Director, Special Events

Lucas Museum of Narrative Art • Los Angeles, CA

5d • $116,000 - $139,000

About The Position

Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling. Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum’s collection features works by artists including Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judith F. Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish; as well as comic art legends such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R. Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange. The Museum also houses the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas’s filmmaking career. Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with a landscape by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA, the Museum is in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, on an 11-acre campus that includes new green space and a 300,000-square-foot building with galleries, two theaters, a library, restaurant, café, retail store, and community spaces.

As part of the Revenue and Engagement team, the Director of Special Events will ensure that the Events team will provide excellent event planning and project management services to the customers and guests of the Museum using the Museum’s multiple indoor and outdoor venue spaces. In collaboration with the Revenue and Engagement team the Director of Special Events develops and guides the strategy and implementation for all event planning, production, and venue operations, including coordination for catering services. These functions include establishing and maintaining the policies, event agreements, price points, and client relationships. The Director of Special Events is also responsible for coordinating and managing multiple, concurrent projects while demonstrating attention to detail and the ability to develop, implement, and track project and departmental budgets. All staff at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art lead through a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within the Museum and with the communities that we serve. Salary and titles will be assigned commensurate to the successful candidates’ education and experience. An attractive compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate(s).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality, Business Administration, Marketing, or related field required
• Eight (8) or more years of event management experience, preferably within a museum or cultural institution
• Experience in building, mentoring, and coaching a team of event staff is required
• Superior project management skills, including planning, scheduling, and vendor negotiation
• A collaborative team player with highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to diverse internal and external audiences
• Strong partnership and collaborative style with outstanding communication skills (written, verbal and presentation)
• Self-motivated and highly experienced with multi-tasking
• Hands-on approach with attention to detail, organization, reliability and a get-it-done attitude
• Innovative thinker with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output
• Comfortable in transitional situations where there is rapid change and ambiguity
• Takes pride in excellence and has the initiative to keep striving for improvement and learning while delegating and developing a strong supporting team
• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills, including negotiation and conflict resolution
• Operates as an effective tactical and strategic thinker
• Take pride in excellence and the initiative to keep striving for improvement and learning while delegating and developing a strong supporting team
• Capacity and organizational ability to excel in a fast-paced, diverse, multi-tasked environment
• Leads with a hands-on approach with attention to detail, organization, reliability and a get-it-done attitude

Nice To Haves

• Certified Special Event Professional or Certified Meeting Professional preferred

Responsibilities

• Primary department contact for vetting and processing potential event Clients (Internal and External) expressing interest in booking our facilities from initial inquiry to contract execution
• Become an expert for the Museum’s event space and capabilities
• Manage all aspects of event’s database (Elite), maintain events department calendar, client, and vendor databases
• Respond to potential clients in a timely and professional manner and provide accurate information to help convert inquiries to contracts when appropriate
• Responsible for contracting with clients by executing Event Reservation Agreements for third party events and managing all financial deposits to confirm the events
• In partnership with the Managing Director Development- Plan and execute all event logistics, for development and fundraising events including venue selection, catering, entertainment, décor, and transportation
• Support internal teams on the planning and production of internal events
• Assist in the cultivation and stewardship of donor relationships through events
• Primary department contact for marketing and selling the Museum’s world class destination for third party (external) events
• Work with the communications department to develop a cohesive marketing strategy to promote the Museum as a premier destination for events
• Implement a sales strategy and create a sales plan aligned with the Museum’s mission
• Attend industry-related events and networks to identify new event clients and vendors
• Collaborate with the museum's restaurant and catering operators to design and implement food and beverage offerings that enhance event experiences
• Ensure clear communication and coordination between event planning and restaurant/catering teams to meet event requirements and guest expectations
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with restaurant and catering staff to ensure high-quality service and innovation in event menus
• Propose strategies to implement a strong event planning process from conception to execution and event assessment
• Manage and maintain all aspects of events department calendar, client, and vendor databases
• Conduct research to remain current on event-related trends by proactively gathering information, making site visits of other venues, and reaching out to local and national arts institutions for benchmarking
• Build a library of suggested vendors and create event check lists
• Propose, implement, and manage the department’s fiscal budgets and strategize sales goals
• Work with the General Counsel, Chief Strategy Officer and CFO to implement all event agreements and vendor contracts
• Create and implement venue policies to improve event sales functions for the Museum and advise Senior Leadership on such policies
• Hire, train, develop, and evaluate staff effectively, taking corrective action as necessary on a timely basis and in accordance with Museum policy
• Evaluate the team plan for continual improvement of the efficiency and effectiveness of the group
• Promote a culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values learning and a commitment to quality
• Mentor and develop a staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis
• Establish and monitor staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct and annual performance appraisals
• Special projects and other duties as designated by the Managing Director, Development.

Benefits

• An attractive compensation package will be offered to the successful candidate(s).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director