Senior Event Manager (Den or NYC)

Crush Studio•Denver, CO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The ideal candidate will be solutions-oriented, energetic, positive and confident, and exude determination, resourcefulness and fastidious attention to detail – paired with the judgement and experience to make high-stakes calls independently. This role will require the ability to manage multiple projects while precisely and accurately tracking all moving parts from pre-production through close-out. At Crush, you’ll work alongside a talented, focused and passionate team that values creativity and precision in every project. As a Senior Event Manager, you’ll play a critical role in shaping environments and experiences that captivate and inspire our core audiences, while raising the bar for how the team plans, budgets, and executes.

Requirements

Exceptional communication skills, able to manage needs across multiple stakeholders — clients, internal teams, and external partners, including at the executive/senior-client level
8+ years of experience in event, experiential production, or design/production industries, including 3+ years in a lead or senior capacity (owning budgets, mentoring staff, or serving as the primary escalation point on live events)
Demonstrated ownership of complex $250K+ project budgets from proposal through reconciliation, with strong financial literacy tracking actuals in real time
Experience negotiating and managing vendor, fabricator, and rental house relationships and contracts
Ability to calculate material orders using square footage, design measurements, and material sizing
Ability to research and propose production solutions without firsthand experience, using historical references, critical thinking, and outreach research
Experience working in physical labor-intensive environments
Proficiency with Airtable, Monday.com, or comparable project tracking tools
Proven ability to independently manage multiple concurrent projects and vendor relationships without close oversight, and to serve as the primary on-site decision-maker during install, execution, and strike
Disciplined, systematic approach with strong accountability for deadlines and budgets, and the judgement to set that standard for others
Strong emotional IQ and business acumen
Professional appearance and demeanor with excellent interpersonal, verbal & written communication skills
High-sense of responsibility, ability to self-manage and work autonomously
Ability to utilize critical thinking skills and determine best solutions based on industry knowledge, Crush standards, and client expectations
A team player: ability to collaborate with various levels of management, coworkers, clients - with the ability to process multiple streams of input and synthesize into action
High energy, self-starter that contributes to the team while maintaining a “can-do,” solutions-oriented attitude.
Must be able to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 50 lbs
Growth mindset with an eagerness to learn new methods and practices and engage in robust discussions in order to improve self and team performance
Affinity for arts & crafts, hands-on, physical work, design and decor
Affinity for creating meaningful moments of human connection within our spaces, with our clients, and with our team

Responsibilities

Own client communication from kickoff through post-mortem — acting as the primary point of contact throughout the project process
Serve as the day-to-day point of contact with clients via both formal emails and informal quick messages and texts, in order to maintain project efficiency, transparency, and collaboration
Share and present deliverable packages (including key project updates, timelines, and creative project development) and manage the formal approval process at each phase
Manage clients and expectations through transparent scope and change communication, including navigating sensitive or high-pressure client conversations
Build and own the project timeline from kickoff through event close-out
Maintain the client facing deck and internal playbook on each project, along with other core project documents
Lead weekly internal project meetings - manage weekly meeting agendas, facilitate program development, capture and assign action items, identify questions for leadership
Create and assign all tasks via digital platforms; hold the team accountable to deadlines, identify potential issues and help find solutions as needed
Manage the project budget by tracking, forecasting, and monitoring costs against all project budget categories and internal targets
Manage budget reconciliation and invoicing
Advise leadership on pricing, margin, and scoping decisions during the proposal phase
Conduct venue site checks and produce key updates for active projects
Capture detailed notes, measurements, and site photos and share findings to inform design, production, and budgeting.
Identify logistical considerations including access points, load-in paths, power availability, and venue restrictions
Maintain and update essential production documents including Run of Show, call sheets, COIs, inventory checklists, venue details, pack lists, tasks lists, strike plans, and related program documentation
Partner with the design team and production teams to create build and production packages to document and guide the production process
Ensure post-project closeout and wrap report - analyzing wins and key learnings, and feeding lessons learned into studio-wide process improvements
Brief the creative and design teams at kickoff; relay client feedback and approvals immediately
Coordinate with Operations/Finance on invoicing schedules, expense approvals, and reconciliation
Participate in weekly Crush-wide project status meetings with clear updates on each active project – flagging cross-project resourcing conflicts and opportunities where necessary
Manage Production Coordinator or Event Coordinator when assigned, including the support of onboarding new team members
Lead and manage the development of the guest experience, balancing various factors - setting and environment, client goals, on-site considerations, budget, and demographic research
Develop creative programming ideas in order to spark engagement and interaction with guests
Provide creative writing and concepting to support project development
Provide creative support in various tasks
Write copy for presentations, creative treatments
Write copy and provide direction for guest-facing signage
Research and coordinate with small and local businesses across various US markets, in order to execute personalized or interactive moments for events- including speciality programming contractors (e.g. embroiderers, calligraphers, etc) DJs, entertainment.
Determine project support needs.
Negotiate, contract, and manage production vendors as needed including but not limited to: AV, florists, photographers, catering, trucking and shipping, local labor, and convention center services.
Brief vendors on creative direction, logistics, and timelines; serve as their primary day-of contact during all on-site activities
Manage project storage units and inventory
Identify production needs to support the production of experiential events and custom environments from concept through execution and closeout - working with production team members to create production timelines, game plans, and solve for various event logistics
Initiate project planning and build production approaches that align scope, timing, budget, and staffing needs
Own production priorities across multiple concurrent projects, balancing deadlines, deliverables, resources, and team bandwidth
Lead internal and external conversations related to production objectives, milestones, risks, and execution planning throughout all phases of a project
Identify labor and project needs for schlepping, moving, production assistance.
Direct on-site vendors and labor crew — assign tasks, manage call times, enforce breaks, and resolve issues in real time
Manage post-event shipping, returns, resale, and inventory logging in Crush’s tracking system
Act as a mentor for members of our production team, stepping in as needed as a secondary escalation point across projects, feeding into studio-wide process improvements
Partner with leadership on refining studio-wide production processes, templates, and best practices
Working in events and deadline-based projects requires working some evenings and weekends, and occasional overnight installs.
Crush balances work/life balance with flex policies (see benefits)
Crush will do its best to accommodate personal schedules and needs in scheduling and planning
Studio collaboration and organization. Being part of a “real live working studio” requires physical presence, active engagement by all team members, and shared responsibility zoning physical materials and keeping them accessible and usable for the entire team
General production hands-on work during production including, in-studio gifting projects and load-in /load-out of events, as well as on-site event management. Tasks include cleaning, sweeping, moving,, organizing, hanging, zip-tying, gaff taping, cord management, fluffing pillows, steaming/ironing and moving furniture
Assist with event packing, unloading and reloading, and the organization of event materials as needed during production, install, and strike processes

Benefits

11 paid holidays, plus soft close during the holiday break (10 national holidays and 1 personal holiday e.g. birthday)
15 days per year to start, with a day added for each year of service (up to 20 days)
3 additional sick/mental health days per year
Shortened Friday work hours based on completion of job responsibilities for the week and dependent on event schedule
Flex time for installs and events when weekend days and any company holidays are worked (can be used as desired, but do not roll over from year to year and are not paid out)
FAMLI Benefits - includes up to 12 weeks paid medical or parental leave (Colorado residents only). Both employees and employers contribute to this program via automatic payroll deductions (similar to unemployment)
Up to 6 weeks paid medical or parental leave as applicable to supplement FAMLI leave to get to 12 total weeks paid
10 remote work days (in addition to some Mondays and most Fridays remote)
Simple IRA with company match of 50%, up to 3% for employees
$250 towards participation in company-sponsored ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement) or $150 post-tax health care expense monthly stipend
$100 monthly phone reimbursement
Discretionary bonuses
Access to Trade Discounts for personal furniture and home decor purchases
TSA Pre or Global entry