Job Description

Title: Event Manager, JBF at Pier 57

Salary: $64,000 – $71,000

About The James Beard Foundation:

The James Beard Foundation(“JBF”) is a vital cultural institution with deep roots honoring and advancing the culinary arts industry. JBF’s mission is to celebrate, support, and elevate the people behind America’s food culture and champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability. As a 501(c) (3) national non-profit organization, JBF brings its mission to life through the annual James Beard Awards, industry and community-focused initiatives and programs, advocacy, partnerships, and events across the country.

The James Beard Foundation’s Impact Department helps the independent restaurant industry reach new standards around equity, sustainability, and workplace practices to ensure that all involved in its supply chain can thrive. We look to turn independent restaurant jobs into long and healthy independent restaurant careers; to expand who has access to leadership, visibility, financial stability, and capital; and to use the power of chefs for climate change mitigation. Our mission comes to life through research, training programs, policy advocacy, and harnessing the agency of chefs for change.

The Event Manager, JBF at Pier 57, is an integral part of the Pier 57 team and key to ensuring the Foundation’s programs and events at Pier 57 are executed both as “Chef first” and as “best in class” to engage new and returning audiences with the Foundation’s mission. The Event Manager will liaise with visiting chefs, beverage professionals, and artisans who are invited to be featured in programs and events at Pier 57 to coordinate travel logistics, menus and ingredient lists, arrival details, prep needs, equipment needs, run of show, day-of kitchen logistics, and event collateral between the featured guest and a third-party operator who will run the onsite operations for JBF at Pier 57.

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations and Property, the Event Manager’s scope of work will start from the point at which a program and theme are confirmed with programming and run up until the end of the event.

Note: Event Managers will need to be available by phone to troubleshoot and problem solve as needed if they are not physically hosting the door. Flextime will be provided to balance the varying start and end times in each 40-hour work week.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the point of contact for visiting professionals for 50% of the programs at Pier 57, from the confirmation of their program until the guests are seated
• Work the first hour or so of each assigned event, managing the door, greeting guests, and facilitating networking by connecting customers with the appropriate JBF hosts
• Manage the overall door schedule and expectations beyond your own events
• Support as needed in travel logistics, deliveries, equipment needs, ingredient lists, run of show, and day-of kitchen logistics for visiting professionals, ensuring seamless coordination with the onsite third-party operator
• Oversee logistics for beverage donations in collaboration with the third-party operator and visiting professionals
• Prepare BEO forms, event sheets, and talking points for all programs and events.
• Working within excel and data sheets supporting daily operations
• Partner with the third-party operator to manage budgets and expenses for programs and events while monitoring annual P&L
• Draft, proofread, and manage requests and receipt of relevant collateral material in partnership with the JBF Marcoms team and the third-party operator
• Liaise with the Box Office Coordinator to monitor and support ticketing for all programs, including reviewing final guest lists, managing dietary restrictions, and finalizing seating plans
• Crosstrain and support the box office as needed (mainly around PTO)
• Work with the Sponsorship team on sponsor integrations and activations as needed
• Perform additional duties as assigned, based on organizational needs and priorities

Qualifications

To be effective in this role, key core competencies and personal characteristics include:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in special events, hospitality, or fine dining. Knowledge and experience working with Independent Restaurants, Executive Chefs, and Beverage Professionals desired
• Proven experience as an event and/or hospitality operations manager
• Experience in the culinary and beverage industries including knowledge of cooking techniques, ingredients, wine, and mixology
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute events
• Exceptional ability to multi-task, prioritize projects, and work efficiently and independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Customer-service focused
• A team player with leadership skills and ability to build relationships at all levels
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic work environment
• A keen attention to detail and conscientious work ethic
• Proficiency in MS Office; Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, CRM systems (preferable Salesforce), and Adobe Acrobat Pro

Work Hours:

The standard workweek is 40 hours, but hours may be adjusted to reflect any additional time worked at events, ensuring that the total weekly hours remain at 40.

Benefits

JBF offers its employees a dynamic work environment with benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents; life insurance; flexible spending account; commuter benefits; retirement savings; employee assistance program; tuition reimbursement/ professional development; and generous paid time off. We also offer fertility planning support and up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Additional perks include staff events, tickets to events at Platform by JBF (Pier 57), and much more.

The Foundation currently works a hybrid schedule that requires employees to be in our NYC office 2 days per week. This position is not eligible for relocation.

JBF requires all employees to be fully vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19 unless a medical or religious accommodation is needed in accordance with applicable law.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs