Senior Special Events and Convening Manager in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at Greater Milwaukee Foundation Inc

Strategic Event Leadership, Enterprise Planning and Execution

• Partners with leadership and cross-functional teams, to identify opportunities and conduct strategic event planning where events, convenings and partnerships can advance the Foundation's mission, influence, visibility and collective community impact.
• Serves as the Foundation's subject matter expert and strategic advisor on event vision, audience engagement, stakeholder experience and convenings.
• Drives event planning and execution across the organization by setting and using universal protocols, procedures and practices that ensure operational standardization that help advance the Foundation’s brand, values and a high-quality stakeholder experience.
• Leads an annual organization-wide advance planning process to inform the budget for the upcoming year’s event slate.
• Participates in assigned meetings, events and training as required.

Enterprise Event Management and Experience Management

• Provides strategic leadership, vision and project management for a range of complex and dynamic events and convenings.
• Hands-on responsibilities and oversight of tasks and others include: creating and supporting a vision for multiple events, working with collaborating partners to understand needs/opportunities and set strategies, determining staffing and resources needed for production, developing and managing a production plan, managing and assigning associated production logistics, coordinating assignments and detailed follow-up on tasks, managing event calendaring and stakeholder promotion, effectively communicating progress and needs to the collaborating team, developing run-of-show documents, conducting executive briefing, producing an efficient, welcoming day-of event/convening experience, overseeing day-of event functions (e.g. team of volunteers, partners, vendors), engaging with attendees and speakers/entertainment, and completing wrap-up communications post event.
• Oversee event budgets, contracts, financial reporting and resource allocation to ensure effective stewardship of Foundation resources.
• Assesses stakeholder satisfaction, conducts event debriefing for learnings and continuous improvement, determines outcomes and strategic success, issues results and wrap-up report after events.

Greater-Together Civic Awards Leadership and Execution

• Serves as the leader for the Foundation’s prestigious Greater Together Awards program.
• Manages the annual nomination through production of the major awards event promotion, which spotlights the honorees who are shaping a more inclusive, vibrant and equitable Milwaukee for all.
• Serves as the program staff liaison with the selection committee and Marketing and Communications team to secure program and award visibility.

Partnership Activation and Stakeholder Engagement

• Ensures events serve as an extension of the Foundation's brand and strategic narrative through consistent messaging, visual identity, storytelling, audience engagement and brand impact.
• Designs and lead strategic events and convenings that bring together donors, community leaders, nonprofit partners, elected officials, corporate stakeholders and other key audiences around shared priorities and opportunities.
• Collaborates with colleagues to activate strategic relationships through events and convenings that deepen engagement and build trust.