Program Coordinator, Hospitality

Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke.

Hospitality and Wedding Coordinator

Duke University Chapel Durham, North Carolina Full-Time

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality, service, and the meaningful contributions each team member brings to our community. As the Hospitality and Wedding Coordinator, you will play a central role in creating welcoming, memorable, and mission-centered experiences for visitors, wedding couples, families, students, alumni, and members of the broader Duke community.

In this highly collaborative position, you'll serve as a key coordinator for hospitality programs, wedding services, special events, and visitor engagement initiatives within one of Duke University's most recognized and cherished landmarks. Working closely with the Director of Hospitality and partnering with multiple Chapel departments, you'll help ensure every interaction reflects the warmth, excellence, and hospitality that define Duke Chapel.

Be Bold.

As the Hospitality and Wedding Coordinator, you'll manage a dynamic portfolio of events and services while helping create seamless experiences for guests and stakeholders. Your work will directly support worship services, life celebrations, weddings, visitor programs, and special events that connect people to Duke Chapel's mission and community.

What You'll Do

Coordinate Hospitality Events and Visitor Experiences

• Schedule and coordinate funerals, memorial services, baptisms, tower climbs, internal events, and other Hospitality-supported programs.
• Provide day-of event support and oversee logistics for funerals, memorials, graduations, and other assigned events.
• Collaborate with Chapel departments to ensure effective planning, communication, and execution of events.
• Manage inquiries received through the DukeChapel@duke.edu email account and direct requests to appropriate resources when needed.
• Maintain the Chapel calendar in partnership with the Director of Hospitality.
• Track visitor data and maintain accurate reports and records.
• Manage Hospitality inventory, including visitor information materials and printed resources.
• Support an exceptional visitor experience by ensuring hospitality services are delivered with professionalism and care.

Lead Volunteer and Staff Coordination

• Oversee docent operations, including scheduling, recruitment support, tour coordination, and collaboration with the Head Docent.
• Provide day-to-day supervision, scheduling, and coordination of Visitor Relations Assistants (VRAs) and wedding staff.
• Communicate schedules, assignments, and operational expectations to staff members.
• Serve as a first point of contact for routine staffing and scheduling questions.
• Coordinate staffing adjustments and communicate event-related updates.
• Escalate significant operational or personnel concerns to the Director of Hospitality.
• Provide front desk coverage as a Visitor Relations Assistant when needed.

Manage Wedding Services and Client Relationships

• Coordinate wedding ceremonies and Rehearsal/Orientation Visits (ROVs) from inquiry through event completion.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for engaged couples throughout the planning process.
• Manage inquiries received through the chapelweddings@duke.edu email account.
• Conduct tours and planning meetings for prospective and confirmed wedding couples.
• Administer monthly wedding sign-ups and coordinate scheduling adjustments when dates become available.
• Process wedding payments and maintain accurate financial and event records.
• Coordinate parking, wedding logistics, and operational details with couples and vendors.
• Partner with Chapel Music and other departmental teams to support wedding-related needs.
• Coordinate Wedding Directors and Wedding Assistants to ensure proper staffing for ceremonies.
• Serve as a backup Wedding Director or Wedding Assistant when necessary.
• Foster positive relationships with prospective couples and support efforts to expand wedding services at Duke Chapel.

Support Administrative Operations

• Maintain accurate Hospitality, wedding, visitor, and event records.
• Manage calendars, databases, files, and departmental documentation.
• Support communications, follow-up, and customer service activities related to events and hospitality services.
• Assist with special projects, departmental initiatives, and strategic priorities as assigned.
• Perform additional responsibilities in support of Chapel operations and visitor engagement.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience coordinating events, hospitality services, customer-facing programs, or similar operational activities.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Experience managing schedules, calendars, records, and event logistics.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact professionally with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and maintain strong working relationships.
• Proficiency using technology and administrative systems to manage communications, scheduling, and records.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience planning weddings, ceremonies, hospitality programs, or special events.
• Experience supervising staff, student employees, volunteers, or event teams.
• Knowledge of customer service and hospitality best practices.
• Experience working in higher education, faith-based organizations, cultural institutions, or nonprofit environments.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and service-focused in dynamic event settings.

Growth and Development Opportunities

At Duke, you'll have opportunities to:

• Develop expertise in event management, hospitality operations, and client engagement.
• Build relationships with university leaders, community members, visitors, and event partners.
• Strengthen supervisory, scheduling, and operational leadership skills.
• Gain experience coordinating milestone events, ceremonies, and large-scale visitor experiences.
• Contribute to innovative hospitality initiatives that enhance the Duke Chapel experience.

Choose Duke.

Duke University is recognized globally for excellence in education, research, healthcare, community engagement, and service. At Duke Chapel, you'll join a team dedicated to hospitality, meaningful experiences, and fostering connections among students, faculty, staff, alumni, visitors, and community members.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• A collaborative and mission-driven work environment.
• The opportunity to contribute to one of Duke University's most visible and impactful institutions.
• Meaningful work that supports life events, celebrations, worship services, and community engagement.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply today and help create exceptional experiences for the thousands of visitors, families, couples, students, and community members who connect with Duke Chapel each year.

Join us and help advance Duke Chapel's tradition of hospitality, service, and excellence.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $45,661.00 to USD $73,140.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas - an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).