Manager, Strategic Events & Partnerships

Job Description

Job Description

Summary:
The Manager, Strategic Events & Partnerships serves as ECDI's organization-wide lead for event infrastructure, planning, coordination, and execution across ECDI's markets and programs. Reporting to the Director of Marketing, the Manager leads major and cross-market event execution, supports consistent event planning practices across the organization, manages activation and revenue-generating opportunities for ECDI-owned or managed event spaces, and develops event-related partnerships and sponsorships that strengthen ECDI's brand, community presence, and entrepreneurial impact.
The Manager provides strategic and hands-on event support across ECDI's statewide footprint, directly leading major and cross-market events from concept through post-event evaluation while providing planning resources, guidance, and coordination for locally led events. The Manager also supports the activation, programming, and revenue-generating use of ECDI-owned or managed event spaces, including Food Fort and other locations as assigned. Working as part of the Marketing Department, the Manager ensures events and venue initiatives align with ECDI's brand, communications, community engagement, and entrepreneurial mission.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Organization-Wide Event Strategy, Intake & Support

• Serve as ECDI's primary organizational resource for event planning, coordination, production, and execution across markets and programs.
• Establish and manage an organization-wide event intake and prioritization process in partnership with the Director of Marketing.
• Develop and maintain an organization-wide event calendar.
• In partnership with the Director of Marketing, determine appropriate levels of support and resource allocation for locally led, program-specific, signature, and organization-wide events.
• Establish standardized event planning processes, timelines, templates, checklists, vendor practices, and evaluation tools.
• Lead major, signature, statewide, and cross-functional ECDI events.
• Provide planning guidance and resources for locally led and program-specific events.
• Coordinate events across departments and markets to reduce duplication and maximize organizational impact.
• Evaluate event performance and outcomes.

• Manage assigned events from initial concept and planning through execution and post-event evaluation.
• Develop detailed project plans, event timelines, production schedules, run-of-show documents, budgets, and responsibility assignments.
• Coordinate all event logistics, including venues, vendors, speakers, sponsors, registration, attendee communications, audiovisual needs, signage, materials, room setup, catering, entertainment, volunteers, and onsite execution.
• Solicit vendor proposals and coordinate vendor selection, pricing, agreements, and services in accordance with organizational procedures.
• Partner with event owners and Finance to establish budgets, track expenditures and revenue, reconcile event-related expenses, and provide post-event financial reporting as appropriate.
• Coordinate internal staffing and responsibilities necessary for successful event execution.
• Anticipate event-related challenges and develop appropriate contingency plans.
• Ensure events provide a professional and consistent participant experience reflective of ECDI's brand and organizational standards.
• Maintain event documentation, contracts, invoices, vendor information, participation data, and post-event reports.
• Coordinate with appropriate internal departments to address event-related contracts, insurance requirements, permits, licensing, accessibility, safety, and other compliance considerations.

• Partner with the Director of Marketing and Marketing team to execute integrated marketing and promotional strategies for ECDI events and venue programming.
• Coordinate event branding, messaging, promotional timelines, digital communications, social media, email marketing, advertising, signage, and collateral in alignment with ECDI brand standards.
• Leverage events as platforms for entrepreneur storytelling and visibility, partner recognition, community engagement, and brand awareness.
• Coordinate with regional and program teams to effectively promote events to target audiences and support the development of event-related promotional content.
• Analyze registration, attendance, engagement, and promotional performance to identify opportunities to improve event marketing.

• Manage programming, activation, and revenue-generating strategies for Food Fort and other ECDI-owned or managed event spaces as assigned.
• Develop and maintain an annual calendar of venue-based programming, including recurring and signature events, community experiences, and other initiatives that attract new audiences and advance ECDI’s entrepreneurial mission.
• Promote ECDI event spaces for corporate meetings, nonprofit events, networking programs, private functions, community gatherings, celebrations, and other appropriate uses; coordinate venue inquiries, tours, rentals, vendors, and event execution.
• Develop and recommend rental packages, pricing strategies, promotional offerings, and programming models designed to increase venue utilization and earned revenue across weekdays, evenings, and weekends.
• Create opportunities to feature ECDI clients as vendors, caterers, exhibitors, entertainers, speakers, and featured businesses within venue programming and events.

• Monitor venue utilization, revenue, expenses, customer satisfaction, and repeat bookings, and recommend strategies to improve performance, customer experience, earned revenue, and long-term sustainability.

• Build and maintain event-related relationships with corporations, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, municipalities, universities, community organizations, event professionals, hospitality partners, and other stakeholders.
• Identify potential sponsors and partnership opportunities for ECDI events, signature programming, and venue-based experiences.
• Work with the Director of Marketing and appropriate internal departments to develop sponsorship packages and event-based partnership opportunities.
• Coordinate sponsor benefits, recognition, participation, and fulfillment of event-related commitments.
• Maintain appropriate records of event partners, sponsors, vendors, and collaborative opportunities.
• Coordinate collaborative events with external partners that increase ECDI's visibility and create opportunities for entrepreneurs.
• Ensure partnership and sponsorship activities are coordinated with Advancement, Government Affairs, Client Services, and other departments when responsibilities overlap.

• Collaborate with ECDI programs and regional teams to support entrepreneur-focused events, workshops, resource fairs, conferences, networking events, marketplaces, showcases, and other client experiences.
• Create opportunities for ECDI clients to participate in events as vendors, exhibitors, speakers, panelists, caterers, entertainers, and featured businesses.
• Collaborate with program leaders and subject-matter experts to translate identified client needs and program objectives into engaging events and educational experiences.
• Support the integration of appropriate technical assistance and educational content while program leaders and subject-matter experts retain responsibility for technical content.
• Develop networking and event-based opportunities connecting entrepreneurs with lenders, corporations, resource partners, and community stakeholders.
• Coordinate with program teams to capture participation and outcome data required for grant and organizational reporting.

• Food Fort achieves established annual revenue goals through venue rentals, sponsorships, signature programming, and other approved revenue-generating activities.
• Major and organization-wide ECDI events are executed effectively, on time, and within approved budgets.
• ECDI maintains a coordinated organization-wide event calendar and consistent event planning standards.
• Event attendance, engagement, participant satisfaction, and organizational impact meet established goals.
• ECDI-owned or managed event spaces demonstrate increased utilization and earned-revenue performance.
• Sponsorships and event-related partnerships grow and contribute measurable value to ECDI events and programming.
• Signature events strengthen ECDI's brand visibility and community engagement.
• ECDI entrepreneurs receive increased visibility, market access, networking, and business-development opportunities through events.
• Internal departments and regional teams receive effective event planning support and resources.
• Event performance data is consistently captured and used to improve future programming.

• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple events, priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Demonstrated knowledge of event planning and production, including budgeting, contracts, timelines, vendor coordination, logistics, and onsite execution.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments, programs, markets, and levels of the organization.
• Ability to establish, monitor, and analyze event performance metrics and use data to inform planning and continuous improvement.
• Financial acumen with the ability to develop budgets, monitor revenue and expenses, analyze event and venue performance, and make data-informed recommendations.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives, influence stakeholders, establish accountability, and coordinate teams without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving, adaptability, and attention to detail in fast-paced event environments.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience with CRM, event management, online registration, venue scheduling, and related platforms preferred.
• Proficiency with digital marketing, email marketing, social media, audiovisual, presentation, and virtual meeting technologies.

• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality Management, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Public Relations, Nonprofit Management, or a related field; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in event management, event production, venue operations, marketing, hospitality, community engagement, sponsorships, or a related field.
• Experience generating revenue through events, venue rentals, sponsorships, or partnerships preferred.

• Regular local and statewide travel is required to support ECDI events, venues, programs, and markets throughout Ohio.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including periodic evenings and weekends, based on event and organizational needs.

• This position is a hybrid role requiring regular onsite presence for venue tours, event planning and execution, meetings, and collaboration with internal teams, with remote work flexibility as approved based on business and operational needs.
• Must have reliable transportation and the ability to travel to ECDI locations, community meetings, partner organizations, and event venues as required.
• Must be able to perform a combination of stationary and active work, including moving throughout office and event environments to oversee setup, coordinate vendors, engage guests, inspect event spaces, and support event operations.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, move, or position materials weighing up to 25 pounds and safely operate standard office, audiovisual, presentation, and event-related equipment in both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including periodic evenings and weekends, based on event and organizational needs. Reasonable accommodations will be considered in accordance with applicable law.

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