Event Manager

ABOUT US 

Wags & Walks is a 501c3 nonprofit dog rescue in Los Angeles, Nashville and New York that’s rescued over 18,000 dogs since 2011. We are a community of dog lovers working to promote shelter dogs as the best dogs in the world through advocacy of our unique family-friendly foster and adoption programs. 

SUMMARY 

This role presents an exciting opportunity to become a part of an already strong Events Program at the organization as it continues to grow the team following a strong 2025 on the impact and event front.

The Event Manager is responsible for leading the teams that identify, negotiate, organize, and execute all Wags and Walks fundraising events throughout the year while also playing a key role in rolling up their sleeves for some of the organization’s newer initiatives. This is a Los Angeles based role that manages a team of Event Coordinators who partner with volunteers to execute the 150+ “events” that the organization has a presence at or organizes annually. In addition to overseeing the smooth execution of the smaller events throughout the year, this role takes ownership of larger annual events including the Block Party, Gala (contractor support as well), and either a Wellness or Holiday market. 

The Los Angeles and Nashville locations are year round locations with a physical presence while the organization “Pups Up” in New York during the Summer. This Summer will be the fourth year in NY and this role is instrumental in the planning and logistics leading up to the Summer. The ideal candidate is flexible and able to join in New York for a good part of the Summer (5 weeks) with candidates that are only able to join for 2 weeks or less encouraged to apply with a note during the initial application.

This multifaceted role must be well organized, motivated, possess a strong work ethic and have the ability to positively interact with donors, partners, volunteers and staff in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, while remaining calm, focused, consistent, resourceful and efficient.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Event Calendar and Strategic Planning

• Own the annual event calendar - from recurring weekly corporate pup-ups to marquee fundraisers - ensuring a balance of event types to hit revenue, exposure, and impact KPIs are met. Find creative solutions to fill gaps. 
• Negotiate inbound event inquiries in collaboration with Head of Partnerships & Strategy, assessing fit against revenue goals, brand standards, and team capacity
• Lead planning kick off meetings for high-lift and marquee events: define scope, timeline, budget, roles (assigning clear ownership across departments and team members) 

Project Management and Execution 

• Build on existing processes and maintain detailed project plans for all active events using Monday.com and Google Sheets - ensuring records and kept current 
• Translate vision into action: take direction from leadership and turn it into a concrete, sequenced plan with clear accountability at every step 
• Identify scheduling conflicts, resource constraints, and cross-departmental dependencies early; resolve them before they become event-day problems
• Track progress across all active events and provide regular status updates, proactively flagging issues and suggesting solutions 
• Conduct post-event debriefs; documenting lessons learned, sharing post-event reporting metrics, and using lessons to sharpen future opportunities

Team Leadership and Event Execution

• Manage and develop two Event coordinators - provide clear direction, set bi-weekly schedules, and provide real-time support so they are able to execute confidently at each event 
• Discern when to lead from the front and when to roll up your sleeves - marquee and high-lift events require more hands-on presence and on-the-ground leadership 
• Be one of the faces of the Wags and Walks event team in the community - showing up with energy, professionalism, and always wearing a fundraising hat, ready to make connections 
• Ensure Wags and Walks brand standards are consistently met at every event 
• Lead volunteer development efforts at events, working with the Volunteer and Community Coordinator to ensure coverage is thoughtful and volunteers feel valued 

Internal Cross-Departmental Collaboration and Coordination

• Serve as the logistical hub for event execution - aligning with Foster, Animal Care, Adoptions, and Volunteer leads on event timing and dog needs
• Work with Marketing and PR teams to ensure events are promoted properly in advance, that content is captured during events, bringing creative energy to drive attendance for pilot workshops and events 
• Ensure partnership deliverables related to events are achievable and executed to the highest standard

Fundraising & Revenue

• Lead the team in evaluating and negotiating incoming event inquiries.
• Support in outreach to vendors and sponsors to help build out the calendar and make a desired impact
• Collaborate with Head of Partnerships to ensure event calendar is structured to meet monthly and annual revenue targets
• Track event revenue and expenses for monthly analysis reports
• Support the all-team effort around Annual Auction fundraising 

New York Pup-Up

• Oversee execution of the event calendar for Wags’ Annual Hamptons Pup-Up (July - August) 
• Collaborate with Marketing, Partnerships, and New York Program teams to ensure deliverables are met 
• Coordinate all logistics including team and volunteer briefings in the leadup 
• Be present in the Hamptons for a significant portion of the summer (ideally 5+ weeks) to ensure on-the-ground execution that meets Wags’ standards

 QUALITIES

• Must be a dog lover!
• Problem solver and quick thinker
• Comfortable leading and delegating while also knowing when the time is right to roll up your sleeves
• Not afraid to talk to everyone and anyone about Wags and Walks
• Excellent project management skills 
• A team player who works well with others 
• Friendly demeanor and positive attitude
• Over-communicator 
• Enjoys working in a fast paced and dynamic environment
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Is very detail oriented
• Is very proactive and a self-starter

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have a College Degree 
• 5+ years of Event management/planning experience including exposure to larger scale events
• 2-3+ years of management experience 
• Must be able to work nights and weekends as needed 
• Experience with nonprofits, fundraising and sales preferred
• Willingness to spend the Summer in NY preferred and some some willingness to travel required 
• Computer proficient (Google docs, Monday or Asana, ability to learn new software, etc)
• Must have a current and valid California Driver’s License 
• Must be comfortable standing for long periods and lifting up to 40 lbs

BENEFITS & COMPENSATION

• Join a passionate team in a rewarding field
• Plenty of quality time with amazing rescue dogs
• Strong health, dental, and vision benefits 
• PTO that increases every year
• Snacks, drinks, and monthly team lunches
• Annual salary of $75,000 - $85,000 based on experience