Onsite Event Manager

Off the Grid•San Francisco, CA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Off the Grid is a placemaking platform that activates local businesses and spaces to connect communities through unique in-person experiences. They run 60+ events weekly across the Bay Area, including public markets, mobile catering, and bespoke events, bringing together hundreds of local food creators and over 100,000 guests weekly. The Onsite Event Manager is the field leader and brand standard-bearer for Off the Grid. This role defines the look, feel, and execution of every activation, building the team and systems for consistent delivery. It consolidates field execution, brand experience, experiential programming, staff leadership, venue relationships, and training ownership. The role involves leading large and complex activations, managing and developing Onsite Producers, owning the hospitality experience, and serving as the primary contact for venue partners. The ideal candidate is a seasoned event or catering operations professional with experience running complex, multi-vendor events on the ground, understanding that exceptional hospitality requires planning, practice, and leadership by example. This role is crucial for Off the Grid's success, as it directly impacts every guest experience, creator interaction, and moment of hospitality, bridging the gap between the brand promise and the actual guest experience.

Requirements

4–6 years of event production, catering operations, or hospitality experience, including meaningful time running complex, multi-vendor activations on the ground.
At least 2 years directly supervising onsite event or catering teams.
Demonstrated experience managing 3rd party vendors (staffing platforms, AV, decor, or entertainment) with high standards and direct accountability.
Experience managing venue relationships and developing site-specific operational protocols.
Proven ability to translate creative concepts into precise, repeatable onsite execution.
Natural leader and communicator—warm, direct, and confident with clients, venue partners, creators, vendors, and team members.
Calm under pressure with strong real-time problem-solving instincts.
Proficiency in Google Suite; comfort with scheduling, staffing platforms, and event production tools.
Valid California Driver’s License with a clean driving record.
Reliable transportation to Bay Area event sites.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree preferred, not required.

Responsibilities

Own the guest-facing brand experience at every Off the Grid activation, ensuring every touchpoint reflects the company's values.
Set and enforce hospitality standards across all markets and catering events, coaching Onsite Producers and crew for consistent delivery.
Champion Off the Grid's identity on the ground through signage, creator placement, staff presentation, and all guest-facing elements.
Identify and act on opportunities to elevate the guest experience in real time, resolving issues proactively and creating moments of authentic discovery.
Partner with creative and marketing teams to translate experiential programming concepts into precise, repeatable onsite execution plans.
Own the field execution of all experiential activations, including entertainment, interactive elements, themed markets, and special programming.
Brief and direct Onsite Producers and crew on experiential elements, and debrief after events to capture learnings.
Serve as the real-time decision-maker for on-the-fly adaptations of experiential programming, documenting learnings for future improvements.
Own the day-to-day operational relationship with all 3rd party vendors, including staffing platforms, AV providers, decor, and entertainment partners.
Set clear performance expectations with vendors, conduct onsite quality checks, and provide direct feedback.
Manage staffing platform relationships end-to-end, including shift posting, worker quality, ratings, blocklists, and escalations.
Track vendor performance across events and report trends to the Assistant Director of Operations.
Evaluate and onboard new vendor partners, maintaining backup options for high-volume periods.
Serve as Off the Grid's primary relationship holder with venue partners, building trust, resolving issues, and deepening partnerships.
Develop and document site-specific best practices for each venue, including access protocols, setup logistics, and load-in/load-out procedures.
Identify and cultivate new venue partnerships in collaboration with the Assistant Director of Operations.
Ensure Off the Grid leaves every venue in better condition than found, maintaining strong reputations.
Own Off the Grid's onsite training program, building on existing materials and iterating based on field observation and performance.
Design and deliver onboarding for new Onsite Producers and seasonal refreshers for returning staff.
Build and maintain training documentation, competency checklists, and certification records.
Spend meaningful time coaching in the field, modeling expected standards.
Directly manage a team of Onsite Producers across public markets and private catering activations.
Provide regular 1:1s, performance feedback, and development plans for direct reports.
Build and publish event staffing schedules across all programs, balancing various factors.
Foster a team culture grounded in Off the Grid's values.
Personally lead Off the Grid's highest-stakes markets and private catering events.
Resolve real-time escalations from Onsite Producers and serve as the field decision-maker for live incidents.
Ensure health, safety, and sanitation standards are met and review incident reports promptly.
Serve as a key point of operational contact for creators (mobile food businesses).
Deliver direct, constructive feedback to creators on setup quality, sanitation, service speed, and guest engagement.
Ensure creators are meeting contractual obligations, safety and sanitation requirements, and upholding Off the Grid's code of conduct.
Review post-event reports from Onsite Producers for completeness and actionable insight.
Maintain accurate records of equipment status, vendor performance, training completions, and staff certifications.
Contribute to the ongoing refinement of production SOPs, event checklists, and operational tools.
Partner with the Assistant Director of Operations on labor forecasting, budget adherence, and program improvement.