Events Program Manager

Advoc8 • Charlotte, NC

3d • $65,000 - $70,000 • Onsite

About The Position

&drop is the brand merchandise and promotional products division of ADVOC8 creative agency, serving major brand clients including Google, YouTube, TikTok, and PokémonGO. We specialize in strategic, creative merchandise solutions from complex event kits and experiential programs to comprehensive branded goods strategies. We're a boutique agency that thinks like a creative partner, not a commodity distributor.

We're looking for an Event Program Manager who's been in the trenches at events and knows what it's like to unpack a kit on-site. This role bridges event production reality and warehouse operations — you'll manage complex event kits from our facility while anticipating what teams need in the field.

You'll spend 60% of your time on the warehouse floor ensuring kits are packed correctly, labeled clearly, and ready to ship, and 40% planning, problem-solving, and interfacing with clients about logistics. This isn't just inventory management — it's understanding that a missing power strip can derail a $100K activation.

This is an operations role, but you need event production DNA. You'll work within &drop's operations team, collaborating closely with ADVOC8's event production team and communicating directly with clients about logistics planning and execution.

This role reports to the Director of Operations and is based in our Charlotte, NC, warehouse facility.

If you've ever been on-site at an event and thought "I wish whoever packed this kit understood what we're dealing with here" — this role is for you. You'll be the person who makes sure that never happens to someone else.

Requirements

• Hands-on warehouse experience — on the floor, comfortable with equipment, and physically handling assets, not adjacent to warehouse operations
• Real system ownership — you own inventory, orders, and asset records in an actual system, not a spreadsheet checkout sheet
• Scenic and fabricated asset experience — on the intake, install, and lifecycle side, not sourcing and ordering — we manage roughly 700 scenic assets, many of them multi-piece
• Procedure discipline — nothing moves without a paper trail, and you hold that line
• A process improver's mindset — willing to push back and improve process rather than just inherit it
• Organized and schedule-aware — you escalate early — defaulting to solving a time-sensitive problem alone rather than flagging it is a risk, not a strength
• Event production experience — you've been on-site setting up brand activations, trade show booths, experiential programs, or similar (not planning corporate meetings from a desk)
• 2–5 years in event production, trade show coordination, or experiential marketing
• Production/field work background — you've physically assembled displays, managed event assets, and worked under pressure on-site
• Comfortable working in a warehouse environment and getting hands-on with physical work
• Experience with tech, entertainment, or consumer brand clients preferred
• You speak the language: tension fabric displays, modular exhibits, retractable banners, activation elements
• You understand what it's like to be on-site with limited time and tools
• You can anticipate problems before they happen because you've experienced them in the field
• You know the difference between packing for a controlled venue vs. a festival vs. a retail activation
• You understand event logistics (load-in/load-out, shipping to venues, drayage, advance warehouses)
• Confident communicating with clients about logistics, timelines, and production realities
• Professional demeanor in meetings and email communication
• Creative problem-solver who figures out solutions rather than dwelling on obstacles
• Know when to handle things yourself vs. when to escalate to leadership
• Strong follow-through - you do what you say you'll do
• Very comfortable with Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Drive)
• Tech-savvy and can quickly learn new systems (warehouse management software, shipping platforms)
• Detail-oriented and organized - you can manage multiple concurrent programs without dropping balls
• Thrive in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities
• Strong work ethic and willingness to be hands-on
• Aligned with and committed to ADVOC8’s core values; represents them in daily work
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; at this time, we are not able to provide sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Collaborative soul who’s open to new ideas, sharing successes and being part of a team
• High standards, never settling for the status quo or what we did last time
• Entrepreneurial, roll-up-your-sleeves spirit, tempered by the courage to identify smarter ways of doing things
• Highly empathetic personality who values individual perspectives
• Extensive experience and demonstrated success in client relationship management
• Navigates conflict with an emphasis on transparency and diplomacy
• Inspired by outside-the-box thinking that yields outstanding ROI for our clients and projects
• Recognize situations that require flexibility and craft creative solutions on the fly

Responsibilities

• Oversee preparation, packing, and quality control of event kits containing displays, branded elements, and activation materials
• Ensure every component is included - because you know what it's like to unpack a kit on-site and find something missing
• Direct warehouse associates and temps on daily kit assembly, following pull lists and pack lists
• Maintain warehouse organization systems for complex, multi-component event assets
• Label and organize kits using event production nomenclature (not just "box 1, box 2")
• Troubleshoot packing challenges in real-time - figure out creative solutions when plan A doesn't work
• Keep warehouse areas orderly, assets properly stored, and inventory systems current
• Interface directly with clients about production logistics, shipment timelines, and specifications
• Participate in planning calls to understand event needs and translate them into warehouse execution
• Anticipate on-site requirements based on your field experience (tools, backup materials, assembly considerations)
• Proactively communicate shipment status and flag potential issues before they become problems
• Know when you can solve problems independently vs. when to escalate
• Build trust with clients through confident, clear communication about logistics realities
• Work daily within Google Workspace and warehouse management systems
• Collaborate with ADVOC8's event production team on program planning and execution requirements
• Create and maintain documentation for recurring event programs
• Track kit inventory, flag reorder needs, and manage asset lifecycle
• Troubleshoot tech issues and adapt to new platforms quickly
• Identify process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce errors

Benefits

• Competitive base salary, with additional performance-based incentives
• Health Insurance: 100% coverage of base level medical insurance plus buy up options to meet the needs of you and your family
• Health Insurance: Dental and vision insurance
• 401k, FSA, and stipend for mobile phone usage
• Professional development and training reimbursements
• Flexible work schedule
• Unlimited vacation and personal time
• Paid parental leave and Grandternity Leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed