Events Manager at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center

Job Title: Events Manager 

Job Status: Full-time

Location: Santa Barbara, CA

Salary: $66,560 – $77,000

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center is looking for an enthusiastic and creative person to plan and implement all of the Museum and Sea Center special events, including revenue generating events as well as stewardship activities. The ideal candidate has a passion for event planning, is solution oriented, flexible by nature, enjoys working in collaboration, and has the desire to see a job well done from start to finish. This person believes strongly in the mission of the Museum.

Mission: The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History inspires a thirst for discovery and a passion for the natural world.

Position Summary: The Events Manager is responsible for creating unique and memorable events at the Museum and Sea Center. The Events Manager partners with staff and enthusiastically interacts with clients and guests in coordinating special events. The Events Manager is responsible for all aspects of event planning, including the coordination and execution of events as well as budgeting, revenue generation, and success measurement. In addition, the Event Manager serves as a member of Department Heads and assumes a leadership role in the Museum by participating in committees, helping as Manager on Duty as needed, and representing the Museum at community events and/or conferences.

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for planning and developing creative themes for parties, fundraising events, exhibit openings, meetings, meal events, and tours to help foster relationships with Museum donors and sponsors. Manages event logistics, creates detailed project management plans, creates work orders, creates and manages budgets, as well as the solicitation of in-kind support as appropriate. Research resources needed for events, provides options to ensure cost effectiveness, and maximizes revenues to meet Museum and events goals.
  • Works with the Director of Philanthropy to create and manage the annual Special Event budget, and monitors budget to actual throughout the year reporting on variances as needed.
  • Coordinates with the Director of Philanthropy to create major revenue-driven special events for the Museum (i.e. May: Mission Creek Gala, June: Santa Barbara Wine + Food Festival, September: The Artist’s Table, October: Halloween) and supports sponsorship opportunities for these events.
  • Partners with Museum staff, especially the Facilities Division, effectively communicating project plans and resource and event needs to effectively execute project plan for each event.
  • Networks and communicates extensively with a wide variety of entities to establish relationships, gather service information, analyze and recommend vendors to ensure quality and cost-effective services. Manages and creates rentals orders for vendors, manages and tracks service, inventory, rental orders, and invoicing.
  • Handles problems relating to events as they may arise. Plans for potential scenarios that could impact the integrity of the event. Ensures that events run smoothly and steps up to resolve any problems that might occur.
  • Works with digital team to help implement and manage virtual events, as needed. Collects material to be used, provides content, coordinate speakers and schedule of event, understanding the mechanics of virtual events and supporting the digital team to ensure a successful event.
  • Assists in managing the internal calendar, Triple Seat.
  • Ensures that the Museum complies with all legal requirements, such as City ordinances and permitting, ABC regulations, and COVID protocols for events, and keeps our neighbors in mind when planning and implementing events to ensure we are CUP compliant.
  • Periodically supports the daily operations of the Museum as needed. Takes responsibility to stay informed about happenings at the Museum and Sea Center, such as reading staff communications and attending meetings. Performs other assignments as needed to support Museum needs.
  • Ensures workspace and event spaces are clean and clear of clutter consistent with Museum and department operations and safety procedures, including correcting or reporting unsightly or unsafe conditions.
  • Contributes to a positive guest experience by greeting and addressing any questions when encountering guests as they navigate through the Museum and Sea Center.
  • Supports the Museum’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for fellow staff, guests and the community.
  • Other duties, as assigned.

Essential Requirements:

  • 3 years’ experience and demonstrated proficiency in start-to-end event management requiring strong project and budget planning and management, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to be flexible and respond quickly to changes using sound judgement; Ability to remain professional, composed and gracious working in a high stress environment.
  • Strong collaboration and networking skills, and the ability to communicate effectively to convey accurate information in a way to instill understanding and engage others.
  • Ability to use personal computer and software (Microsoft Office and Outlook, etc.), two-way radio, standard office equipment, telephone, copier, printer, scanner, electric golf cart, event related tools and items, AV equipment, and various event equipment.
  • Possesses a valid California Driver’s License with clean driving record, in order to be approved as an authorized driver of Museum vehicles.

Preferred Requirements:

  • College degree preferred.

Work Environment:

  • General office environment with work throughout the Museum’s facilities and outdoors; frequent work on computers (repetitive movement – typing).
  • Ability for frequent sitting, standing (in one place) & constantly moving throughout the Museum grounds for up to 3 hours continuously.
  • Occasionally ascends / descends stairs and ladders, bending with lifting & pushing of moderate loads (up to 40 lbs.), cleaning, straightening, and moving boxes.

The incumbent must be able to perform each requirement of the position as outlined in the job description. Essential Requirements are representative and are essential for satisfactory job performance. The Work Environment characteristics are representative of those that may be encountered while on the job. The Museum will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

*The pay range above represents the lowest possible rate for the position and the highest possible rate. Factors that may be used to determine where newly hired employees will be placed in the pay range include the employee specific skills and qualifications, relevant years of experience and comparison to other employees already in this role. Most often, a newly hired employee will be placed below the midpoint of the range.

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