Signature Events Manager

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ASSOCIATION INC • Houston, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Signature Events Manager leads the planning and execution of high-impact events designed to engage donors, cultivate relationships, and elevate the overall supporter experience. This role oversees donor engagement and corporate hospitality, with a particular focus on stewardship and cultivation initiatives with the Stewardship Manager. This role collaborates closely with philanthropy leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams to deliver seamless, detail-driven events that reflect the organization’s standards of excellence and professionalism. This role also works closely with and supports the Director and Associate Director of Signature Events in advancing the organization’s event strategy and execution. Join Us! We are looking for talented, passionate, and dedicated people who are eager to make contributions to our community and our mission. If you are excited about this position but your experience does not align perfectly, we encourage you to apply! You may be just the right candidate for this position or another role at HGO. About the Houston Grand Opera The mission of HGO is to enrich our diverse community through the art of opera. We do so by creating, curating, exploring, and producing outstanding experiences centered around the human voice. HGO has received a Tony Award, three Grammy Awards, and three Emmy Awards – we are the only opera company in the world to win all three honors. Our strategic focus is two-fold: creating profoundly enriching experiences for our diverse audiences and clearly defining and positively promoting the HGO brand. We believe every team member enriches our organization by exposing a broad range of ways to understand and engage our community and discover, design, and deliver enriching experiences.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of relevant experience required
• Events management experience a plus
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated organizational ability
• An eye for detail and quality control
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent computer skills with a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office are required
• Scheduled irregular working hours including evening and weekend work is required
• Must thrive in a fast-paced group setting
• Be highly organized and efficiency-driven
• Self-motivator with analytical problem-solving abilities
• Confident, experienced decision maker
• Detail-oriented individual with attention to process
• Sound judgment abilities
• Successful customer service professional
• Ability to manage up, down, and laterally
• High level of personal and professional ethics

Nice To Haves

• Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite
• Working knowledge of Tessitura

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of corporate and donor engagement events, donor receptions, cultivation events, and smaller stewardship gatherings.
• Manage event timelines, budgets, run-of-show documents, and logistics from concept through post-event follow-up.
• Oversee donor event invitations and mailings working closely with internal creative teams to submit creative briefs, circulate for revisions, and ensure timing deployment and mailings.
• Coordinate venue logistics, catering, audiovisual, décor, rentals, and entertainment.
• Oversee on-site event management, ensuring seamless execution and guest experience for donor events.
• Manage special projects within Signature Events as assigned by DSE, other duties as assigned.
• Provide support for all aspects of HGO’s annual major fundraising events including, but not limited to, Opening Night Dinner, Concert of Arias, and Opera Ball.
• Create and maintain detailed project plans and timelines for all assigned events.
• Track expenses and reconcile event budgets.
• Manage contracts and relationships with vendors and external partners.
• Collaborate across departments including philanthropy, audiences, and production teams.
• Assist with sponsor benefits fulfillment and donor recognition opportunities as related to events.
• Manage event registrations, guest tracking, and data entry in Tessitura and Jixaw.
• Produce event reports and post-event analyses, including attendance, revenue, and key outcomes.
• Ensure accurate documentation of donor engagement through events.
• Collaborate with Rehearsal Planning and Artist Services (RPAS) team to ensure all Philanthropy and Special Events event information is accurate and up to date in ArtsVision.

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable health benefits
• Generous paid time off
• 403b retirement plan with employer match
• Flexible work schedule
• Professional development fund and opportunities
• Discounted parking in the Theater District garage and nearby lots, plus easy access to Metro transportation
• Free tickets to our mainstage and community productions and events

What This Job Offers

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