Events Manager

Job description

**Who We Are** KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 17 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 8,300 alumni to and through college and beyond. Our award winning schools are part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network, dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners and providing the social, emotional and academic support for success in high school, college, and life. **Mission** Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and create a more just world. **What We Do** At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. **The Opportunity** The The Events Manager leads a diverse portfolio of high-profile events, ranging from large-scale gatherings of 1,500+ attendees to training, leadership, and other specialized events. These events advance KIPP SoCal Public Schools’ goals and create exceptional experiences for team members, partners, and other key audiences. This is a manager-level individual contributor role for an experienced event professional who independently leads complex work from strategy through execution. We are looking for candidates who bring a strong attention to detail, a commitment to inclusivity, and a deep understanding of stakeholder needs to every event. The Events Manager is a skilled executor who takes pride in upholding KIPP SoCal's signature traditions and contributing to a strong organizational culture. Join us! **Priority application deadline:** September 14, 2026 **Location:** On-site in our schools when needed, at our office needed, and wherever the event planning may take you ### Planning & Execution - Lead the end-to-end planning and production of multiple high-profile events, including strategy, timelines, budgets, logistics, vendors, communications, staffing, run-of-show, and post-event follow-up. - Develop and manage project plans, milestones, decision points, and deliverables to ensure events are on track and executed to a high standard. - Manage relationships with event production companies and other external partners, setting clear expectations, overseeing deliverables, and ensuring all work is executed to KIPP SoCal’s standard of excellence. - Lead day-of event production, ensuring a seamless experience for all attendees. Anticipate risks and gaps, develop contingency plans, and proactively resolve issues before they affect the event. - Evaluate events, incorporate feedback, and identify improvements to strengthen future planning and execution. ### Drive Execution and Accountability - Manage multiple complex projects and competing priorities, maintaining momentum as timelines, information, and organizational priorities evolve. - Establish clear next steps, owners, and deadlines and consistently follow through to ensure commitments are met. - Exercise sound judgment and manage up effectively - make decisions within scope, proactively identify risks and needs, and bring clear recommendations and timely requests for input when needed. - Identify and implement improvements to event planning processes, tools, and systems that increase efficiency, consistency, and quality. - Maintain meticulous attention to detail and a high bar for accuracy, professionalism, and execution across all aspects of event delivery. ### Lead Through Partnerships - Build strong, trusted relationships with internal teams, school leaders, senior leaders, vendors, community partners, and other external stakeholders. - Coordinate across teams with different priorities and areas of responsibility, creating clarity around roles, timelines, decisions, and dependencies. - Communicate proactively and effectively throughout the planning process, particularly when navigating competing priorities, changes, or challenges. - Represent KIPP SoCal professionally and foster partnerships that support successful events and the organization’s broader goals. ### Desired Outcomes in 1st year - Plan and execute KIPP SoCal's two signature org-wide events, Start Strong and KIPPStar, achieving a logistics rating of 4.0 or above on post-event surveys, ensuring attendees leave feeling celebrated, connected, and reflective of KIPP SoCal's values. - Plan and execute two key development events, MOKA and the Fundraising Gala, ensuring all logistics are managed with precision and events run smoothly, leaving attendees with a positive and memorable experience that reflects the care and intentionality of KIPP SoCal. - Plan and execute logistics for regional training events, including LIT Week, ensuring all event logistics are completed on time and within the established budget. - Manage all event-related finances and vendor relationships with accuracy and accountability, ensuring all events are executed within the approved budget, contracts are secured and managed appropriately, invoices are processed in a timely manner, and external partners and vendors are coordinated effectively. ### Role-Specific Competencies - **Project Management.** Strategically plans, creates, and manages initiatives by developing comprehensive action plans, allocating resources effectively, tracking milestones, and seeking support/adjusting as needed to ensure timely and successful completion. - **Event Quality & Execution Excellence.** Holds a consistently high bar for quality in all aspects of event planning and execution; anticipates potential issues before they arise and takes proactive steps to address them; sweats the details so attendees do not have to, ensuring nothing is overlooked; brings recommendations alongside questions rather than problems alone; treats excellence as the standard, not the exception. - **Cross-Functional Teamwork.** Engages effectively with other teams and departments to achieve goals; promotes open communication, leverages varied perspectives, and builds strong relationships to enhance collaboration and drive successful outcomes. - **Openness to Feedback.** Often solicits feedback, is responsive/reacts calmly to constructive feedback, and is responsive to the potential for opportunities to improve. ### Qualifications - 5+ years of relevant experience, with experience planning and executing high-profile events in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. - Demonstrated event production expertise, including experience managing event logistics, vendors, budgets, and guest experiences. - Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with meticulous attention to detail and a high bar for quality and execution. - Strong judgment, initiative, and problem-solving skills, with a track record of navigating complex and unexpected challenges. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and diverse stakeholders. - Strong relationship-building skills, with experience developing trusted partnerships across internal and external teams. - Commitment to K–12 public education and alignment with KIPP SoCal’s mission and values. ### Physical Requirements - Prolonged periods of working at a computer and sitting at a desk. - Prolonged periods of working on your feet at school sites (i.e. supporting tours and events) and external events in the community - Must be able to lift and carry up to 30 lbs (event set up, etc.) - Travel to the regional office, various school locations, internal and external meeting/events within the Los Angeles and San Diego area ### Benefits & Compensation - KIPP SoCal Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $69,076 to $93,252 per year. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint of $81,164 depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budget allocated for this role. - 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost - Employer-paid KIPP SoCal life insurance - 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal - Voluntary Benefits (Pet Insurance, Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.) - Generous paid time off program includes 22 holidays, 10 sick days, and 10 vacation days per year - Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, etc.)