Events & Development Manager

Status: Full Time

Wages: $60K - $80K annually

About Hands On: 

The Hands On Children’s Museum is located on the picturesque East Bay waterfront in downtown Olympia. We are a nationally known family learning destination and the most visited children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest hosting more than 300,000 visitors each year. Our mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills through rich, interactive learning experiences. We believe that all children deserve respect and the opportunity to learn, regardless of their ability to pay, which is why the Museum works hard to serve more than one-third of its annual visitation through the Inspired Learning for All initiative. The Museum is recognized as a national Museum for All and won a Noyce Foundation Bright Lights Award for bringing art and science education to underserved populations.

Voted a “Best Place for Kids” for more than a decade, the Museum offers a state-of-the-art LEED Gold facility with 150 indoor exhibits, a half-acre Outdoor Discovery Center, Art Studio, a MakeSpace for tinkering and inventing, café and gift shop, and award-winning education programs including camps, workshops, preschool, parenting classes, field trips, community outreach and family support programs.

Position Overview:

Work for an award-winning Children’s Museum, voted a “Best Place for Kids” for more than a decade! Do you love event planning and exciting, hands-on learning? If so, this position could be yours! The Museum is seeking an experienced Full Time Events and Development Manager to manage a range of special events designed for visitors, donors, and the community.

Qualifications:

• You’re an ideal candidate if you are enthusiastic and passionate about learning, have 3+ years managing a variety of events, and previous experience working in non-profit fundraising or a related field
• We’re looking for an accomplished project manager who is a great multi-tasker, detail-oriented, a great problem solver under pressure, able to meet competing deadlines and 
• You should be experienced in effectively managing budgets with strong analytical skills, accuracy, and attention to detail
• Must maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment and have prior experience supervising staff and volunteers
• Proficiency with event and development software such as Greater Giving, CRM applications such as Altru or Raisers Edge, plus MS Office software, Zoom, and project management software such as Asana

Responsibilities

• As a member of the Museum’s Development team, the Events and Development Manager reports to the Development Director and works with multiple Museum departments, educators, partners, and stakeholders to manage all aspects of Museum special events for visitors including Spring Break Weeks, Summer Splash! a summer-long Festival, Noon Year’s, Boo Bash, and Ice Adventures, among others
• Manages all aspects of events including planning, interdepartmental coordination, budgeting, logistics, communications, staffing, committees, volunteers, on-site management, and evaluation
• Responsible for aligning event goals with the broader, strategic fundraising goals and mission of the organization, ensuring events are fully maximized for the fundraising and sponsorship potential 
• Stewards event sponsors in conjunction with the Development Director
• In coordination with the Development team and board, manages procurement, tracking, promotion, in-person and digital display of auction items
• Negotiates contracts, discounts and in-kind contributions with event vendors including catering, food service, entertainment, AV, videographers, and other similar support companies
• Works with Development leadership to create and monitor budgets and prepares comprehensive analysis of events, live and silent auction performance, raise the paddle contributions, etc.
• Work with the Communications team to develop promotional materials, PowerPoints, videos, branding, advertising, and digital strategy for events
• Prepares detailed advance sheets identifying responsibilities for each department and various contractors. Works cooperatively with facilities and operations for set-up, tear-down and staffing logistics
• Serves as on-site point of contact during event and provides training to staff and volunteers as needed
• Completes post-event wrap-up including evaluation of all event elements, recommendations for improvement, donor reports and acknowledgements, and reconciliation of budget and vendor payments
• Works with development staff to ensure accurate financial coding and gift acknowledgment throughout the year
• Works Mon-Fri core schedule and flexes schedule when weekend or evening events as needed

Workplace Values: 

Achieving our mission requires great people who actively demonstrate our core values.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references.

Compensation & Benefits: $60K - $80K annually, medical, dental, and vision, employee wellness program, paid holidays and time off, a 401(k) retirement plan, and lots of adorable children. Benefits vary by number of regularly scheduled hours worked, length of employment, and employment status. See the benefit details for this position here. 

For more information, please visit our website at www.hocm.org 

The Hands On Children’s Museum exhibits, education programs, and employment are available to all without discrimination.

Wage Description:

$60K - $80K annually DOQ