Event Manager

Company Description The Napa Valley Reserve is a private membership community dedicated to celebrating the culture of wine, food, hospitality, and the Napa Valley lifestyle. Located in St. Helena, California, the Reserve provides members with access to exclusive wine experiences, culinary programming, special events, and a welcoming environment designed to foster meaningful connections among individuals who share a passion for wine and hospitality. Company Description The Napa Valley Reserve is a private membership community dedicated to celebrating the culture of wine, food, hospitality, and the Napa Valley lifestyle. Located in St. Helena, California, the Reserve provides members with access to exclusive wine experiences, culinary programming, special events, and a welcoming environment designed to foster meaningful connections among individuals who share a passion for wine and hospitality. Job Description The Hospitality & Events Manager plans, coordinates, and executes private Member experiences, curriculum programming, tastings, receptions, dinners, meetings, and special events at The Napa Valley Reserve. This role represents the estate with polish and discretion, ensuring each experience reflects luxury hospitality, personalization, precision, and care. Working within a small team, this role balances creative event design with detailed execution, financial responsibility, cross-department communication, and exceptional Member service. The ideal candidate is warm, organized, steady under pressure, and committed to memorable experiences for Members, guests, and partners. Core Responsibilities Event Planning & Execution Plan and execute private Member events, curriculum experiences, tastings, receptions, dinners, meetings, and special programming. Manage event logistics from inquiry through reconciliation, including proposals, timelines, budgets, menus, wine service plans, staffing needs, floor plans, collateral, guest lists, seating charts, and run-of-show documents. Serve as the on-site lead for assigned programs, ensuring seamless execution, gracious hospitality, service flow, and timely communication. Liaise with catering partners, guest chefs, rental companies, florists, AV/lighting providers, photographers, transportation partners, and vendors. Support set-up and breakdown as needed, ensuring spaces are maintained to The Reserve’s standards. Prepare event summaries, cost recaps, billing details, and documentation. Member Experience & Hospitality Deliver warm, polished, and anticipatory service to Members and guests from initial planning through departure. Build meaningful Member relationships by understanding preferences, interests, motivations, and expectations for future visits and events. Host Members and guests on property as needed, including welcome moments, property orientation, tours, tastings, receptions, and special experiences. Create personalized experiences that encourage engagement with Membership benefits, Napa Valley wine, cuisine, culture, and the Harlan family philosophy. Exercise discretion and sound judgment when handling Member information, guest details, preferences, and sensitive requests. Administration, Communication & Financial Stewardship Maintain accurate event records, calendars, folders, databases, guest lists, RSVP records, internal updates, and planning materials. Prepare clear event documentation and internal communications to ensure alignment across departments. Maintain fiscal responsibility for assigned experiences, including budget tracking, cost control, vendor estimates, pass-through costs, and billing support. Capture event metrics, feedback, and post-event details to support continuous improvement. Use company systems consistently, including event management software, CRM/database tools, Microsoft Office, shared files, and communication platforms. Collaboration & Brand Standards Partner closely with Hospitality & Events, Membership, The Wine Center, Fulfillment, Winegrowing & Production, Accounting, Property Stewardship, Communications, and other teams. Coordinate wine movement, allocations, guest preferences, inventory, collateral, property needs, and service details. Maintain relationships with local wineries, restaurants, hotels, cultural organizations, transportation partners, and Napa Valley resources. Represent The Napa Valley Reserve, Meadowood, and the Harlan family values with professionalism, warmth, discretion, and polish. Qualifications Required 5+ years of experience in luxury hospitality, private events, private club operations, winery hospitality, resort/hotel operations, or high-touch food and beverage. Experience planning and executing elevated events, including Member communication, vendor coordination, timelines, budgets, and food and beverage logistics. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with Members, guests, colleagues, vendors, and leadership. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Ability to remain composed, resourceful, and solution-oriented under pressure. Foundational wine knowledge and interest in professional wine service. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word, and Excel. Valid driver’s license. Flexible schedule availability, including evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays. Preferred College degree or equivalent professional experience. Experience with CRM, event management, hotel operating, or reservation systems such as Salesforce, TripleSeat, Visual One, Opera, or similar platforms. Wine certification, formal wine education, or advanced wine service experience. Private membership, winery, luxury resort, or fine dining experience. Fluency in an additional language. Established Napa Valley hospitality, winery, culinary, or events relationships. Successful candidates will demonstrate a service heart, warm hospitality, polished communication, discretion, integrity, sound judgment, and respect for Member and guest privacy. They will be collaborative, organized, proactive, and able to balance personalization with standards and operational discipline. Additional Information Compensation The salary range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000 annual salary + bonus plan This is the rate the Napa Valley Reserve reasonably expects to pay. Final compensation will depend on factors such as experience, education, and other job-related qualifications. Total compensation varies and is not guaranteed. Benefits Health insurance Vision insurance Dental insurance 401(k) matching Employee discounts Flexible spending account Health savings account Life insurance Pet insurance Vacation Sick Pay Paid holidays (10) Referral program Daily employee meals Uniforms On site parking Wine classes The Napa Valley Reserve is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Meadowood is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities in our recruiting process. Please let us know if you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability. #J-18808-Ljbffr