Senior Manager, Events & Special Projects

The ideal candidate is an experienced events and operations leader who can own the full lifecycle of an Event and Special Project - from concept and scoping through logistics, execution, and post-event wrap - while also overseeing experiential workstreams including mailers and press kits, and events such as conventions, and festivals. You'll mentor a team of project managers and coordinators, act as the on-site production lead when needed, and serve as the first escalation point before the Director. This role requires the range, judgment, and senior experience to hold complexity confidently and independently. This role reports to the Director, Events & Special Projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all incoming Special Projects end-to-end - owning each project from intake, concept, and scoping through logistics, execution, and post-event reporting.
• Oversee experiential workstreams including mailers, press kits, conventions & festivals - ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Act as the on-site production lead during activations - ensuring seamless execution, team coordination, and brand integrity throughout.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams across marketing, production, creative, brand, and operations, as well as external agencies and vendors, to align resources and deliver world-class experiences.
• Build and oversee event budgets, production timelines, and workback schedules, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and flawless execution across all workstreams.
• Manage vendor relationships, venue sourcing, and contract negotiation for events, activations, conventions, festivals, and more.
• Define event KPIs and partner with the Director to assess performance, guest engagement, and overall impact post-event.
• Implement and continuously improve processes, workflows, and tools that increase efficiency and create early project visibility across the team.
• Serve as the first escalation point before the Director, fielding and resolving issues across all workstreams independently.
• Mentor and develop the team of project managers and coordinators - actively growing each person's skills, confidence, and ability to own complex projects end-to-end.
• Navigate confidential requirements and limited-information environments while driving projects forward efficiently across the team.
• Collaborate with the Director on capacity planning, staffing, and forecasting to ensure balanced workloads and smooth project flow.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 6+ years of experience in experiential marketing, event production, or operations management, preferably in a marketing agency, entertainment, or gaming-adjacent environment.
• 3+ years of direct team mentorship or management experience, with a demonstrated ability to develop junior and mid-level talent.
• Proven success producing high-visibility brand activations and complex events end-to-end: from intake and budget building through on-site execution and post-wrap reporting.
• Strong budget management skills - comfortable scoping projects, building RFP's and estimates, and tracking costs across multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Experience with venue sourcing, vendor management, and contract negotiation for live events and activations.
• Skilled at building and implementing project management systems and workflows (e.g., Airtable, Asana, Wrike, or similar tools).
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and communication skills - able to align diverse stakeholders and manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience working on mailers, merchandise, or physical product campaigns is a plus.
• Adept at navigating ambiguity and shifting priorities with calm and clarity in fast-paced, creative environments.
• Strong judgment and professionalism when managing privileged information or restricted-access materials.
• Passionate about mentoring others, building efficient systems, and driving operational excellence in a creative environment.
• Flexibility to travel and work on-site and on weekends for events, conventions, festivals, and activations as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The successful candidate must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. This may require lifting, carrying, bending, standing for extended periods, climbing, walking, fine motor skills, and other physical activities associated with event production on-site management, and a leadership role.

This is a full time, exempt position with a projected salary range of $105,000 - $120,000 per year. Hours are 9:30am - 5:30pm, Monday - Friday, with occasional work outside of business hours including weekends. Domestic and international travel is required for the position. The position is hybrid at our offices in Highland Park.

BENEFITS

At iam8bit, we're committed to supporting our team members in both their personal and professional growth. As part of our tight-knit and dynamic team, you'll enjoy a range of benefits designed to enhance your overall well-being and foster your career development. Benefits include 401k with employer matching, medical, dental and vision insurance, education benefits, employee discount, and generous paid time off.