Event Planner Jobs in Iowa
Event Planner jobs in Iowa concentrate in corporate meetings, agricultural conferences, university events, and nonprofit fundraisers, with consistent demand at every level from entry-level coordinators to senior directors. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City account for the largest share of openings, where employers like Principal Financial Group, Hy-Vee, and the University of Iowa maintain active event teams. The most in-demand specialties are corporate meeting planning, venue coordination, and association event management. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Position Title: Aquatic Center Age Group Development Coordinator and Event Coordinator
Department: Athletics/Operations and Maintenance
Immediate Supervisor: Aquatic Center Manager
Summary:
The Aquatic Center Age Group Development Coordinator / Facility Event Coordinator is responsible for leading the development and performance of the Linn-Mar Swim Team's Age Group program (Prep, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum groups) while coordinating and managing aquatic events hosted at the Linn-Mar Aquatic Center.
This position plays a critical role in building the developmental foundation of the swim team by designing and implementing a comprehensive training program that emphasizes technical skill progression, athlete retention, and long-term competitive success. Additionally, the role oversees event operations, specifically ensuring all middle school and high school events, in addition to club competitions are executed efficiently and professionally.
This position serves as a key connector between swim lessons, age group development, and senior-level performancesupporting a unified aquatic pathway from beginner to high-performance athlete. All full-time aquatic center employees are asked to respond to any incident within the facility, enforce rules, be responsive to visitor/staff requests and ensuring the safety of all participants in the Aquatic Center. In this role, regular communication with Aquatic Center Manager and Youth Swim Team Coordinator on status of the team and facility and any concerns in operations or procedures is required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (other duties may be assigned)
- Age Group Coaching & Athlete Development
? Design and implement seasonal training plans, daily workouts, and athlete progression models
? Promote athlete retention, development, and advancement into senior-level programming
? Emphasize proper technique, skill development, and long-term athlete development principles
? Provide individualized feedback and goal setting
- Staff Leadership & Program Oversight
o Lead practice group organization and curriculum alignment
o Conduct regular individual staff meetings and program evaluations
o Assist in leading coach development sessions
o Assist in recruiting and onboarding qualified coaching staff
o Ensure staff are coaching in alignment with industry best practices (e.g., USA Swimming, America Swim Coaches Association)
o Assign coaches to appropriate levels based on skill and experience and maintain appropriate student-to-coach ratios
- Communication & Family Engagement
o Communicate practice schedules, meet expectations, and athlete progress
o Provide guidance to families regarding long-term development and swim team pathways
- Meet Operations & Athlete Entries
o Coordinate athlete participation in local and championship competitions
o Assist with team logistics for meets (entries, lineups, planning)
- Facility Event Coordination
? Leads planning and execution of aquatic events, including staffing, logistics, and facility readiness
o Participate in the club swim team event volunteer committee
? Collaborates with volunteer groups to support meet operations.
- Program Alignment & Collaboration
? Aquatic Center Manager
? Youth Swim Team Coordinator
? Lessons Coordinator
o Help bridge the gap between:
? Swim lessons ? Age Group program
? Age Group ? Senior program
o Support evaluation events, clinics, and program growth initiatives
- Safety & Certification
o Partner with Aquatic Center leadership to proactively identify and mitigate safety risks
o Respond to any injuries or incidents around the Aquatic Center facility quickly and appropriately.
- Miscellaneous
o Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, adhere to specified uniform requirements.
o Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This position is essential to the continued growth and success of Linn-Mar aquatic programming, ensuring a strong developmental pipeline while maintaining high-quality event operations that support athletes, families, and the community.
- Staff Oversight & Management
o Supervise staff and volunteers during hosted events
o Ensure appropriate staff coverage for practices, meets, and events
- Performance Evaluation
o Provide consistent feedback, goal setting, and corrective action when needed
o Recognize and reward high-performing staff members
o Maintain documentation related to employee performance and development
- Communication & Culture
o Facilitate communication updates
o Foster a positive, professional, and team-oriented work environment
o Address staff concerns, conflicts, and scheduling needs in a timely manner
o Coordination with other facility programming
- Collaborate with:
o Swim Team Head Coach and Senior Staff
o Help align team staffing with team, school, and event schedules
o Support staffing needs for special events, clinics, or evaluations
Minimum Education or Experience:
Education
- Required:
- Preferred:
? Exercise Science
? Education (Physical Education, Elementary, or related)
? Recreation, Sport Management, or Kinesiology
? Communication
? Or a closely related field
- Required:
o Prior experience working with youth in a structured team or instructional setting
- Preferred:
? Experience with:
- Meet entry systems (e.g., TeamUnify, Hy-Tek)
- Event management or hosted competitions
- Staff supervision or program leadership
- Experience within a USA Swimming club or school-based program
- Required Certifications (at Time of Hire or Shortly After)
o CPR/AED and First Aid certification
o SafeSport Training
- Preferred Certifications
o Lifeguarding certification (helpful for event management oversight)
o Certified Pool Operator (CPO) (optional but valuable)
Professional Standards:
- Demonstrate a commitment to athlete development, and positive coaching practices
- Maintain professionalism in all interactions with athletes, families, staff, and officials
- Uphold Linn-Mar Community School District policies and swim team standards
- Foster a positive, disciplined, and team-oriented culture
- Exhibit leadership, accountability, and consistency in program expectations
- Commit to ongoing professional development in coaching and athlete performance
- Demonstrate flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and extended meet schedules
- Plans work to efficiently meet schedules and deadlines. Organizes equipment and work areas. Adjusts schedule to meet facility/staff needs.
- Professional, positive and helpful approach with visitors and District employees. Displays loyalty toward the organization. Demonstrates a capacity to understand internal and external customer requirements and produces a professional level of service that is satisfactory.
- Demonstrates openness to new organizational structures and procedures. Willingly takes direction and will modify one's preferred way of doing things.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed here are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)
- Knowledge
o Long-term athlete development and age group progression models
o USA Swimming rules, meet structures, and entry systems
o Event management practices and facility operations
- Skills
o Excellent communication with athletes, families, and staff
o Organizational and time-management skills for balancing coaching and events
o Ability to analyze performance and implement technical corrections
o Problem-solving and decision-making in fast-paced environments
o Data tracking and performance evaluation
- Abilities
o Ability to manage large-scale aquatic events with multiple stakeholders
o Ability to collaborate effectively across programs and departments
o Ability to maintain high standards of athlete performance
o Ability to build a positive coaching culture that supports long-term success
o Ability to work varying shifts, including weekends and evenings.
o Ability to perform coaching and management duties requiring physical endurance, coordination, and situational awareness."
Physical Demands & Work Environment:
The employee must be able to perform duties in an aquatic environment, including standing, walking, swimming, and assisting with water rescues. The role requires physical endurance, the ability to lift and assist individuals, and frequent bending, reaching, and movement. Must be able to work in wet, humid, and high-noise conditions.
See All 14 Event Planner Jobs in Iowa
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Find Event Planner JobsEvent Planner Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Event Planner Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in event planner jobs across Iowa.
- Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, marketing, communications, or a related field
- Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential preferred or required by many Iowa employers
- Proven experience coordinating end-to-end events from vendor sourcing to day-of execution
- Strong budget management and contract negotiation skills across multiple vendors
- Proficiency with event management software such as Cvent, Eventbrite, or equivalent platforms
- Ability to travel within Iowa and availability to work evenings and weekends for events
Event Planner Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a event planner in Iowa?
Iowa does not require a state-issued license to work as an event planner, so the path runs through education and credentials. Most employers expect at minimum an associate or bachelor's degree in hospitality management, communications, or marketing. From there, earning the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation through the Events Industry Council significantly strengthens your candidacy. Many planners also build experience through internships at Iowa convention centers, hotel event departments, or university event offices before moving into full-time roles.
Which companies hire event planners in Iowa?
Iowa event planner roles are posted by Signup Expert, Aveda, and Topgolf and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Iowa's mix of Fortune 500 financial firms, large health systems, land-grant universities, and agricultural associations creates steady year-round demand across both corporate and nonprofit sectors.
Which Iowa cities have the most event planner jobs?
Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Marion hold the most event planner openings in Iowa. Des Moines leads because it is home to major corporate headquarters, convention facilities, and a growing nonprofit sector, while Cedar Rapids draws demand from manufacturing and food-industry companies, and Iowa City's openings are driven largely by the University of Iowa and its affiliated medical and research operations.
Are there remote event planner jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. About 80% of event planner openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting how heavily the role depends on on-site venue coordination, vendor walkthroughs, and day-of management. The portions of the job most likely to be done remotely are early-stage logistics, budgeting, vendor outreach, and post-event reporting.
How can I get hired as a event planner in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through event coordinator or event assistant roles at Iowa hotels, convention centers, or university event offices, where supervision is built into the job. Large Iowa employers like the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and major Des Moines hotels regularly bring on coordinators who handle logistics under senior planners. Volunteering to manage events for Iowa-based nonprofits or professional associations builds a portfolio quickly. Completing an event management certificate program and earning a CMP student designation gives an early credential advantage even before your first professional role.
Where can I find and apply to event planner jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to event planner jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your experience and preferred location, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 14 Event Planner Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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