Special Events Manager at King County Library System – Issaquah, Washington

Job Number 2025-00098
KCLS is seeking a Special Events Manager to lead the strategy, planning, and execution of fundraising events, community gatherings, and celebrations to generate critical revenue in support of the KCLS Foundation's mission.

In this position, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Produce major fundraising events, such as the annual Literary Lions Gala and Live Pages events, as well as community gatherings and celebrations for donor and volunteer stewardship.
• Design, plan, and execute all creative, logistical, and fundraising aspects of KCLS Foundation's signature events
• Engages and maintains relationships with authors, artists/talent, volunteers, and businesses who participate in events

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with experience planning and executing fundraising events, passion for event planning, and a commitment to the KCLS mission, vision, and values.

Applicants must attach a current resume and cover letter which addresses why they are interested in the position and how they meet the qualifications listed.

About King County Library System (KCLS):
KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.5 million diverse patrons, providing an unparalleled collection of library materials, resources, technology, services, and programs.

Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.

From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.

The King County Library System values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA+, individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.

KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.

Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call (425) 369-3224 or email employment@kcls.org.

KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.
Essential Duties
The items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.

• Develops compelling and inclusive events and experiences to engage existing and potential donors, sponsors, volunteers, and partners in KCLS Foundation’s mission of building community and generating revenue.
• Leads the design, planning, and execution of all creative, logistical, and fundraising aspects of KCLS Foundation’s signature events. Oversees vendor management, technology, permitting, staffing, marketing, communications, committee engagement, sponsorship, audience development, accessibility, day-of event management, and post-event responsibilities and evaluation.
• Engages and maintains relationships with authors, artists/talent, volunteers, and businesses who participate in events. Develops recognition strategies to ensure time, talent and resource contributions are valued and relationships are maintained.
• Supports KCLS Foundation leadership in an annual engagement strategy for corporate partnerships and sponsorships. Executes strategies to grow annual event revenue.
• Establishes networks that invite the next generation of KCLS Foundation donors to co-create and cultivate fundraising events that will initiate engagement for new populations.
• Creates revenue and expense budget proposals for special events and corporate partnerships.
• Monitors and analyzes event return on investment. Ensures accurate tracking and reporting of sponsorship funds and event expenses, including invoicing and budget tracking.
• Prepares and delivers compelling, customized materials, proposals, and presentations that communicate KCLS Foundation event goals and key performance indicators to board, staff, volunteers, and potential funding partners.
• Recruits, supports, and oversees event planning committee volunteers. Manages day-of event volunteers and ongoing office volunteers.
• Negotiates contracts with vendors to support event production and coordination.
• Monitors event industry standards, practices, and trends to ensure innovation, awareness, and influence within the events industry and throughout King County.

Secondary Duties

1. Attends and actively participates on various employee and KCLSF Board committees.
2. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Each KCLS position has job-specific competencies. These competencies describe characteristics needed for optimum performance in the position. In addition, there are organizational competencies applicable to all positions at KCLS that encompass the culture and set expectations for how work is performed.

Organizational Competencies

• Valuing Diversity

Manages relationships with all kinds and classes of people inclusively and equitably. Respects, values, and encourages the unique dimension each employee adds to the organization and each member of the community brings to the whole. Seeks opportunities to learn about differences.

• Customer Focus

Primarily focused on customer needs. Able to deliver high-quality, value-added services. Constantly strives to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and understanding, foster equitable services, and forge meaningful connections.

• Ethics, Values and Judgement

Exercises best judgment, trustworthiness, and professional standards of conduct. Consistently demonstrates organizational values, moral principles, and accountability in behavior, character, and action. Defends intellectual freedom and confidentiality.

• Professional and Technical Knowledge

Demonstrates proficiency in professional and technical skills and/or knowledge in position-related areas. Purposely keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise, in order to better foster personal success and connections for others.

Job-Specific Competencies

• Communicates Effectively

Conveys ideas and information in a way that is clear, engaging, and suitable to the audience. Main point of their message is apparent. Listens more than they speak and responds appropriately. Seeks influence.

• Teamwork/Collaboration

Works cooperatively and productively with others to achieve goals and deliverables. Is aware of, utilizes and celebrates their own and team member’s strengths and differences.

• Decision Quality

Makes decisions and solves problems. Can deal adeptly with varied levels of complexity, ambiguity, and risk. Takes responsibility and accepts ownership for decisions regardless of outcome. Responds promptly and appropriately in crisis situations.

• Organization and Planning

Establishes courses of action for self. Can influence others to ensure that work is efficient. Appropriately sensitive to real restraints on time and resources. Willing to take a risk.
Education and Experience

The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, public relations, or related field.
• Three years of experience in planning and executing successful, large-scale fundraising events and managing projects that involve multiple dimensions and stakeholders.
• Experience managing a contact database, event management software, and virtual event platforms.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of state and city event permitting and requirements.
• Commitment to community and the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Effective verbal, active listening, and written communication skills.
• Critical thinking and sound judgement.
• Build strong relationships and trust quickly.
• Model for customer service mindset and delivery.

• Flexible and adaptive to changing needs.
• Skills working collaboratively with diverse organizations and individuals.

• Highly organized and detail oriented with the ability to manage a wide array of logistics and details at once.

• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

• Collaborative relationship-building with internal teams and external partners.

Professional Licenses and Certifications

• A valid Washington State Driver’s License is required.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:

• Constantly sit throughout work shift and occasionally stand and walk. Events require constant stand and walk.
• Will frequently reach out at chest level with hands and arms, occasionally reach down to work at desk.
• Constantly use hands in conjunction with frequent finger use. Keyboarding. may be repetitive up to frequently.
• Rotate neck up to occasionally.
• Change tasks depending upon the shift.
• Require extensive close work, including use of a computer monitor.
• Occasionally operate foot controls.
• Occasionally lift up to 10 lbs. and seldom lift and carry up to 35 lbs.
• Seldom push or pull carts and wheeled equipment with light force.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a typical office environment and in the community for engagement activities. Work schedule requires early morning, evening, and/or weekend meetings and activities. Occasional travel within the service area is required. Incumbent may be permitted hybrid telework schedule upon request.