Senior Events Manager

WHO WE ARE

United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA) is home to the change makers and justice seekers. We're individuals from various walks of life making collective steps towards a better future for our community. Our focus is on bringing about real and sustainable change by unleashing the collective power of people to open minds, unite diverse communities, and convert compassion into action for a more just, inclusive, and thriving L.A. County. Together, we make tangible impact on some of our toughest community issues including poverty, homelessness, housing, education equity, and creating pathways to long-term prosperity. For us, being 'united' isn't just in reference to our organization but to our hope for the future of Los Angeles. Regardless of race, gender, orientation, or self-identification - we do our part as one by making room for all.

WHAT WE DO

Our Marketing & Engagement department advances United Way's mission by connecting our mission to the key constituents, donors and partners who help drive awareness, action, giving, volunteerism and advocacy. We bring the organization’s vision for community change to life by creating engaging content, events, communications and experiences that grab the attention of our partners, donors, neighbors, and challengers alike.

WHY WE NEED YOU

We are inviting high-performing, detail-oriented event leaders with a passion for creating meaningful experiences that inspire community engagement and philanthropic giving to apply for our Senior Events Manager role.

In this role, you’ll drive the success of United Way’s signature events by increasing participation and net revenue while delivering exceptional, mission-centered experiences that connect donors, partners, and the community.

You will have the unique opportunity to shape United Way’s flagship moments, bringing people together across Los Angeles County and activating the power of community to advance our mission in powerful, memorable ways.

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAUSE

Event Execution

o Execute events effectively ensuring strong logistics, quality experiences, and alignment with organizational mission.

o Collaborate with internal partners and external vendors to execute event strategies.

o Own end-to-end planning for assigned events (venue, vendors, budgets, run of show, staffing).

o Create and manage task lists, checklists, and timelines for assigned events, ensuring day-to-day logistics and deliverables are executed on time and within budget.

o Plan and execute 10-20 donor and community engagement activations, designed to cultivate donors, strengthen community ties, and advance brand positioning.

o Manage logistics and day-of execution for corporate, employee, and community engagement events; support donor event execution.

o Implement branding and messaging details (signage, collateral, run-of-show) so each event consistently represents the organization’s mission and values.

Partnerships & Sponsorships

o Support the development team (Strategic Partnerships) to ensure timely design and execution of needed fundraising and sponsorship assets.

o Ensure execution of visibility opportunities for sponsors and partners through tailored event activations.

o Develop and maintain plans and timelines for delivering on sponsorship deliverables, recognition and activations

Project & Calendar Management

o Maintain a comprehensive annual event calendar, ensuring coordinated execution across multiple programs.

o Oversee staff, vendors, logistics, contracts, budgets, and timelines for assigned community and donor events.

o Collaborate across departments to execute event strategy with fundraising, marketing, and programmatic goals in mind.

Donor & Volunteer Engagement

o Contribute to the development and plan events that advance donor pipelines and steward existing donors

o Help ensure outstanding event experiences for donors and volunteers through solid planning and execution

o Ensure fulfillment of event recognition opportunities for individual and corporate donors and partners

Marketing & Communications

o Partner with department colleagues to ensure timely production of supporting event promotions, collateral, digital campaigns, and media opportunities.

o Track events against plans and objectives to ensure events build brand awareness, deliver key messages to target audiences and highlight organizational impact.

WHAT 1 YEAR OF SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• • Build and manage detailed project/event plans to execute assigned events, ensuring fundraising and program goals are supported through professional project plans, timelines, and budgets.
  • Plan and execute assigned donor and community events, coordinating logistics, vendors, and staff support to deliver high-quality experiences that reflect the organization’s brand and mission.
  • Manage operational logistics for WalkUnitedLA 2026 contributing to a goal of $500k net revenue through creative and effective budget management, vendor negotiations, fundraising team support, and increased participation rates.
  • Support relationship management with event sponsors and partners by coordinating deliverables, ensuring sponsor recognition, and maintaining consistent, clear, professional communication to strengthen partnerships.

SKILLS YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED (The Must-Haves)

Education & Experience

o High school diploma or GED required

o Minimum 6 years of experience in event management or related functions required

Personal Qualities & Skills

o You enjoy a hybrid environment that includes both in-person and remote work styles and are able to work from our DTLA office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

o You understand the value of racial equity as an organizational operating principle and are committed to continued learning on issues related to race, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

o You understand that events don’t always stick to a 9–5 schedule, so you’re ready to flex hours and travel throughout Los Angeles County as needed to make each one a success.

o You bring strong event production skills to every project, turning an empty venue into an unforgettable experience through flawless logistics and attention to detail.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE A FIT (The Nice-to-Haves)

• • You make project management look easy keeping timelines tight, budgets balanced, and big ideas organized from kickoff to curtain call.
  • Your strength in developing project work plans ensures every moving part from logistics to follow-up runs on schedule and with purpose.
  • You adapt gracefully when things don’t go as planned, keeping calm, resourceful, and always solution oriented.
  • You know how to build a plane while you fly it and thrive in the face of ambiguous situations.
  • Your sharp attention to detail ensures every checklist item, design element, and guest experience meets the highest standard.
  • Your natural collaboration skills make you a trusted partner who can rally cross-functional teams and vendors toward a shared vision.
  • You demonstrate exceptional communication skills that are clear, confident, and professional in every interaction with sponsors, partners, and guests.
  • You maintain a results-driven approach, proud to see your work increase attendance, revenue, and enthusiasm year after year.
  • You pair budget management discipline with creative problem-solving to boost ROI, generate savings, and deliver events that overperform expectations.
  • You know your way around the Microsoft Windows operating systems and all its essential programs including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• • Hiring Salary Range: $85,000-95,000 dependent on internal equity and a variety of job-related factors including, but not limited to, experience, training, education, and market demands.
  • The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 403(b) plan, pension, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, paid holidays, and paid time off.

• • Hiring Salary Range: $85,000-95,000 dependent on internal equity and a variety of job-related factors including, but not limited to, experience, training, education, and market demands.
  • The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 403(b) plan, pension, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, paid holidays, and paid time off.