Senior Manager, Events and Programs

The Chamber•Seattle, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Seattle Metro Chamber brings together business, government, and community leaders to advance our region. The Senior Manager, Events and Programs leads a high-profile portfolio of signature events, executive and civic convenings, regional conferences, leadership missions, limited-series programs, and new initiatives. Reporting to the Vice President of Member Development, this role leads the planning, development, and execution of Chamber programs and events. The Senior Manager oversees content, speakers, sponsors, budgets, communications, logistics, and post-event evaluation. The role supervises the Events Manager, strengthens engagement and sponsorship value, and remains actively involved in day-to-day execution.

Requirements

Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience leading complex events, programs, conferences, convenings, or related initiatives.
Experience supervising employees or project teams and coordinating cross-functional contributors, speakers, vendors, and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated success developing or improving programs that strengthen engagement, sponsorship value, revenue, or organizational visibility.
Strong project and program management skills, including complex timelines, shifting priorities, multiple contributors, budgets, and reporting.
Ability to use participation data, feedback, sponsor input, and performance measures to evaluate results and recommend improvements.
Excellent written, verbal, relationship-management, judgment, discretion, and problem-solving skills.
A resourceful, collaborative approach with strong follow-through and the ability to influence without formal authority.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, CRM or member databases, event registration platforms, virtual meeting tools, and reporting tools.
Ability to work early mornings, evenings, and extended hours and to support onsite event setup through breakdown.
Strong guest, member, or customer service orientation, with the ability to anticipate participant needs, resolve issues professionally, and ensure a consistent, high-quality event experience.
Demonstrated written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear event descriptions, promotional copy, speaker materials, talking points, and stakeholder communications.
Experience evaluating programs, using feedback or participation data to identify improvements, and implementing changes that strengthen participant experience, member engagement, or program outcomes.
Experience supervising, coaching, or leading the work of staff, project teams, volunteers, contractors, or cross-functional partners.
Ability to prioritize team workload, provide direction, and hold others accountable for timely, high-quality event delivery.
Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with members, vendors, speakers, colleagues, direct reports, and external partners.
Strong cross-department collaboration skills, including the ability to build alignment, clarify roles and responsibilities, communicate timelines, and coordinate work across teams.
Solutions-oriented approach, with the ability to stay calm under pressure, adapt to changing circumstances, and resolve issues professionally during events.
Ability to model, teach, and follow de-escalation practices, including responding to guest concerns with professionalism, sound judgment, and calm communication; recognizing when inappropriate, unsafe, or disruptive behavior should be escalated; and documenting significant incidents when needed.
Professional, engaging, and approachable communication style, with the ability to represent the Chamber well in interactions with members, guests, partners, and stakeholders, and including Chamber staff.
Sound judgment and emotional steadiness when navigating competing priorities, time-sensitive decisions, or challenging stakeholder interactions.

Nice To Haves

Ability to move event materials weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

Lead the strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of signature events, executive and civic convenings, leadership missions, limited-series programs, and new initiatives.
Manage objectives, workplans, timelines, content, agendas, speakers, sponsors, budgets, vendors, logistics, staffing, onsite execution, and post-event evaluation.
Develop, launch, or redesign programs based on member needs, audience feedback, sponsorship value, revenue opportunities, and organizational priorities.
Supervise and coach the Events Manager, set priorities, allocate resources, monitor progress, and provide hands-on support when needs shift.
Lead programs such as the Annual Meeting, Regional Leadership Conference, Public Officials Reception, leadership missions, and limited series programs, and special initiatives.
Manage budgets, revenue assumptions, sponsor commitments, vendor costs, participation data, stakeholder feedback, and budget-to-actual reporting.
Build productive relationships with members, sponsors, senior leaders, speakers, public officials, vendors, advisory groups, and partners.
Partner with Marketing and Communications on messaging and materials; maintain production plans, briefings, staffing and contingency plans, and stakeholder communications.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage, employer pay 96% of the employee premium, including $0 prescriptions and appointments
401(k) and Roth Retirement Accounts, with Employer Match of up to 6%
Generous Holiday and Paid Time Off Schedule, including Community Service leave and winter closure
Telecommunication Reimbursement
Mindfulness and Wellness Resources
Life Insurance
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
Company-sponsored ORCA Card
Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Parental Leave
EAP Membership
Additional Voluntary Benefits, including Long-term Disability Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, and Pet Insurance
Remote office set up stipend $500
Woodland Park Zoo Discount
SecureSave Workplace Savings Program with Optional $5 Semi-Monthly Employer Match
Passport Corporate Discount Membership
Norton LifeLock Benefit Solutions
Free snacks and beverages at the office!