Special Events Manager

ATLANTA HUMANE SOCIETY AND SOCIETY•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Special Events Manager strengthens the Atlanta Humane Society’s community presence and fundraising impact through strategic event leadership, relationship management, and operational excellence. This full-time role reports to the Director of Special Events and provides independent oversight of a diverse portfolio of events while directly managing and developing two event coordinators. This role exercises sound judgment in planning and execution, anticipates and mitigates risks, balances stakeholder needs, and is accountable for event performance, sponsor fulfillment, and donor experience. The ideal candidate is a confident decision-maker, collaborative leader, and experienced event professional who thrives in dynamic environments and models professionalism, accountability, and empathy.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
4–6 years of hands-on event experience, ideally in nonprofit or fundraising environments.
Experience managing or supervising others, including delegating work, giving feedback, and taking responsibility for outcomes.
Comfortable making decisions on the fly and balancing budget, logistics, and guest experience in fast-paced settings.
Strong people skills with the ability to communicate clearly, solve problems, and navigate challenges with donors, vendors, and internal partners.
Highly organized with a strong ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, and details at once.
Clear, thoughtful written and verbal communication skills.
Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office and comfort learning new tools and systems.
A positive, proactive, and solutions-focused approach to work.
Comfortable working around animals in shelter and event environments.
Valid Georgia driver’s license or ability to obtain one.
Willing and able to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours as needed for events.
Ability to lift, push, and pull up to 50lbs with reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Experience using Salesforce or a similar CRM is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of large-scale fundraising and engagement events, owning timelines, execution quality, and guest, donor, and sponsor experience.
Anticipate risks, identify potential bottlenecks, and proactively adjust plans, staffing, and vendor coordination in real time to ensure seamless execution and a calm, professional on-site experience.
Serve as an on-site leader at Atlanta Humane Society events, including fundraisers, community engagement events, vaccine clinics, appreciation events, and corporate experiences.
Oversee and hold accountability for key logistical partners including production firms, caterers, venue staff, printers, photographers, and rental vendors; address issues and escalations professionally and independently.
Manage sponsor, vendor, and committee relationships by balancing partner needs with organizational priorities and ensuring fulfillment, retention, and long-term partnership value.
Elevate donor and sponsor stewardship through timely acknowledgment, personalized engagement, consistent follow-up, and high-quality post-event experiences.
Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and performance support for event coordinators; delegate effectively while maintaining accountability and supporting professional growth and confidence.
Guide coordinators in designing, executing, and evaluating their events, including third-party fundraisers, community engagement activities, adoption events, and internal requests.
Collaborate across departments to promote events, ensure sponsorship fulfillment, staffing needs, accurate branding, and operational readiness.
Identify opportunities to grow event revenue and mission engagement by evaluating ROI, analyzing performance metrics, and recommending improvements.
Apply event strategy at the individual event level, aligning execution with donor strategy and supporting broader Director-level planning.
Analyze event challenges and root causes; implement corrective actions, refine processes, test new approaches, and document learnings to improve future outcomes.
Help manage event budgets, reporting, Salesforce data accuracy, expense tracking, and other administrative needs that support smooth execution.
Maintain project plans, event calendars, timelines, and organizational systems that ensure clear communication and accountability.
Assist with inventory management, procurement, and operational preparation for events.
Oversee post-event activities including debriefs, donor follow-up, auction fulfillment, surveys, and vendor correspondence.
Model accountability, professionalism, and ethical conduct in all interactions; handle sensitive communications and escalations with composure and empathy.