Special Events Manager

ABOUT THE PIKE PLACE MARKET FOUNDATION:

Beyond the fish and flowers, Pike Place Market is a village of farmers, artists, residents and neighbors. With senior housing above the Market’s storefronts and a network of social services woven throughout the historic district, the Pike Place Market Foundation welcomes and supports a diverse community in the heart of downtown Seattle.

Established in 1982, after a decades-long fight to save Pike Place Market from the wrecking ball, the Market Foundation was established to fulfill the Market’s historic charter to provide services and support for our community, especially our neighbors living on low incomes.

Rooted in our model for a healthy community, the Market Foundation improves the health and well-being of our neighbors by promoting and increasing access to education, nutritious food, community support, economic stability and a safe neighborhood.

As a community foundation, we provide annual support and partnership to a network of social services in Pike Place Market in addition to operating our own programs and services through our community resource center, The Market Commons.

Together, with the support of our staff, service partners, volunteers and donors, we are reaching our vision to nurture a healthy Pike Place Market community so that everyone within it can live their best life possible.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Special Events Manager is responsible for leading the strategy, logistics and analysis of all Market Foundation produced events. The primary focus is on producing major fundraising events that help fund our community investment and impact goals. This position also produces Market community events that foster community, inclusivity, education and celebration and supports benefit and donor stewardship events.

POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Event Strategic Leadership

1. Lead the goals, strategy and staff planning for all logistics, fundraising elements, content, execution and evaluation of all annual fundraising events (i.e. Celebrate the Market! and Sunset Supper).
2. Collaborate with various staff members in the planning, execution and evaluation of seasonal community and donor stewardship events produced by the Market Foundation.
3. Design events to meet our Community Centric Fundraising goals and increase diversity, equity and inclusion goals within events.
4. Evaluate event support services needed for sustainability, risk-management, productivity and profitability.
5. Serve as the staff liaison for events at Board, Donor Engagement Committee, and Marketing Committee meetings.
6. Serve as the event liaison to the Pike Place Market PDA to ensure cohesive partnership and minimize disruption for Market Foundation events, and collaborator at PDA produced events.
7. Create, manage and analyze event budgets.
8. Report on success metrics of events (profitability, engagement, attendance, budget, etc.)

Special Events Management

1. Manage all key event logistics, design, layout, entertainment, technology, rentals, contracts, vendors, permitting, staffing, security, supplies, activities, and vendors.
2. Recruit and maintain relationships with businesses, artists and talent who donate/participate in events. Develop recognition strategy to ensure time, talent and resource contributions are valued.
3. Collaborate with Donor Relations Manager on strategy and technology for ticketing and in-event donations.
4. Collaborate with Development & Volunteer Coordinator for volunteer recruitment, scheduling and coordination for all events.
5. Collaborate with fundraising team on donor outreach and engagement strategy to meet revenue goals.
6. Collaborate with Communications Coordinator and Director of Philanthropy on all aspects of marketing, communications, design, printing and outreach.
7. Hire and manage seasonal event staff and consultants.
8. Collaborate in the procurement strategy of prizes for event gaming activities and on outreach strategies and donor engagement for fundraising events.
9. Monitors event industry standards, practices and trends to ensure innovation, awareness and influence within the events industry and downtown Seattle.

Third Party Benefit Coordination

1. Assist third parties interested in doing events on the Market Foundation’s behalf, as needed.
2. Advise partner agencies and community leaders with logistics for their events, as appropriate.

DESIRABLE WORK EXPERIENCE AND QUALITIES:

1. The ideal candidate for this position will have a demonstrated commitment to non-profit organizations with people skills and the ability to foster energy, hope, compassion, and good humor in a challenging environment.
2. Knowledge of and experience with community-centric fundraising principles and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access within the scope of work tasks
3. Minimum five years of experience coordinating the logistics and promotion of large-scale events.
4. Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team, while building and maintaining relationships with donors, vendors, volunteers and partners.
5. Extremely detail-oriented with the ability to organize and manage a wide array of logistics and details at once.
6. Experience and comfort in leading teams of volunteers, staff and event partners and making presentations to large groups.
7. Demonstrated accomplishments in meeting budget and fundraising goals.
8. Ability to think strategically and creatively, set goals and analyze results.
9. Computer proficiency specifically using: Microsoft 365, Excel, Word, Zoom, etc.
10. Experience working in a non-profit development office preferred, including success supervising volunteers, staffing board committees, collaborating with fellow staff and being a leader.
11. Experience working with fundraising donor databases (Virtuous) and event/project management software preferred.
12. Understanding of State and City event permitting and requirements.
13. Ability to walk, bend, crawl and lift up to 50 pounds with ability to work long hours on event days.

COMPENSATION: This is a full-time, exempt position requiring occasional evening and weekend work. Starting at $81,120 depending on professional and personal experience and/or education, with a comprehensive benefits package, and a supportive and positive work environment. The benefits package includes a generous paid vacation program, personal leave and family leave. Pike Place Market Foundation pays 100% of health, dental and vision insurance for the employee; voluntary benefits include Section 125/FSA and long-term disability. We also offer a match (starting at 2.5% of annual salary) to our retirement 403(b) plan. Healthy, happy staff are essential to our success, and we believe in flexible work schedules and locations.

How to Apply: Applications accepted until the position is filled. Internal applicants will be given priority. Please send cover letters and resume to Patriciag@pikeplacemarketfoundation.org by January 10, 2025 for priority consideration. No phone calls please, only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.