8+ years in events, experiential, or production, with a focus on leading rather than supporting roles
Strategic thinker regarding event timing, venue selection, and rationale
Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with creators
Experience in vendor management and relationship building
Leadership experience or readiness to manage a team
Ability to remain composed under pressure during events
Passionate about knowledge creators and the role of events in their success
Must be NYC-based and available for evenings and weekends around events
Responsibilities
Own the events program, defining purpose and scheduling for each event
Select event timing, atmosphere, and venue, justifying decisions
Collaborate with creators to refine their ideas into compelling events
Develop and maintain operational playbooks for budgets, timelines, and promotions
Ensure sponsor activations align with creator branding and event goals
Serve as the primary contact for creators, sponsors, and vendors during major events
Lead large events from concept to breakdown, with support from Associates
Provide detailed recaps post-event, analyzing successes and areas for improvement
Benefits
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
Unlimited PTO with a minimum of 10 days off per year
Strong growth opportunities in a profitable startup environment
Full Job Description
About the Role
Reports to: COO
A huge part of that is helping creators bring their ideas and communities into the real world, and events are one of the most powerful ways to do it. Creators and events go together like peanut butter and jelly: knowledge creators bring smart, curious people together online every day, and great IRL events take that connection even deeper. As Head of Events, you'll own that function at Smooth. You'll come up with the event concepts, get creators excited and confident in them, and lead our Events team from first idea through execution.
What you'll do
Set the vision
Own the events program: which events we produce, why each one exists, and how it earns its spot on the calendar
Choose the calendar moment, the vibe, and the type of venue for every event, and be able to explain the judgment call
Every event belongs to a creator and is built with their audience and brand in mind. You'll jam on their ideas, sharpen them into something special, and earn their confidence in the plan
Build the framework
Own and refine the playbooks your team runs on, from budgets and timelines to vendor decisions and promotion schedules
Own the sponsor experience. Every activation has to be on brand for the creator, hit the sponsor's goals, and add to the event for the people in the room
Run point for the major events
Be the senior point of contact for creators, sponsors, and vendors on the calls that shape the experience, while Associates handle the day-to-day
Lead our largest events from concept through breakdown, with Associates running production
Deliver recap after every event: what worked, what the numbers say, and what learnings to take-away
Lead the team
Grow the Associates as they keep decks current, help creators follow the plan, work across Smooth and creator teams, and lead onsite on game day
Empower them to run small and mid-size events end to end, and bring them in to support the larger onesWhat we're looking for
What We're Looking For
8+ years in events, experiential, or production, including events you conceived and led, not just supported -talent, media, or B2B experience preferred
You think strategically about events: when one should happen, what kind of venue fits, and why, and you can walk a creator through that reasoning
You're great in a room with creators: you can jam on their ideas, build on them, and leave them more confident than when you started
You've chosen and managed major vendors, and you own those relationships
You've managed people, or you're ready to: you give clear direction, trust your Associates, and help them grow
You stay calm when things break, and you can lead a room onsite
You're genuinely excited about knowledge creators and why events are such a good fit for them
Must be NYC-based (in office Mon-Thurs) and available for evenings and occasional weekends around event dates, with some light travel
What we can offer
Salary: $150,000 - $170,000
Comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance
Unlimited PTO, with a minimum of 10 days off per year
Strong opportunity for growth at a profitable, bootstrapped startup
