Manager, Events

CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCES ASSOCIATION•Sacramento, CA

10d•$75,000 - $95,000•Hybrid

About The Position

California Life Sciences (CLS) is seeking an experienced Events Manager to oversee the end-to-end planning and execution of a diverse, high-impact events portfolio that delivers meaningful value to our members and advances California’s life sciences ecosystem. This role is execution-focused and highly visible, responsible for managing the logistics, coordination, and delivery of approximately 45 events annually ranging from large-scale signature programs to smaller, high-touch policy and member engagements. The Events Manager will work closely with the Senior Director of Marketing & Programs, who leads overall event strategy and sponsorship, while taking primary ownership of logistics, onsite execution, and cross-functional coordination. This position requires exceptional organization, sound judgment, strong communication skills, and comfort working directly with senior executives, legislators, sponsors, and board members.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent combination of education, training, and/or experience will be considered
Minimum 3-5 years of professional-level experience managing end-to-end event logistics
Travel to and support in-person events, including some overnight travel, across California (primarily in Sacramento, but also the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles) and occasionally in Washington, DC, requiring reliable personal transportation and availability to travel by plane
Demonstrated experience working with legislators, elected officials, or government offices
Strong organizational skills and attention to details with the ability to manage multiple events and competing deadlines while maintaining high quality of work
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proven ability to remain professional, calm, and solutions-oriented under pressure
High emotional intelligence and comfort working with senior stakeholders
Experience making independent, time-sensitive decisions during live events
Ability to work occasional late evenings, early mornings, and weekends
Knowledge of MS Office applications; experience preparing name badges and place cards utilizing Microsoft mail merge
This role requires standing for extended periods during events and the ability to lift up to 25 lbs. for event setup and handling materials

Nice To Haves

Experience in a trade association, nonprofit, or mission-driven organization
Familiarity with policy or advocacy-focused events
Experience working with Eventbrite, Salesforce, FormAssembly, and Asana
Background in life sciences, healthcare, or a related industry
Existing relationships with legislative offices

Responsibilities

Manage end-to-end logistics for a portfolio of ~15 signature events and ~30 smaller programs annually, including: Policy and advocacy events (fly-in days, legislative briefings, elected official receptions, industry fundraisers, issue education events, various industry meet and greets) Innovation and entrepreneurship programs (symposiums, pitch events, showcases, webinars) Member engagement events (networking receptions, executive dinners, happy hours) Awards receptions and galas
Own detailed event planning, including AV proposals and coordination, food and beverage planning, timelines, run-of-show development, speaker coordination, staffing plans, registration flow, and onsite execution
Lead day-of event operations, including registration and check-in, staff/volunteer coordination, speaker support, and real-time problem solving
Serve as a primary point of contact for internal stakeholders including: Policy & Advocacy Membership and Business Development Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Work directly with legislators, Members of Congress, legislative staff, sponsors, senior leadership, and board members
Manage sponsor deliverables in coordination with the Senior Director, ensuring commitments are executed accurately and professionally
Independently manage relationships with venues, vendors, and production partners
Track event expenses and manage execution within approved budgets
Flag budget risks, scope changes, or cost concerns early to the Senior Director
Support contract coordination and reconciliation as needed
Report on basic event performance metrics, including attendance, no-shows, budget vs. revenue, and attendee demographics/titles
For legislator-facing events, manage gift reporting and compliance in coordination with legal counsel; experience with state reporting is highly desirable
Collaborate closely with the marketing and communications team on event promotion and messaging
Collaborate with policy and advocacy team on any communications/content development that is tied to an event involving policymaking stakeholders in California and Washington, DC.
Build and manage event registration pages (Eventbrite)
Draft high-quality written materials, including invitations, run-of-show documents, speaker briefs, and sponsor instructions
Manage attendee lists, check-in data, and post-event list reconciliation
Utilize Eventbrite, FormAssembly (with Salesforce integration), and Asana to manage event workflows
Follow established event processes and templates while proactively identifying opportunities for improvement
Ensure accurate data tracking and reporting across all events