Onsite Event Manager

About Off the Grid

Off the Grid is a placemaking platform that activates local businesses and spaces to connect communities through unique in-person experiences. We run 60+ events weekly across the Bay Area—public markets, mobile catering, and bespoke events—bringing together hundreds of local food creators and more than 100,000 guests every week. Every space we activate becomes a magnet for connection.

The Role

The Onsite Event Manager is OTG’s field leader and brand standard-bearer. This is the person who defines how every activation looks, feels, and runs—and who builds the team and systems capable of delivering that standard consistently across every market and catering event we produce.

This role consolidates field execution, brand experience, experiential programming, staff leadership, venue relationships, and training ownership into a single point of accountability. You’ll personally lead our largest and most complex activations, manage and develop a team of Onsite Producers, own the hospitality experience from the ground up, and serve as OTG’s primary relationship holder with venue partners across the Bay Area.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned event or catering operations professional who has run complex, multi-vendor events on the ground and understands that exceptional hospitality is never accidental—it’s planned, practiced, and led by example.

How This Role Connects to OTG’s Success

Every guest experience, every creator interaction, every moment of hospitality at an OTG activation runs through this role. The Onsite Event Manager is the connective tissue between OTG’s brand promise—bringing exceptional experiences to your neighborhood—and what guests and hosts actually feel when they show up. This role sets the floor for every event we run and raises it every season.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Experience & Onsite Hospitality

• Own the guest-facing brand experience at every OTG activation: from the moment guests arrive to the moment they leave, every touchpoint reflects OTG’s values—fun, convivial, authentic, and precise
• Set and enforce hospitality standards across all markets and catering events; coach Onsite Producers and crew to deliver consistently, not just on the best days
• Champion OTG’s identity on the ground: signage, creator placement, staff presentation, and all guest-facing elements must be on-brand and intentional at every event
• Identify and act on opportunities to elevate the guest experience in real time—resolve issues before guests notice them and create moments of authentic discovery

Experiential Programming — Execution Ownership

• Partner with OTG’s creative and marketing teams to translate experiential programming concepts into precise, repeatable onsite execution plans
• Own the field execution of all experiential activations: entertainment, interactive elements, themed markets, and special programming—ensuring concept integrity is maintained from plan to activation
• Brief and direct Onsite Producers and crew on experiential elements ahead of each event; debrief after to capture what worked and what to improve
• Serve as the real-time decision-maker when experiential programming requires on-the-fly adaptation; document learnings and feed them back into future execution plans

3rd Party Vendor Standards & Management

• Own the day-to-day operational relationship with all 3rd party vendors at OTG events—including staffing platforms (e.g. Instawork), AV providers, decor and rental vendors, and entertainment partners
• Set clear performance expectations with all vendors ahead of each event; conduct onsite quality checks and provide direct feedback when standards aren’t met
• Manage staffing platform relationships end-to-end: shift posting, worker quality, ratings, blocklists, and escalations; partner on volume forecasting and fill rate management
• Track vendor performance across events—fill rates, quality scores, no-show rates, and cost—and report trends to the Assistant Director of Operations
• Evaluate and onboard new vendor partners as program needs evolve; maintain backup options for high-volume periods

Venue Relationship Management

• Serve as OTG’s primary relationship holder with venue partners across all active Bay Area markets and catering locations—building trust, resolving issues, and deepening partnerships over time
• Develop and document site-specific best practices for each venue: access protocols, setup logistics, load-in/load-out procedures, permit requirements, and relationship contacts
• Identify and cultivate new venue partnerships in collaboration with the Assistant Director of Operations; support the operational due diligence and opening process for new locations
• Ensure OTG leaves every venue better than we found it—maintaining strong reputations with hosts and positioning OTG as the partner venues want to grow with

Training Ownership

• Own OTG’s onsite training program: build on existing materials, then iterate and improve continuously based on field observation, event performance, and team feedback
• Design and deliver onboarding for new Onsite Producers and seasonal refreshers for returning staff
  • including hospitality standards, brand rituals, safety, and equipment use
• Build and maintain training documentation, competency checklists, and certification records
• Spend meaningful time coaching in the field—model the standards you expect from your team

Team Leadership — Onsite Producers

• Directly manage a team of Onsite Producers across public markets and private catering activations
• Provide regular 1:1s, performance feedback, and development plans for each direct report
• Build and publish event staffing schedules across all programs, balancing certifications, availability, event complexity, and labor budget
• Foster a team culture grounded in OTG’s values: exceptional hosts, precise execution, authentic connection

Onsite Event Execution — Largest Activations

• Personally lead OTG’s highest-stakes markets and private catering events—owning setup, service flow, guest engagement, experiential elements, and breakdown
• Resolve real-time escalations from Onsite Producers; serve as the field decision-maker for live incidents that exceed producer authority
• Ensure health, safety, and sanitation standards are met above and beyond local municipal codes; complete and review incident reports promptly and accurately

What We’re Looking For

• 4–6 years of event production, catering operations, or hospitality experience—including meaningful time running complex, multi-vendor activations on the ground
• At least 2 years directly supervising onsite event or catering teams
• Demonstrated experience managing 3rd party vendors—staffing platforms, AV, decor, or entertainment—with high standards and direct accountability
• Experience managing venue relationships and developing site-specific operational protocols
• Proven ability to translate creative concepts into precise, repeatable onsite execution
• A natural leader and communicator—warm, direct, and confident with clients, venue partners, creators, vendors, and team members
• Calm under pressure with strong real-time problem-solving instincts
• Proficiency in Google Suite; comfort with scheduling, staffing platforms, and event production tools
• Valid California Driver’s License with a clean driving record; reliable transportation to Bay Area event sites
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred, not required

Schedule & Details

Type: Full-Time, Exempt Salaried

Compensation: $85,000-105,000/year

Schedule: Regular nights and weekends required to align with event operations

Location: San Francisco (primary) with regular Bay Area travel

Time Split: 50% Onsite Event Operations & Coaching | 30% Training, Vendor & Venue Management | 20% Planning and Schedule Management

Physical Demands

This role combines regular onsite field presence with program management. You’ll need to stand, walk, and move through event sites for extended periods. The role frequently involves moving and lifting equipment up to 25 lbs, occasionally up to 50 lbs during event setup and breakdown. Outdoor work in variable Bay Area weather is part of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Off the Grid is for Everyone

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the communities we activate in. Off the Grid is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.