Senior Manager, Event Design and Operations

About the Organization 

KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 275 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and 175,000 students and alumni.    

Our mission: Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. 

Our vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. 

The KIPP Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports KIPP schools across the country. The KIPP Foundation trains and develops outstanding educators to lead KIPP public schools; provides tools, resources, and training for excellent teaching and learning; promotes innovation; and facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas across KIPP and other public schools and organizations. 

About Our Values: 

• Focus on Excellent Results: Winning for Children and Families – Denying people of color and people experiencing economic hardship excellent outcomes from public organizations is longstanding and only perpetuates inter-generational racism and poverty.  We pursue excellence at a world-class level because our children and families deserve nothing less.  We focus on excellent results, generated by excellent daily action because intentions alone will not enable our children to lead fulfilling lives. 

• Courageous Action: We do Hard Things All day, Every Day – Our work is centered on reversing the impact of generational racism and poverty on children of color from low-income families.  This work is inherently challenging and will never be easy.  Our mission requires that, through concerted action, we embrace, confront, and overcome adversity. 

• Resilient Solutions Focus:  Find a Way or Make One – We doggedly pursue solutions to every problem we confront.  For every problem, we find or invent a solution.  We are smart, optimistic, and thoughtful in crafting solutions, but also timely, recognizing that our children only have one life to live.  We embrace a growth mindset, believing that simply because we have not achieved our ultimate aims today does not mean that we cannot tomorrow.  We chase the continuous improvement of ourselves, our interpersonal relationships, our teams, and our organization.

Position Overview 

The Event Design and Operation Team (EDO) provides planning and execution support for programs across teams at the KIPP Foundation.  Our goal is to ensure that events are supported from start to finish and executed seamlessly and consistently across teams.  

The EDO team is a high functioning team with keen attention to detail that provides thought partnership and appropriate logistical support.  The EDO team is responsible for planning and executing high quality events by managing logistical details, stakeholder communication, program evaluation support, and critical financial functions.  

We are seeking an energetic and highly organized Event Design and Operations Sr. Manager with a passion for fundraising, board relations, and public policy affairs.  This role is a full-time, exempt position that reports to the Vice President, Event Design and Operations. He/she/they is a member of the EDO Team and will work collaboratively with our Development and Policy and Public Affairs Teams.  

 The candidate should enjoy planning and executing on programming events and special projects and be eager to work with multiple high-level stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. A successful candidate will have excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, strong written and verbal communications skills, and be committed to a high level of excellence in program event planning, project management and execution.  

Key Responsibilities and Duties 

• Planning and Execution Support:   

• Co-create vision and serve as a thought partner to programming directors around annual strategy, session content, and programming goals to ensure a high quality programming for participants.  

• Create and manage, with support, an integrated project management plan across multiple work streams   

• Create deadlines for each project, ensuring colleagues complete key action steps by target date   

• Manage project expenses, with support, at or below budget and identifying opportunities to reduce costs or reallocate resources.     

• Maintain accurate and current guest lists.  Managing the communication to invited audiences (or their EAs) and meet their pre-event needs.  

• Set agenda and lead planning calls with programming directors   

• Maintain internal and external systems for the team’s knowledge management   

• Assist with data analysis, including data for grant reporting and compliance  

• Maintain professionalism and strict confidentiality with all materials 

• Research and secure all appropriate venues and hotel accommodations.  With an eye towards unique, intimate, and exclusive locations.     

Events & Logistics: 

• For virtual events - manage logistics and delivery of real-time virtual events via Zoom and other digital platforms; provide tech support for event hosts and attendees via phone, chat, and/or video chat during the event   

• For in person events -  Execute all event related operations, including set-up, registration, session logistics, off-site social activities/dinners, break-down, and ordering/shipping materials;    

• Communications: Compose and deliver event communication, including the programming agenda, logistical information for instructors, participants, and team, and other event-related documents; Provide speaker and facilitator support and coordination   

• Registration and Attendee Management: Monitor attendee registration and enhance each event’s success by driving adequate attendance; Develop creative and resourceful ideas to enhance the audience experience   

• Vendor Selection and Management: Research, secure, manage and evaluate vendors to provide needed services at live and virtual events within purchasing and operating guidelines and within budget   

• Learning and Feedback: Design event evaluations and summarize trends/results with stakeholders   

Key Competencies 

• Mission Driven - Passion for education equity and KIPP’s mission and values (sense of purpose, results, respect, constant learning & humility, and diversity & inclusivity) 

• Achievement Orientation: Ensures clarity in goals and accountabilities while working with agility and creativity to drive toward deadlines and outcomes-focused metrics  

• Organization, Planning, and Execution: Strong organizational and follow-through skills; excellent time-management, project management, and knowledge management skills; meticulous attention to detail with reliable and timely follow up and follow through skills   

• Judgement & Decision Making: Excellent judgement is essential; a track record of making sound decisions and keeping company confidences while coordinating with multiple stakeholders in in senior leadership roles; strong upward management skills, including advising Chiefs, on calendar priorities 

• Cultural Leadership & Competence: A proactive cultural leader and team player who thrives on collaboration, learning, and seeking perspectives to problem solve and achieve objectives; cultural competence in collaborating with teammates across lines of difference  

• Communications Skills: Superb written and verbal communication skills that considers the needs of different audiences 

• Innovative & Agile: Ability to operate effectively in virtual environments with teammates across multiple time zones; can adapt while upholding integrity and organization principles and values 

Experience and Qualifications 

• At least 5 to 8 years of professional experience in events.  Experience managing exclusive events with an eye toward delivering memorable experiences. 

• Previous project or event management experience 

• Maintains a positive, service-oriented mindset and an eagerness to learn  

• Demonstrated professional finesse that will allow you to successfully handle the unique and ever evolving needs of our facilitators and attendees (many of whom are high profile)  

• A love of being flexible and nimble.  A demonstrated ability to roll with the punches and handle the unknown.   

• Proficiency with Cvent, Microsoft Office Suite, and Survey Monkey. 

• Professional acumen and experience working directly with senior leaders and executives 

Work Conditions 

• Willingness to travel frequently (8-10 days monthly and consecutive weeks during the summer), including some weekends  

• Full-time position   

Location 

There is a preference for this person to based out of the east coast, and this role has the option of working from a remote office full time.  KIPP Foundation office are in NYC and Chicago.  This is a full time, exempt position. 

Compensation and Benefits.    

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, and relevant experience.  The salary range for this position is $100,000-$118,000.  In addition, KIPP Foundation provides a variety of benefits to employees, including:  

• 28 holidays for + 18 days additional flexible PTO days (flexible PTO increases to 23 days for years 3 and 4 and to 28 days for years 5+). 

• 100% paid parental leave 

• 100% coverage of the premium for employee and 75% for employee + family’s medical/dental/vision plans. 

• Wellness benefits such as fitness reimbursements, discounted tickets to theme parks/attractions, backup care support for children and adults/elders, and our employee assistance program 

• Finance Security benefits include such as a 401K retirement plan with 4% match, employer-sponsored legal plans, life/disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts 

KIPP Foundation embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the students and communities with whom we work and the world that around them. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.