Special Events Manager
About The Position
Arlington County is seeking a Special Events Manager for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to oversee the County-wide special events program. This role involves managing over 250 event applications annually, coordinating permits for various events from community gatherings to major events like the Arlington County Fair and Marine Corps Marathon. The Special Events Manager will lead the planning, execution, and post-event review processes, collaborating with applicants and County departments. This position also chairs an interdepartmental committee focused on public safety, transportation, zoning, public works, and other critical functions to support community events, cultural celebrations, and tourism.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in event/hospitality management, business administration, events management, recreation management, communications or related field.
- Some experience planning and coordinating events, recreation programming and planning, communications, or related field.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to work collaboratively to manage multiple events, deadlines, and meetings.
- Effective customer service and communications skills to clearly explain processes and address issues across diverse communities.
- Technical proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 programs (i.e., Sharepoint, Dynamics, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), website updates, and Customer Relationship Managers (CRM) systems.
- Ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
Nice To Haves
- Master's Degree in a related field.
- Experience in Hospitality management.
- Experience in community organizing.
- Experience in public information.
- Experience in Project or organizational management.
- Experience in Crisis or emergency response management.
- Experience in Park or facility management.
- Experience in Community engagement for urban planning.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary liaison between event organizers and Arlington County, providing guidance on special event requirements and permitting processes.
- Manage the review and approval process for over 250 special event applications annually through a centralized permitting system.
- Lead the County’s interdepartmental special events committee, coordinating reviews, approvals, compliance, timelines, and communications.
- Facilitate planning, logistics, safety, and post-event meetings with applicants, County staff, and community stakeholders.
- Represent Arlington County during event planning and execution, ensuring compliance and addressing operational issues.
- Maintain and enhance special event resources, including applications, checklists, guidance materials, website content, and regulatory updates.
- Oversee event billing, invoicing, fee reduction requests, payment processing, and related financial coordination.
- Support incident response and problem-solving for permitted events, including safety concerns, emergencies, and changing operational conditions.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Generous benefits and retirement plan.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
