Events & Development Manager

Do you love events and exciting, hands-on learning? If so, this position could be yours!

Qualifications:

The Museum is seeking an experienced full-time Events & Development Manager to support a range of special events designed for visitors, donors, and adults-only After Hours events for visitors 21+. In this position, you will work a Monday-Friday core schedule, with flexibility to work a weekend or evening around museum events. You’re an ideal candidate if you are enthusiastic

and passionate about learning, have 3+ years managing a variety of events, successful experience securing and managing event sponsors, and previous experience working in non-profit development. As an accomplished project manager, you are a great multi-tasker, able to track numerous details at once, problem-solve under pressure, and meet competing deadlines. Other qualities we are looking for include:

• Experience in effectively managing budgets with strong analytical skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information.       
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment and have prior experience supervising staff and volunteers.
• Proficiency with event and development software such as Greater Giving, CRM applications such as Altru or Raiser’s Edge, plus MS Office software, Zoom, and project management software such as Asana.

Responsibilities:

As a member of the Museum’s Development team, the Events & Development Manager:        

• Works directly with the Senior Development Manager and reports to the Development Director.
• Aligns event goals with the broader, strategic fundraising goals and mission of the organization, ensuring events are fully maximized for the fundraising and sponsorship potential.
• Works with multiple Museum departments, educators, partners, and stakeholders to manage all aspects of Museum special events for visitors including Spring Break Weeks, Summer Splash! a summer-long Festival, Pet Parade, Noon Year’s, Boo Bash, Ice Adventures, and adults-only Museum After Hours events, among others.
• Manages the Museum’s signature fundraising event the Summer Splash! Gala, as well as various donor events, and supports the Private Events Coordinator.
• Manages all aspects of events including planning, themes, interdepartmental coordination, budgeting, logistics, communications, staffing, committees, volunteers, on-site management, and evaluation.
• Identifies, cultivates, and stewards event sponsors in conjunction with the Senior Development Manager.
• In coordination with the Senior Development Manager, manages procurement, tracking, promotion and in person and digital display of auction items.
• Negotiates contracts, discounts and in-kind contributions with event vendors including catering, breweries and wineries, entertainment, AV, videographers, and other similar support companies.
• Works with Development leadership to create and monitor budgets and prepares comprehensive analysis of events, live and silent auction performance, raise the paddle contributions, etc.
• Work with the Communications team to develop promotional materials, PowerPoints, videos, branding, advertising, and digital strategy for events.
• Prepares detailed advance sheets identifying responsibilities for each department and various contractors, working cooperatively with facilities and operations for set-up, tear-down and staffing logistics.
• Serves as on-site point of contact during events and provides training to staff and volunteers as needed.
• Supports board member solicitations, stewardship, and event planning.
• Completes post-event wrap-up including evaluation of all event elements, recommendations for improvement, donor reports and acknowledgements, and reconciliation of budget and vendor payments.
• Works with development staff to ensure accurate financial coding and gift acknowledgment throughout the year.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, 3 professional references and a bullet point list noting how your experience and skills match the requirements of the position. 

About Us:

The Hands On Children’s Museum is located on the picturesque East Bay waterfront in downtown Olympia. We are a nationally known family learning destination and the most visited children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest hosting more than 300,000 visitors each year. Our mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills through rich, interactive learning experiences. We believe that all children deserve respect and the opportunity to learn, regardless of their ability to pay, which is why the Museum works hard to serve more than one-third of its annual visitation through the Inspired Learning for All initiative. The Museum is recognized as a national Museum for All and won a Noyce Foundation Bright Lights Award for bringing art and science education to underserved populations.

Voted a “Best Place for Kids” for more than a decade, the Museum offers a state-of-the-art LEED Gold facility with 150 indoor exhibits, a half-acre Outdoor Discovery Center, Art Studio, a MakeSpace for tinkering and inventing, café and gift shop, and award-winning education programs including camps, workshops, preschool, parenting classes, field trips, community outreach and family support programs.

Surrounded by natural beauty and outdoor adventures, Olympia is nestled between the Puget Sound, Capital Lake and the lovely State Capital campus. With a small city feel, Olympia is home to several colleges, arts and cultural organizations and is conveniently located between the two major metro areas of Portland and Seattle. It is a perfect home base for excursions to the coast, the Olympia and Cascade mountains.

For more information, please visit our website at www.hocm.org  To learn more about Olympia, visit  www.experienceolympia.com   To learn more about our Staff Values visit https://www.hocm.org/about-us/job-opportunities/

Hands On Children’s Museum exhibits, education programs, and employment are available to all without discrimination.

HOCM offers medical, dental, and vision, an employee wellness program, paid holidays and time off, a 401(k) retirement plan, and lots of adorable children. See other benefit details for this position here.