Manager of Special Events

KIPP • Austin, TX

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager of Special Events is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing high-quality statewide and regional events that advance KIPP Texas’ strategic priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and create exceptional experiences for students, families, staff, donors, board members, community partners, and other key constituents.
This role leads the operational planning and execution of a diverse portfolio of events, including staff and student celebrations such as commitment ceremonies, graduations, and other organization-wide experiences. The Manager of Special Events serves as a project leader responsible for managing timelines, budgets, vendors, contracts, logistics, transportation, event production, risk mitigation, and cross-functional stakeholder alignment.
Success in this role requires strong project management, operational excellence, relationship management, and the ability to navigate multiple priorities across a complex statewide organization. As an ambassador of the KIPP Texas mission and brand, the Manager of Special Events ensures events are executed with consistency, professionalism, and a student-centered approach while supporting organizational goals and stakeholder engagement efforts. This position works closely with regional and statewide teams, school leaders, Advancement, Communications, Finance, Operations, external vendors, and other key stakeholders to successfully execute events across the KIPP Texas network.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• 2+ years of experience in event management, project management, operations, stakeholder engagement, education, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project management or collaboration tools.
• Ability to travel throughout Texas and work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Manages multiple concurrent event timelines, budgets, and stakeholder responsibilities with accuracy, follow-through, and strong attention to detail
• Communicates clearly and professionally across diverse audiences, including school leaders, vendors, volunteers, donors, and board members, in writing, in person, and in facilitated settings
• Executes both strategic planning and ground-level logistics with equal rigor; anticipates problems and resolves them proactively
• Self-directed and able to prioritize among competing goals, manage timelines independently, and initiate process improvements without prompting
• Build trust and maintain productive working relationships with internal teams, school-based partners, and external vendors and stakeholders
• Exercises sound independent judgement in fast-moving, high-stakes event environments

Nice To Haves

• Experience in K–12 education, public schools, charter networks, higher education, or youth-serving organizations preferred.
• Experience planning or supporting student, family, or community-facing events preferred.
• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge or similar donor/CRM platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan, and execute regional and statewide events that advance organizational priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and deliver high-quality student and community experiences.
• Serve as the primary project manager for assigned events, leading cross-functional planning and ensuring alignment across departments, school leaders, and external partners.
• Build and manage comprehensive event project plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring milestones, deliverables, stakeholder responsibilities, and expenses are clearly tracked and completed on schedule.
• Lead all aspects of event logistics, including venue selection, vendor management, contract negotiations, event production, run-of-show development, budget management, transportation coordination, risk mitigation, accessibility planning, and logistics.
• Coordinate and manage a diverse group of stakeholders, including school leaders, staff, students, alumni, families, volunteers, board members, community partners, and external vendors across planning and execution phases.
• Oversee the development and distribution of event-related communications, collateral, signage, websites, registration materials, and participant resources in collaboration with Communications and other teams.
• Facilitate internal and external planning meetings, including agenda development, stakeholder communication, action-item tracking, and stakeholder follow-up.
• Manage guest registration, seating logistics, ticketing, attendance tracking, and participant experience planning as applicable.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and deploy volunteers for event-day operations.
• Oversee event-day execution, proactively identifying and resolving operational risks, challenges, and issues in real time.
• Develop post-event reports and lead closeout activities, including budget reconciliation, documentation, stakeholder follow-up, and lessons learned.
• Maintain availability outside of standard work hours during event seasons and as needed to support event execution.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families.
• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.
• Paid family leave.
• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Legal plans.
• LifeLock identity protection.
• Life insurance.
• Disability insurance.

What This Job Offers

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