Job Description:

Position Title: Manager of Events

Position Type: Full-Time

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Division: Business Services / Operations

Department: Culinary Services

Reports to: Director of Culinary Operations

About Crystal Bridges:

Crystal Bridges is a museum of American art located in Bentonville, Arkansas. We explore the unfolding story of America by actively collecting, exhibiting, interpreting, and preserving outstanding works that illuminate the American heritage and artistic possibilities. Founded by Alice Walton in 2005, the museum opened in 2011 and is a public, non-profit charitable organization with free admission.

Position Summary:
The Manager of Events is responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of events across multiple locations within a large organization. This role requires strategic leadership to manage complex events while working collaboratively with internal teams and external clients. The Manager of Events ensures that all events align with the organization's brand, meet client expectations, and are delivered efficiently and within budget. This individual will also be responsible for building relationships with external vendors, stakeholders, and clients to ensure a seamless event experience.

Principal Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Event Strategy & Planning:
  • Lead the development of event strategies and processes across multiple locations, ensuring consistency in quality, branding, and execution.
  • Collaborate with internal teams, including marketing, operations, and food & beverage, to plan and execute events that meet the organization's goals.
  • Oversee the creation of event proposals, timelines, and budgets, ensuring all events are aligned with client needs and business objectives.
• Event Execution & Operations:
  • Oversee the execution of events across multiple venues, including conferences, galas, concerts, and corporate events, ensuring that each event runs smoothly and meets client expectations.
  • Ensure all event logistics, including venue setup, catering, audio-visual, and staffing, are coordinated efficiently.
  • Monitor event performance, addressing any issues in real-time to ensure successful outcomes.
• Internal Collaboration:
  • Work closely with cross-functional internal teams to ensure all event elements align with the organization’s standards and brand.
  • Coordinate with leadership teams to provide regular updates on event progress, challenges, and successes.
  • Liaise with cross-functionally across all teams to ensure effective budget management and cost control.
• External Client & Vendor Management:
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with external clients, ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction and repeat business.
  • Negotiate contracts with external vendors, including event production, decor, catering, and other suppliers, ensuring services meet the organization's standards and financial goals.
  • Act as a main point of contact for clients, vendors, and partners, ensuring clear communication and a seamless event planning process.
• Leadership & Team Management:
  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of event coordinators and planners, providing guidance and support in their development and performance.
  • Ensure all team members are aligned with event objectives, timelines, and client expectations.
  • Foster a collaborative, solutions-focused culture that encourages innovation and accountability.
• Financial & Performance Tracking:
  • Develop and manage event budgets, ensuring all events are executed within financial parameters.
  • Track and report on key event performance metrics, including client satisfaction, profitability, and operational efficiency.
  • Identify opportunities for cost savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced client satisfaction.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Implement and refine processes to enhance the effectiveness of event operations and client services.
  • Stay updated on industry trends and best practices, incorporating new strategies to improve the organization's event offerings.
  • Solicit client feedback post-event and use insights to improve future events.

 General Responsibilities

The Manager of Events is responsible for leading event strategy and execution across multiple locations, ensuring consistency in quality and alignment with organizational goals. This includes collaborating with internal teams to plan events, overseeing logistics, and managing event proposals, timelines, and budgets. The role also involves maintaining strong client and vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and ensuring smooth communication. Additionally, the manager leads a team of event coordinators, tracks event performance, manages budgets, and drives continuous improvement through process enhancements and industry best practices to ensure successful outcomes and client satisfaction.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Traits:

• Bachelor’s degree in event management, hospitality, business administration, or a related field.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage cross-functional teams and build relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, and time-management abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple events simultaneously.
• Strong financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, contract negotiation, and cost control.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing client needs.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a corporate or large-scale venue setting is a plus.
• Knowledge of event management software and CRM tools, Momentous is a plus.
• Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality customer experiences and exceed client expectations.

In regard to education and experience, an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience will satisfy the minimum requirements.

Work Experience:

7+ years of experience in event management, with experience overseeing large-scale events, multiple locations is a plus.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands:  In the work environment described below, position requires working in a high functioning kitchen for prolonged periods of time and good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching for prepping, and physical stamina to lift a minimum of 25 pounds. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job. Additionally, this position requires meeting the public and the organization in a professional and courteous manner. Occasionally, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to independently travel in the local area. 

Work environment:  Work will be performed in an office environment, museum spaces, and in communities served. The physical arrangement of the office may require the position to work in an open environment within close proximity to other colleagues. Work space must be organized and reflect efficiency. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.  Frequent evening and weekend work hours and some travel is required.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States on your first day of work.

Crystal Bridges is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a culturally diverse workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.