Public Engagement & Event Manager

Job Description

The Public Engagement & Event Manager provides primary oversight of all aspects of planning, execution, and post-production work involved in delivering the Botanical Garden’s public engagement programs and events. This position supports the goals of increasing attendance, attracting new audiences, providing high-quality guest experiences, and generating revenues. Programs, including music series, exhibits, community collaborations, and signature events, are essential to audience development, from welcoming first-time visitors to engaging loyal donors. The Public Engagement & Event Manager must be a strategic thinker, skilled at planning and executing events, building internal and external partnerships, and effective in their communication and collaborative approach. The successful candidate will maximize the impact of existing events while leading the vision and creation of new events that will position the Botanical Garden as a cherished community resource for all our visitors throughout the region and state.

About Us

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a 501(c)(3) privately governed, not-for-profit public garden situated on 17 acres in the heart of downtown Des Moines. At the Botanical Garden, we are passionate about exploring, explaining, and celebrating the world of plants. Beyond the beauty and inspiration of our urban setting, we are dedicated to creating signature, memorable experiences through progressive garden design and innovative programming. People, plants, and passion are the focus of what we do. By educating and enriching the lives of our guests, we provide a valuable resource for our community and forge partnerships stronger than the sum of our individual parts.

Duties & Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and perform other duties as assigned.
• Serve as the organization’s operational lead for signature programs and events, including regularly serving in a hands-on capacity during events.
• Work collaboratively with peer teams and departments in event operations, logistics, vendor, and partner management, and event planning, including coordinating with staff and volunteers to fulfill human capital needs for programs/events.
• Lead the growth and development of new events and experiences to increase admission numbers, event ticket sales, and revenues through guest-centric and mission-aligned initiatives.
• Drive direction and strategy and lead planning meetings for existing signature events (Botanical Blues, Earth Day, north gallery exhibits, Spring Garden Market, Music in the Garden, Fall Bulb Sale, Annual Symposium, Trick-or-Trees, Dome After Dark, and The Ray Way).
• Procure, negotiate, contract, and manage relationships with vendors, including performers, exhibitors, and contractors that share essential services and talents.
• Work in collaboration with team members to positively impact multiple revenue streams, driving retail, admissions, ticket sales, food and beverage, membership, donations, and sponsorships.
• In collaboration with the finance team and senior leadership, develop and oversee an operational budget that drives revenue and manages cost ratios for each event.
• Develop and track metrics to measure effectiveness of events.
• Develop community connections and meaningful collaborations to maximize shared resources for mutual benefit.
• Support the development team in the creation and execution of fundraising events.
• Manage and execute Botanical Garden events related to staff, including internal events committee activities and staff recognition events.
• Collaborate with marketing team to execute tactics and communications in support of programming and events.
• Engage volunteer groups as partners to expand and enhance Botanical Garden events.
• Effectively engage and collaborate with all relevant Garden team members to achieve organizational goals.
• Develop community connections and meaningful collaborations to maximize shared resources for mutual benefit.

Education and Experience

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required for this position.

Education and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in event planning, hospitality, marketing, or communications preferred.
• Two to four years’ experience in event and program creation, training, and management.
• Previous experience managing budgets, including profit and loss, and measuring program metrics.
• Proven competence in managing program logistics, staff, volunteers, and vendors.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Strong organization and project management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Creative problem solver; strategic and organized thinker with superb attention to detail.
• Excellent time-management skills to handle various assignments simultaneously under various deadlines and other constraints.
• Ability to understand and interpret instruction to work effectively and efficiently independently with minimal supervision and part of a team.
• Comfortable engaging audiences across a range of demographics and learning styles.
• Ability to interact appropriately and professionally with the public, staff, and volunteers.
• Bilingual desirable.

Application Instructions

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and three references to bghr@dmbotanicalgarden.com. Review of applicants will begin immediately and remain open until the candidate is hired.