Candidate must be based in the Johannesburg Area (not a telecommute position)

* Traits: Razor sharp, extremely motivated and career-driven, diplomatic, social, energetic, persuasive, humble, patient, and hard-working. Extra points for wit and humor!

* Personality: You need to be the kind of person who’s bold enough to call someone you’ve never met, engaging enough to get to know them and build a relationship, resourceful enough to find the opportunities and seize them, hard-working enough to roll up your sleeves and get the job done, and thorough enough to close loops and deals independently.

* Experience: You don’t need events experience, though it is a plus.
Annual Compensation: Commensurate with experience. Also includes potential for commission + a full benefits package.

To Apply:  Candidates should send their resume and salary requirements to people at startupmzansi dot org dot za.

Sandile Shabangu


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