Events Manager

JOB TITLE: Events Manager

STATUS: Full Time, Non-Exempt

SUPERVISOR: Associate Director of Events and Strategic Partnerships

BENEFITS:

• Health, dental, vision and more, with an employer contribution

• 3 weeks paid time off + 10 paid holidays
• Annual pet care allowance

• 403(b) with employer match
• Cuddly coworkers
• 30-day paid sabbatical after 4 years
• Check out our full list of benefits and perks HERE

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Events Manager is a seasoned, strategic, and mission-driven professional responsible for leading the planning and execution of Seattle Humane’s fundraising and community events. This role oversees all aspects of event planning, and production, delivering exceptional experiences for donors, sponsors, guests, and volunteers while advancing the organization’s fundraising and engagement goals. The ideal candidate brings significant experience successfully managing complex, high-impact events, with demonstrated strength in project management, budgeting, vendor and partner relationships, and cross-functional collaboration. This role requires a confident, solution-oriented professional who can anticipate needs, navigate competing priorities, and independently move complex events from strategy through execution. A collaborative, team-oriented approach is essential to success.

• Leads the strategic planning and execution of fundraising, donor cultivation, and community engagement events, ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale signature events, ensuring each experience is thoughtfully designed, mission-aligned, and successfully delivered.
• Manage event budgets, timelines, workplans, and complex logistics from initial concept through execution and post-event evaluation, proactively identifying needs, managing competing priorities, and ensuring events remain on schedule and within budget.
• Oversee relationships with vendors, venues, and production partners, including sourcing and evaluating partners, negotiating contracts and pricing, managing deliverables, and ensuring a high standard of service and execution.
• In partnership with the marketing team, create and manage compelling event communications and collateral from promotion through follow-up, including event invitations and promotions, webpages, presentations, signage, programs, scripts, talking points, run-of-show documents, guest and sponsor communications, event reports, and stewardship materials.
• Collaborates closely with development, marketing, and program teams to develop cohesive event strategies that advance fundraising priorities, deepen donor engagement, and effectively showcase the organization’s mission and impact.
• Ensures a thoughtful, high-quality guest experience at every touchpoint, anticipating the needs of donors, sponsors, volunteers, and other key constituents and overseeing the details that create welcoming, engaging, and memorable events.
• Partners with major gifts and corporate teams to support meaningful sponsor and donor engagement throughout the event lifecycle, including cultivation, recognition, benefit fulfillment, on-site engagement, and post-event stewardship.
• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships and collaborate with operations, development, marketing, and executive leadership to operationalize events that align business interests with community impact.
• Manages a portfolio of event donors and prospects throughout the donor lifecycle, identifying opportunities for engagement, cultivating and soliciting event support, coordinating meaningful donor experiences, and providing thoughtful post-event stewardship.
• Leverage data and reporting tools, including Raiser's Edge and Luminate, to track partnership activity, measure progress toward revenue and engagement goals, identify trends, and inform strategic decision-making.
• Coordinate and lead customized campus tours and engagement opportunities for event partners and prospective supporters, creating meaningful connections to the organization's mission and impact.
• Represent Seattle Humane with professionalism and credibility in meetings, presentations, events, and other public events, to build and maintain community relationships.
• Must be available to travel locally and complete time-sensitive, work-related errands, deliveries, purchases, and logistical assignments, including on short notice as business needs arise.
• Effectively manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholder relationships simultaneously while maintaining a high level of accuracy, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
• Provide project management support for initiatives, special projects, and strategic priorities as assigned by the Associate Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Lead and manage volunteers as needed for event preparation, setup, and onsite event execution.

COMPLEXITY:

Use independent judgment in decision making and must work well both independently and as part of a team. Need to handle details of sensitive and highly confidential nature in a professional manner. Diverse duties weekly, as routine and projects can vary daily. Exceptionally demonstrated attention to detail and experience in responding to unexpected situations or requests from partners, donors or staff. Flexibility to adapt to differing support needs, working styles, and demands.

COMMUNICATION/INTERPERSONAL CONTACT:

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with staff through in-person interactions, meetings, phone calls, and email.
• Builds strong and trusting relationships with peers, leadership, volunteers, and external partners.
• Engages in regular written and verbal communication with volunteers, donors, corporate and community partners, vendors, and board members.
• Deals with diverse styles and personalities and build strong and trusting relationships with peers, managers, volunteers, and internal and external partners.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by fostering a respectful, inclusive work environment that values diverse perspectives, cultures, and viewpoints.

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION OR TRAINING:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8+ years of event management experience.
• Proven success managing complex, high-profile events.
• Strong relationship building, negotiation, presentation, and customer service skills.
• Experience in planning and making public presentations to professional groups, both virtually and in-person.
• Exceptional discretion, independent judgment, and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, anticipate needs, and respond effectively to time-sensitive requests.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with a strong ability to prioritize, manage deadlines, and follow through with accuracy and consistency.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with project management tools.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and completing tasks on deadline.
• Proven experience maintaining highly accurate records and processes, with the ability to perform precise and reliable data analysis.
• Deals with diverse styles and personalities and build strong and trusting relationships with peers, managers, volunteers, and internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated interest in, and passion for nonprofit work and animal welfare highly desired.

LICENSES/CERTIIFCATIONS REQUIRED:

Valid Washington State driver's license and reliable personal transportation required.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

This job involves significant time sitting (or standing) at a desk and using a computer. Must be able to analyze problems and determine the best solutions and communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Must possess good attention to detail, be able to concentrate and produce accurate work despite frequent interruptions. Needs to be sensitive to other opinions, perspectives, or cultures. Position facilitates collaboration among varied groups and audiences, both in person, over the phone, and in writing. Flexibility to adapt to differing support needs, working styles, and demands. Must be able to lift boxes weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without assistance.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

General Office Environment: General office and animal shelter environment. Limited animal handling may occur, with potential exposure to animal bites, exposure to zoonotic diseases, animal dander and noise.

Equipment Use: Continuous use of computer, printer, copy machine, and multi-line telephone.

Work Hours:Full-time, 40 hours per week. Hybrid work structure with required in-office presence 2-3 days per week, or as determined by organizational needs. Occasional evening and weekend hours required for special events and as requested by the Associate Director, Events and Strategic Partnerships.

Location

Position will work onsite at our Bellevue, WA campus, 2-3 days a week. Relocation reimbursement is not available.

Candidates should be committed to Seattle Humane's Core Values:

• Collaboration
• Compassion
• Accessibility
• Respect
• Adaptability

Who We Are

Seattle Humane is more than a shelter; we're a community resource center. We're meeting the increasing need for pet owner support services so that families don't have to choose between an overdue bill and a beloved family member. We're training the next generation of veterinarians in our state-of-the-art medical center. We're building a community of animal advocates through our volunteer and youth education programs.

The impact of Seattle Humane is life-changing, for the animals in our care and the people who love them. Our top priority is to connect animals in need of rescue with the people who will love them. Through our outreach, advocacy and services, we strive to ensure that animal companionship is accessible to all.

Equal Opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, Seattle Humane is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.