Associate Director, Talent & Programming

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Talent & Programming oversees talent sourcing, logistics management, and programming development for large-scale culinary and wine events. This role is responsible for curating high-quality programming while ensuring seamless execution of cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, and talent-driven experiences.

Working closely with editorial, event, public relations, and cross-functional teams, this position shapes event schedules, manages talent relationships from outreach through on-site execution, and leads a small team to deliver exceptional programming.

This is a hybrid role with in-office and remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Sourcing

• Lead talent sourcing efforts across chefs, winemakers, beverage professionals, and culinary personalities

• Identify, prioritize, and secure high-profile talent aligned with programming goals

• Maintain strong relationships with talent, agents, publicists, and industry partners

• Support editorial-driven talent initiatives and outreach efforts

Programming Development & Curation

• Collaborate with editorial teams to develop and curate event programming schedules

• Assess programming needs, event flow, and capacity requirements

• Ensure programming is diverse, innovative, and aligned with brand standards

Talent & Programming Logistics

• Oversee production and execution of seminars and demonstrations

• Manage talent logistics including scheduling, travel coordination, and on-site support

• Partner with production and operations teams to ensure seamless event execution

• Serve as primary point of contact for talent during planning and on-site activities

• Ensure exceptional hospitality and talent preparedness

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Manage and mentor direct reports, providing guidance and development opportunities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Editorial, PR, Operations, Production, Sponsorship, and Marketing

• Oversee talent-related budgets including forecasting, expense tracking, and reconciliation

• Support sponsorship execution as needed

• Ensure clear communication across teams to facilitate smooth execution

Qualifications

Education:
Bachelors degree preferred in marketing, communications, or a related field; equivalent experience considered

Experience:

• 7+ years of experience in talent management, event programming, editorial programming, or live event production

• Experience working with high-profile or celebrity talent preferred

• Prior people management experience required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong understanding of culinary, wine, and beverage industries, including emerging trends

• Proven ability to manage complex logistics and multiple stakeholders

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure live event environments

• Flexibility to work non-traditional hours during peak planning and event execution periods