As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

The HR Events & Project Manager leads and manages the strategic communications, logistics, execution, and project tracking for major enterprise leadership events, onboarding programs, and complex HR initiatives across University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics. Reporting to the Senior Manager of HR Communications, this role serves as an operational bridge and lead project owner—translating high-level HR and organizational priorities into comprehensive event strategies, structured project plans, and engaging communication campaigns. This role combines expert project management, dynamic public facilitation, and high-level strategic writing. Key accountabilities include driving end-to-end communications and run-of-show collateral for system-wide leadership gatherings (e.g., the annual Leadership Summit for ~1,500 leaders), serving as a primary lead facilitator for weekly New Employee Orientation, and managing cross-functional campaign workflows using enterprise project management tools.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Essential Functions

• Leads the end-to-end communications planning, strategic messaging, attendee engagement strategies, and collateral creation for high-visibility health system events, including the annual Leadership Summit (~1,500 system leaders), quarterly Director Gatherings, annual Board Retreats, and executive town halls.
• Partners closely with HR leadership, Organizational Development (OD), and executive stakeholders to define event learning objectives, draft scripts and talking points, develop run-of-show documentation, and coordinate post-event evaluation and messaging.

• Serves as a primary lead presenter and interactive facilitator for weekly, full-day, in-person New Employee Orientation (NEO), engaging cohorts of 80–100+ new hires per session to deliver a compelling, high-quality onboarding experience.
• Continuously evaluates and refines NEO presentation materials, facilitation techniques, and guest speaker coordination to align with health system culture, values, and strategic goals.

• Establishes, maintains, and oversees comprehensive project plans, timelines, intake workflows, and task deliverables for major HR communications campaigns using enterprise project management software (e.g., Asana).
• Monitors campaign milestones, cross-functional dependencies, risk logs, and approval cycles across HR Centers of Expertise (COEs) and health system leadership to ensure on-time, zero-defect execution.

• Researches, writes, and edits executive-level communications, leader toolkits, system-wide announcements, FAQs, talking points, and feature articles for internal digital channels (e.g., Pulse).
• Collaborates with instructional design and learning specialists to draft, structure, and refine written content and job aids for ongoing leadership development micro-learning programs.

• Executes integrated, multi-channel communication plans supporting major HR initiatives (e.g., performance management, benefits open enrollment, employee engagement surveys, and platform rollouts).
• Ensures all event collateral, campaign assets, and written messaging strictly adhere to organizational brand standards, editorial guidelines, and healthcare compliance requirements.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Advanced project management skills, with proven experience building and managing complex, multi-stakeholder project plans in enterprise tools (e.g., Asana, Smartsheet, MS Project).

• Exceptional public speaking, group facilitation, and stage presence, with the poise and energy required to command large audiences (100+ people) for full-day programs.

• Demonstrated expertise in event communications, event production, run-of-show management, and executive stakeholder alignment.

• Superior written communication, copyediting, and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex HR policies and strategic goals into engaging copy.

• High emotional intelligence and professional poise when collaborating with executive leaders, physician leaders, and cross-functional project teams.

• Strong organizational skills and agile problem-solving capabilities to balance competing event timelines and campaign deliverables simultaneously.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Project Management, Marketing, Public Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Four (4) or more years of progressively responsible experience in communications project management, large-scale event coordination, public presentation/facilitation, or strategic internal communications.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing structured project plans for complex organizational initiatives.

Preferred

• Formal project management training or certification (e.g., PMP, CAPM, or Agile/Scrum).

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This is a sedentary position in an office setting that may exert up to 10 pounds and may lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. This position involves sitting most of the time and is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.