Activation Coordinator

Promotional Opportunity

This is an internal recruitment only for current qualified classified City of Reno Employees. The ideal candidate in this position will play a pivotal role in shaping events that bolster the economic impact of the City and foster local participation, while also attracting out-of-town interest. The ideal candidate has strong event coordination skills, excellent communication skills, and a passion for revitalizing public spaces. They are able to think creatively and strategically, identifying unique opportunities to activate underutilized spaces and bring the community together. They will plan and execute all City sponsored major and minor special events that activate underutilized public spaces in the City. They will manage and evaluate the activities, budget, facilities, equipment, contractors and volunteers for all qualifying special events within the City. The Activation Coordinator is a key member of the team and plays an important role in driving the success of the City's revitalization efforts.

We currently have one vacancy in the Parks & Recreation department, in which hiring will begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies, which will be filled as they occur. This is an internal recruitment to provide a promotional opportunity for all qualified current classified City of Reno employees. The City of Reno is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone. This commitment is an integral part of our efforts to ensure that we have a diverse and representative workforce that serves the community of Reno.

Examples of Essential Functions

• Assume management responsibility for the activities and operations of all City-sponsored major and minor special events, including signature City-sponsored special events; oversee compliance with all applicable laws, policies, procedures, rules and regulations, including those set forth by the City, State, and the District Health Department.
• Plan and execute events in underutilized and / or vacant public spaces, such as parks, plazas, and parking lots, with the goal of revitalizing and bolstering economic impact to the City; coordinating all aspects of City-sponsored special events in public spaces, including managing event logistics, permits, equipment rentals, and vendor contracts
• Monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommend, within policy, appropriate service and staffing levels.
• Plan, direct, coordinate, and review the work plan for the contract and assigned City staff; assign work activities, projects, and programs; review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Coordinate, direct, and oversee both contract and City staff who are designated to work on special events.
• Negotiate, administer, and approve all special events expenditures and contracts.
• Recommend, develop, and implement short and long-term goals and objectives for City special events; research and develop new funding and revenue sources.
• Develop and present an event strategy that aligns with the overall City revitalization strategy to City management and City Council. Be responsible for executing policy decisions related to that strategy and develop metrics for measuring the success of events and report on outcomes to stakeholders.
• Gather community input through meetings, surveys, and other methods when working with new major events and when evaluating existing major events.
• Confer with citizens, downtown business groups, City departments, outside agencies, elected officials, and other groups about the design, planning, production and promotion of special events; recruit community and organizational support for special events.
• Oversee and participate in the development and administration of the annual budget and special events budgets; participate in the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitor and approve expenditures; implement adjustments.
• Oversee the permitting, licensing, and regulation of outside organizations and promoters producing events, including film shoots.
• Provide production assistance and coordination of City services for sponsored, co-sponsored, non-city sponsored, or fee-paid events on public properties and rights-of-way.
• Work with event promoters on marketing and promotion of major special events that may include public relations, advertising, and direct marketing.
• Maintain adequate inventory of special events materials including signs, barricades, and other necessary promotion or safety items.
• Serve as liaison for special events activities and operations with other divisions, departments, and outside agencies; negotiate and resolve sensitive and controversial issues.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of special events; research and forecast trends in the amusement, entertainment, and leisure services industry.
• Receive, review and process community applications for City special events, including reviewing and assessing event proposals and coordinating city sponsorship to offset event costs.
• Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Work flexible hours including evenings, holidays, and occasional weekends to accommodate event schedules.
• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

The following minimum qualifications are required to be met at the time of application. Combinations of relevant work experience and education that are equivalent to the following are acceptable.

Education : Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Marketing, Business Administration, Public Administration, Communication, or a closely related field. Each year of additional relevant work experience will substitute for one year of the education requirement.

Work Experience : Three years of experience coordinating public events, conventions, and / or large-scale meetings and their corresponding logistics.

License : Valid driver's license. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Supplemental Information

To Apply : Please submit your completed application and all additional information / documentation requested online at www.reno.gov / jobs by November 16, 2025 at 11 : 59 p.m. PT. If a computer or mobile device is not available to you, suggested locations to submit an online application include : the City of Reno City Hall 2nd floor computer kiosk or Civil Service Office, any Nevada Job Connect location, local libraries, or educational facilities.

If you are having difficulty logging into your governmentjobs.com profile, please call the applicant support line at 855-524-5627.

Examination Process : Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire. The examination will consist of online assessments, which include a Cognitive Abilities Test and an Employee Personality Profile, along with a Training and Experience evaluation (T&E) weighted as follows :

Online Assessment Details : Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the online assessments once the recruitment has closed. These tests will be self-administered with no proctor, which means candidates will be able to complete them online at their convenience during the designated testing window.

The instructions and guidelines will be emailed to qualified applicants after the recruitment closes on November 16, 2025. Please make sure to check for emails around this time, including your spam folder, so that you do not miss this testing opportunity. All assessments must be completed within the designated testing window to move forward in the hiring process.

Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) Details : The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "QUESTIONS" on the job announcement page. The T&E must be submitted online at the time of application.

Notification : Applicants are notified by email of their examination results. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will also be notified within two weeks of the job posting closing. We highly recommend opting in to receive text message notifications. Follow-up text messages may include updates about your application, next steps, and interviews. If you haven't opted in before, the option will appear before you submit your application. If you've previously opted