#EventProfs Community Job Board

Local Progress and Local Progress Impact Lab are seeking an Events Manager. 

About Local Progress and Local Progress Impact Lab

Local Progress and the Local Progress Impact Lab work collectively to advance a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of government. Local Progress (LP) is a movement of more than 1,500 local elected officials advancing a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. The Local Progress Impact Lab (the Impact Lab) brings together local leaders, partners, and experts to build the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to advance racial and economic justice at the local level.

About the position: 

LP and the Impact Lab are seeking an Events Manager to execute strategic in-person events to support LP and the Impact Lab’s mission to advance a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of local government. 

This will primarily entail serving as the event planning lead for the annual National Convening, a 400+ person gathering of LP’s members and partners. The Events Manager will also manage an overall event calendar for the organization and is responsible for working with teams across the organization to create and implement event planning best practices. This role requires an individual with logistical expertise in running conferences and membership events and hands-on event production skills to ensure successful event execution and a memorable experience for attendees.

The Events Manager will report to the Director of Finance and Operations. 

Location: This is a remote position with no in-office requirement. 

Travel Requirement: This position is required to travel to in-person events up to six days a month. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

National Convening: 

• Serve as a key member of the National Convening planning committee as the primary hotel liaison and event planning lead. Manage the proposal and contracting process with the hotel, manage the planning committee to key hotel deadlines, ensure rooming list is accurate, and create and manage the hotel budget. 
• Lead on event platform (CVENT) and registration process, including on-site registration.  
• Manage the work of vendors and contractors, including A/V providers, childcare, interpreters, and ground transportation companies.
• Administer scholarship program for members and partners. 
• Collaborate with the planning committee to assist with plenary speaker management, run of show, and day of stage management. 
• Strengthen security culture and best practices. 
• Complete event follow-up including completing post-event forms and budgets, recording all pertinent financial data, and gathering and reviewing final invoices and other documentation required for post-event payments.

Event planning best practices:

• Create and maintain in-person and online event planning best practices, procedures and standards; communicate them across the organization; and provide training and implementation support, in particular supporting the Organizing and Program teams to adopt practices. 

Event planning and support: 

• Manage the organization-wide events calendar and work in partnership with members of the Executive Team to build an annual calendar
• Provide event planning support and on-site coordination for in-person LP events including annual staff retreat (30 staff), national member leader gathering (60-70 attendees), and fundraising events. 
• Manage travel booking platform (TravelPerk) and support staff and members with adoption. 
• Working closely with the Organizing and Program teams, provide event support for smaller in-person member gatherings (20-30 people).
• Collaborate with Organizing and Program team members to identify and secure venues and catering, confirm hotel rooming lists, support travel for members and speakers, and coordinate materials and supplies.
• Collect and review post-event financial and registration data
• Participate in post-event debriefs with event stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 6 years of conference and event planning experience, preferably in the nonprofit sector
• Skilled project manager: ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects with a high attention to detail, identify and involve stakeholders appropriately, and drive projects independently
• Creative problem-solving skills and the ability to quickly resolve issues or change plans prior to or during events as circumstances arise
• Proactive communicator who can engage with multiple stakeholders with warmth and professionalism 
• Strong relationship builder: cultivates trust, responsive to feedback, thrives in a highly collaborative environment, and is eager to support others  
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and an interest in local policy, politics, and government

The Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Familiarity with CVENT 
• Experience with running large events with 300+ attendees 
• Experience working with membership-based organizations and elected officials
• Negotiation and contract management skills and a track record of securing cost-effective and high-quality services

Salary and Benefits:

This position is expected to start at step 22 of our salary scale and other factors such as years of experience and advanced degrees will be taken into account, with an expected range of $89,400-$101,400. 

This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. With a collectively bargained salary scale, we are not able to negotiate once a salary offer is calculated based on the factors that determine placement on the scale. 

We operate on a four day workweek with a default schedule of Monday through Thursday. We have a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, five weeks of vacation per year, 20 sick days per year, paid holidays, and contributions to individuals’ 403(b) plans. The Local Progress office is closed between December 24 and January 1 annually. 

Timeline:

We encourage applicants to apply by October 30, 2024, with an anticipated start date of January 15, 2025. Qualified applicants will be screened on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible. If you have any time constraints, please indicate as much in your application. 

How to apply: 

Please submit your cover letter and resume through the JazzHR portal. 

Local Progress Values:

• Respect: We value people and treat each other with dignity. We strive to understand each other as full human beings, and give each other grace and room to grow. 
• Honesty: We communicate directly with each other, are honest about our strengths and our shortcomings, and are transparent about who has what level of information and authority and why. 
• Groundedness: We are authentic, and have high humility and low ego. We ground our work in the day-to-day reality and needs of our members. 
• Mutual accountability: We do what we say we're going to do, follow through on our commitments to each other and to our members, and we hold each other to a high bar. We self-reflect and develop each other’s skills as leaders. 
• Nuance: We understand that our work is complex and hold space for multiple viewpoints, contradictions, and tensions. We can hold many things as true while making decisions that advance our mission. 
• Impact: We empower our team to make decisions to drive their work. We are focused on results, persistent in overcoming obstacles, and adapt to changing external conditions. We take pride in our work. 
• Collaboration: We come together across different levels of power to advance shared interests. We center what’s best for the organization and are team players. 
• Joy: We value playfulness, humor, and joy as ways to create community, connection, and goodwill that sustains us through the challenges inherent in our work. 

Local Progress is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, womxn, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTIQAA+ community.