Event Support Specialist (Volunteer)

Blind Professionals Network (BPN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering blind and visually impaired (BVI) individuals to achieve professional success. We provide free career development, specialized training, and a vital peer network to break down employment barriers.

Position Summary

The Event Support Specialist is a detail-oriented volunteer role dedicated to the technical and administrative execution of BPN’s virtual and hybrid events. Working closely with the Events Manager and the broader Events Team, this individual ensures the "behind-the-scenes" logistics—from registration setup to live technical moderating—are handled with precision. This role is vital in maintaining a seamless, professional, and accessible experience for all BPN members.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Coordination & Moderation:

Live Tech Support: Serve as the primary technical moderator during live virtual events (Zoom/Google Meet), managing participant entry, muting/unmuting, and troubleshooting technical issues for speakers and attendees.
Breakout Management: Coordinate the logistics of breakout rooms for networking events and workshops, ensuring participants are moved efficiently and timers are managed.
Recording & Archiving: Manage the recording of sessions and ensure files are properly saved, edited (if necessary), and uploaded to the BPN resource library.

Administrative & Logistics Support:

Registration Management: Set up and monitor event registration via platforms like Zoom, Google Forms, Eventbrite or Lu.ma, providing regular registration updates to the Events Manager.
Speaker Liaison: Assist in collecting bios, headshots, and presentation materials from guest speakers, ensuring all materials are received in an accessible format before the event.
Calendar Maintenance: Assist the Events Manager in updating the BPN community calendar and internal project management tools with event details.

Accessibility Advocacy:

In-Meeting Accessibility: Assist in verbalizing chat messages, describing visual elements of shared screens, and ensuring that polling or interactive tools used during events are screen-reader accessible.
Material Review: Review event slides or handouts for basic accessibility (alt-text, heading structures) before they are distributed to members.

Data & Feedback:

Attendance Tracking: Record and compile attendance data immediately following events to assist in impact reporting.
Survey Distribution: Send out post-event surveys to attendees and assist the Events Manager in aggregating feedback for future planning.

Qualifications

Experience: Experience in administrative support, customer service, or technical moderation (virtual event experience is a plus).
Technical Proficiency: High level of comfort with Zoom (specifically managing meetings and webinars), Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
Attention to Detail: Ability to manage small logistical details that contribute to a professional event atmosphere.
Communication: Clear verbal communication skills and a friendly, professional "voice" when interacting with participants online.
Reliability: A strong sense of punctuality, as this role is critical to the start and end times of live events.

Reporting Structure

This position reports directly to the Events Manager.

Time Commitment

This is a volunteer position requiring an estimated commitment of 3–5 hours per week. This includes brief check-in meetings with the Events Team and live support during events (typically held on weekday evenings or occasional weekends).

Application

If you believe this position aligns with your skills, experience and career goals, please follow these steps to begin the application process:

Submit Your Credentials: Send your resume and a letter of interest to Training@BlindProNet.org. In your letter, please detail your relevant professional experience and your specific motivation for joining the Blind Professionals Network Team.
Complete the Application: After submitting your application, finalize your application by completing the BPN Volunteer application.

Important Note: Completing both of these steps is essential to initiate our onboarding process and helps us ensure a mutually beneficial placement within the organization.