Manager of Special Events

The Manager of Special Events is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing high-quality statewide and regional events that advance KIPP Texas’ strategic priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and create exceptional experiences for students, families, staff, donors, board members, community partners, and other key constituents.

This role leads the operational planning and execution of a diverse portfolio of events, including staff and student celebrations such as commitment ceremonies, graduations, and other organization-wide experiences. The Manager of Special Events serves as a project leader responsible for managing timelines, budgets, vendors, contracts, logistics, transportation, event production, risk mitigation, and cross-functional stakeholder alignment.

Success in this role requires strong project management, operational excellence, relationship management, and the ability to navigate multiple priorities across a complex statewide organization. As an ambassador of the KIPP Texas mission and brand, the Manager of Special Events ensures events are executed with consistency, professionalism, and a student-centered approach while supporting organizational goals and stakeholder engagement efforts. This position works closely with regional and statewide teams, school leaders, Advancement, Communications, Finance, Operations, external vendors, and other key stakeholders to successfully execute events across the KIPP Texas network.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Design, plan, and execute regional and statewide events that advance organizational priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and deliver high-quality student and community experiences.
• Serve as the primary project manager for assigned events, leading cross-functional planning and ensuring alignment across departments, school leaders, and external partners.
• Build and manage comprehensive event project plans, timelines, and budgets, ensuring milestones, deliverables, stakeholder responsibilities, and expenses are clearly tracked and completed on schedule.
• Lead all aspects of event logistics, including venue selection, vendor management, contract negotiations, event production, run-of-show development, budget management, transportation coordination, risk mitigation, accessibility planning, and logistics.
• Coordinate and manage a diverse group of stakeholders, including school leaders, staff, students, alumni, families, volunteers, board members, community partners, and external vendors across planning and execution phases.
• Oversee the development and distribution of event-related communications, collateral, signage, websites, registration materials, and participant resources in collaboration with Communications and other teams.
• Facilitate internal and external planning meetings, including agenda development, stakeholder communication, action-item tracking, and stakeholder follow-up.
• Manage guest registration, seating logistics, ticketing, attendance tracking, and participant experience planning as applicable.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and deploy volunteers for event-day operations.
• Oversee event-day execution, proactively identifying and resolving operational risks, challenges, and issues in real time.
• Develop post-event reports and lead closeout activities, including budget reconciliation, documentation, stakeholder follow-up, and lessons learned.
• Maintain availability outside of standard work hours during event seasons and as needed to support event execution.

Perform other duties as assigned.