Director of Public Programs & Special Events

The Texas Railway Preservation Association (TRPA) is seeking a Director of Public Programs & Special Events to design and execute our institutional engagement strategy. As we move out of the "Apple Garage" phase, we need a logistical mastermind to transform our restoration sites and future headquarters into world-class venues for education, entertainment, and corporate partnership. You will work closely with the Branding director, volunteer coordinator, grant writer, and Executive Director to create and enact various-sized events and source event sponsorships.

In this pro-bono executive role, you will be the "Lead Architect" of the TRPA experience. You will oversee everything from intimate "Founders' Circle" dinners to large-scale public exhibitions of the SP 982, ensuring every touchpoint reflects our brand’s commitment to industrial power and historical prestige.

Key Responsibilities

• Event Architecture & Strategy: Design a comprehensive annual calendar of events, including restoration milestones, community "holiday" days, and exclusive donor galas.
• Logistics & Site Management: Oversee all on-site event operations, ensuring safety protocols are met while maintaining a high-fidelity guest experience in industrial environments.
• Vendor & Partner Liaison: Secure and manage strategic partnerships with local Houston caterers, equipment rentals, and production teams to ensure every event meets "TRPA Elite" standards.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Work closely with the Director of Brand Strategy to ensure events are "social-media-ready" and the Director of Institutional Advancement to align events with fundraising goals.
• Volunteer Mobilization: In partnership with the Volunteer Engagement Officer, lead and train a specialized "Event Crew" to execute seamless front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
• Budgetary Oversight: Manage event-specific P&L, ensuring maximum impact for every dollar spent on public programming.

Professional Requirements

• Event Pedigree: Proven experience in event management, hospitality, or public programming, ideally within a museum, non-profit, or industrial setting.
• Operational Command: Exceptional project management skills; you are someone who thrives under the pressure of live production and complex logistics.
• Executive Presence: The ability to represent TRPA authoritatively to corporate sponsors, government officials, and the local community.
• Problem-Solving Mindset: You see a "neighborhood setting" or an "active restoration site" as a creative challenge, not a barrier.
• Mission Alignment: A passion for creating "One-of-a-Kind" educational ecosystems that honor Texas’s industrial heritage.

The TRPA Advantage

You won't just be "planning meetings." You will be creating the moments where Houston sees the SP 982 come to life. You have the creative freedom to define how thousands of people experience the power of the TRPA, turning a technical restoration project into the most anticipated destination in South Texas.

Join the TRPA. Engineer the Experience.