Events and Activations Manager

The National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) is seeking a creative and energetic individual to serve as the organizations Events & Activations Manager. This role is responsible for managing and supporting a diverse portfolio of experiences ranging from outdoor community programming and festivals placemaking and sponsor activations stakeholder receptions and business gatherings.

The Events Manager is a key member of the Events Department and will work actively with the team to evolve transform and refine the events and activations calendar to deliver experiences in one of the fastest growing urban districts in the region. The ideal candidate is a self-starter and innovative thinker with unmatched attention to detail and project management skills and experience in the events industry.

The Events Manager thrives in a fast-paced strategic and collaborative environment. The ideal candidate has experience managing both large-scale outdoor public programming and polished stakeholder events. This person will report directly to the Director of Events & Activations.

• Support the development and execution of an annual events and activations calendar of approximately 100 programs across BID audiences priorities and program areas.

• Manage assigned events from concept through completion ensuring programs advance National Landings goals to build community activate public spaces strengthen the district brand and support stakeholder engagement.

• Research event trends placemaking strategies potential partners and emerging best practices to help evolve the BIDs programming and audience experience.

• Assist in defining event goals success metrics and post-event evaluation practices to measure impact attendance engagement sponsor value and operational effectiveness.

• Lead planning and day-of execution for assigned events translating event goals into detailed production plans staffing needs vendor coordination and onsite operations.

• Serve as onsite lead or key production support managing vendors staff volunteers registration speakers sponsors elected officials business leaders and other key stakeholders.

• Develop and maintain detailed event plans timelines run-of-show documents briefing materials staffing plans and production checklists.

• Create and implement contingency plans for outdoor events including weather safety site logistics and operational adjustments.

• Coordinate event logistics including permitting licensing insurance contracts vendor agreements site plans sanitation public safety coordination emergency preparedness road closures and property owner coordination.

• Support event budget development expense tracking payment processing reconciliation and vendor management to ensure events are delivered on time and within budget.

• Maintain organized records for event contacts contracts permits sponsor deliverables vendor information and planning documents.

• Track project milestones deadlines deliverables and follow-up items across multiple concurrent events.

• Support the development and fulfillment of sponsorship opportunities for signature events and activations.

• Track and deliver sponsor benefits including onsite recognition signage activations reporting and post-event recap materials.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with sponsors vendors artists property managers County departments community organizations elected officials corporate partners and venue partners.

• Respond to event-related inquiries from community members partners stakeholders and participating businesses in a timely and professional manner.

• Coordinate with the Marketing & Communications team on event promotion registration invitations signage creative assets sponsor recognition partner visibility and post-event reporting.

• Provide accurate and timely event information deadlines logistics and deliverables to support marketing campaigns and audience engagement.

• Bachelors degree and 35 years of event management experience preferably including large-scale public events placemaking activations and executive or stakeholder-facing events.

• Demonstrated experience planning and producing outdoor events including permitting vendor coordination site logistics public safety coordination weather contingency planning and onsite execution.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple events deadlines vendors partners and priorities simultaneously.

• Excellent interpersonal written and verbal communication skills with comfort interacting with community members sponsors executives elected officials vendors and public-sector partners.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented with strong follow-through accuracy and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

• Enthusiastic about events community and placemaking with a proven ability to deliver memorable experiences.

• Creative proactive and solutions-oriented with a positive attitude and the flexibility to adapt to shifting priorities evolving event needs and real-time problem-solving.

• Team-oriented and collaborative with the ability to work across departments support shared goals and contribute to the success of the overall events and activations program.

• Experience with sponsorships partnerships arts and cultural programming or business/community engagement preferred.

• Familiarity with Arlington National Landing business improvement districts chambers of commerce or similar place-based organizations a plus.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word PowerPoint and Excel; experience with Asana event management platforms site-planning tools or Adobe Creative Suite a plus.

• Valid drivers license and willingness to operate BID vehicles or electric carts; owning a personal vehicle is not required.

• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift push or pull event equipment including the ability to lift up to 50 pounds with assistance.

This is a regular full-time in-person position. Hours may vary depending on the event schedule to include early mornings evenings and weekends. BID staff typically work remotely on Fridays when possible.