Director of Special Events - Chicago, United States - Illinois Restaurant Association
3 weeks ago
Description
JOB SUMMARY:
The Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois.
EVENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION:
- Manage nonprofit association events including gala, golf outing, annual meeting, and large scale outdoor festivals including Chicago Gourmet.
- Develop and manage event budgets and state grants.
- Solicit vendors for event services. Procure equipment, tools and supplies.
- Collect invoices, reconcile with budget, and ensure payments are completed.
- Manage project timeline, master internal and external schedules.
- Oversee, manage and direct staff and interns to ensure responsibilities are fulfilled.
- Train and provide best practices for event staff, interns and seasonal help.
- Finalize layout of event floor plans; accommodating needs of sponsors and committee requests.
- Ensure events and ticketing webpages are kept up to date and functioning properly.
- Identify guest prospects, invite and confirm to attend each event.
- Identify event sponsor and inkind donor prospects, solicit and confirm participation.
- Identify vendor prospects, invite and confirm participation.
- Oversee silent auction/raffle requests, solicitation, packaging, display, checkout and distribution.
- Manage signage, presentations and program book process including: design, proofing, approval, quantities, delivery and set up.
- Develop remarks for event speakers.
- Proof event marketing, promotional and public relations efforts.
- Manage all event logistics and troubleshoot issues onsite.
- Conduct postevent debriefs with internal team, committee and vendors to highlight strengths and areas for improvement in the future.
- Produce post event report/summary for each event.
- Oversee direct report responsible for procuring item and package donations for various Silent Auctions held throughout the year.
SPONSOR MANAGEMENT:
- Solicit sponsorship for Chicago Gourmet Events
- Develop prospect list and execute introductory communications
- Build and maintain strong relationships with all current and new sponsors
- Determine creative ways to procure additional sponsorship revenue
- Lead the generation of sponsor proposals and negotiations for new sponsors
- Author sponsorship agreement documents and manage legal review when applicable
- Manage Sponsor Timeline with all production and collateral deadlines
- Attend sponsor site visits and conference calls
- Liaise with partner vendors to manage activation needs, social/earned media inclusions
- Issue sponsor invoices and issue payment followup as needed
- Oversee of onsite execution and troubleshooting throughout festival
- Assist in post festival wrap meetings with all sponsors to solicit feedback and determine renewal status
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor's Degree required
- 810 years experience in event planning
- 3+ years in a supervisory role
- General knowledge of food service/hospitality industry
- Strong interpersonal and people management skills
- Strong administrative, communications, organizational and supervisory skills
- Ability to effectively manage up and down in a proactive and positive manner
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, database management and officeequipment
- Computer Operations: familiarity with HTML, Canva and/or design software preferred
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
Education:
- Bachelor's (required)
Work Location:
Hybrid remote in Chicago, IL 60603
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