Senior Programming Manager

Charleston Wine + Food•Charleston, SC

About The Position

The Senior Programming Manager is responsible for leading the strategic development, execution, and operational management of Charleston Wine + Food's year-round programming and annual festival experiences. This position serves as the primary steward of culinary talent engagement, event concept development, programming operations, and talent hospitality. The role requires an individual who can balance creativity with operational excellence, developing compelling event concepts, cultivating meaningful industry relationships, and ensuring the successful execution of all programming-related activities. The Senior Programming Manager oversees talent recruitment, communications, contracts, menus, culinary operations, and external programming contractors while serving as a key collaborator across marketing, sponsorship, production, beverage, and community engagement teams. This position plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that Charleston Wine + Food delivers exceptional experiences that advance the organization's mission, strengthen the culinary and hospitality community, and support organizational sustainability. This role is committed to act as a brand representative of Charleston Wine + Food and portray our values of people first, community, and good stewardship. They recognize and use our mission and higher purpose as a guide in every decision made on behalf of the organization: Mission: To celebrate the diverse food + beverage community of the greater Charleston area on a national stage and to create programs that build a sustainable, vibrant, and connected culinary + hospitality community.

Requirements

This role requires the ability to use professional relationship skills to cultivate, close, and maintain relationships that further Charleston Wine + Food's mission and impact in the local community in a positive way.
The Senior Programming Manager has a passion for the local culinary + hospitality community and the ability to work with grace, humor, kindness, and unmatched hospitality is a must.
5+ years of experience in event programming, festival management, talent relations, hospitality operations, culinary operations, entertainment booking, or related fields.
Experience managing chefs, culinary talent, speakers, performers, hospitality professionals, or comparable stakeholders preferred.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to advocate for organizational priorities with clarity and diplomacy.
Active listening skills with the ability to respond with empathy, tact, and solution-oriented thinking.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal teams, talent, partners, and community stakeholders.
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple events, timelines, and priorities simultaneously.
Experience creating run-of-shows, managing itineraries, and overseeing travel and logistics for talent.
Ability to anticipate challenges, troubleshoot in real time, and implement effective solutions under pressure.
Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities effectively.
Creative, entrepreneurial, and proactive in generating new ideas and programming opportunities.
Committed to the mission of CHSWF and passionate about the culinary and hospitality community.
Resilient under pressure, adaptable to changing priorities, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Competent in Microsoft Office, G-Suite Software + Drive, Event Design software and interoffice communication channels such as Slack and Asana
Five+ years of work experience in account management, customer service, or related areas of experience required.
Comfortable working in an outdoor setting at times (rain, cold, mud)
Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate

Nice To Haves

Experience with CRM and Event/Project Management Software is a plus.
Experience in the food and beverage industry, or comparable experience appreciated, but not required

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of Charleston Wine + Food's annual programming strategy and event portfolio that amplifies CHSWF's mission, celebrates our community, and supports key stakeholders.
Develop, curate, and refine event concepts, experiences, demonstrations, collaborations, and signature programming that support organizational goals and audience demand.
Evaluate programming performance and identify opportunities for innovation, growth, and operational efficiency.
Lead programming ideation sessions with staff, stakeholders, and community partners.
Ensure programming reflects organizational values, mission priorities, sponsor objectives, and community impact goals.
Collaborate with the Beverage Manager to integrate beverage programming into the overall festival and year-round strategy.
Identify, recruit, negotiate, contract, and manage participation of chefs, restaurateurs, authors, hospitality professionals, personalities, and other industry talent.
Build and maintain strong relationships with local, regional, and national culinary and hospitality leaders.
Oversee all talent communications from recruitment through post-event follow-up.
Develop talent compensation structures, benefits packages, and hospitality offerings that support recruitment and retention goals.
Serve as the primary organizational advocate and liaison for participating culinary + hospitality talent (non-beverage).
Oversee talent travel, accommodations, itineraries, transportation, and on-site hospitality experiences.
Lead all culinary operations planning associated with programming execution.
Oversee the collection, review, and management of menus, recipes, talent forms, dietary requirements, biographies, headshots, AV needs, and other programming deliverables
Ensure all programming documentation is complete, accurate, and delivered according to production timelines.
Partner closely with Production and Beverage teams to ensure operational readiness for all events.
Oversee Culinary Village programming and culinary operations to ensure alignment with brand standards and guest experience expectations.
Develop detailed run-of-shows, programming schedules, talent itineraries, and operational plans to ensure a seamless and positive experience for participants.
Partner with Marketing to develop compelling programming narratives, talent announcements, and promotional content.
Ensure talent information, event descriptions, and programming content are accurate and engaging across all marketing platforms.
Collaborate with external public relations partners to identify media opportunities and maximize visibility for talent and programming initiatives.
Oversee talent-facing website content and programming-related digital assets.
Participate in annual organizational budgeting and forecasting processes.
Develop and manage programming, talent, hospitality, and culinary operations budgets.
Monitor expenses and identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining exceptional participant experiences.
Evaluate talent investments and programming performance to maximize organizational return and mission impact.
Ensure programming decisions support both financial sustainability and community impact objectives.
Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate programming support staff and seasonal team members.
Manage external programming consultants, talent contractors, and third-party vendors supporting programming execution.
Foster a collaborative, accountable, and inclusive team culture.
Model strong leadership, advocating for both talent and CHSWF's organizational priorities.
Serve as a connector across departments, ensuring strong communication and alignment among Marketing, Sponsorship, Beverage, Production, Education, and Operations teams.
Serve as an ambassador for Charleston Wine + Food within the culinary and hospitality community, embodying the values of people first, community, and stewardship.
Build relationships that strengthen CHSWF's reputation, relevance, and impact locally and nationally.
Partner with Sponsorship and External Affairs teams to identify meaningful partnership opportunities through programming.
Create experiences that celebrate and elevate the greater Charleston food and beverage community.
Inspire programming that positively impacts the local community while enhancing attendee and partner experiences.