Event Director 2022

Part Time // Contract Role

About Make it Mariko

Make it Mariko (pronounced MAH-ree-ko) is an all women of color Bay Area event production & design company focused on creating magical, meaningful moments for the community. We are experience curators, community organizers, corporate planners, nonprofit advocates, and event enthusiasts.

We are committed to curating creative, inclusive, and diverse spaces in the events industry to challenge the status quo and pave the way for a new generation of event experience curators. Our company was founded in 2015 by Gina Mariko Rosales and we have a wide network of creative partners, vendors, and clients that we work with throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

Types of events we work on:

Brand Launches & Activations
Corporate & Community Conferences
Corporate Leadership Summits & Internal Events (like Holiday Parties)
Community Festivals (like UNDISCOVERED SF, our flagship event)
Nonprofit Fundraisers
Weddings

Learn more about our company values and hear our origin store here: www.makeitmariko.com/about.

Fresh off of a 3-month company sabbatical, Make it Mariko is looking to build our new team with refreshed and renewed energy for 2022 and beyond!

About the Role

The Make it Mariko Event Director will work closely with Founder & Chief Experience Officer (CEO), Gina Rosales, and be her right hand person for a variety of events and projects in 2022. We are looking for a seasoned marketing & events professional who has a proven track record of Client & Project Management experience, strong vendor relationships already built, and can get to work quickly with minimal direction. The Event Director will do a range of event planning work ranging from talking to clients, vendor & venue management, working with designers, managing day-of events independently, writing event copy, event design, event budgeting/accounting, and more.

This is a great opportunity for a freelancer or consultant who wants to work on larger scale events and get involved with multiple high impact community projects in the San Francisco creative community. You will be working directly with our clients and most importantly, with our amazing creative vendor community of POC producers, stage managers, photographers, videographers, graphic designers, DJs, performers, and more.

We will co-work together at least 2 times per week from our San Francisco office at Balay Kreative Studios in SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. We are committed to building community in the cultural district with our events, and are looking for someone who feels equally excited about this work.

This year we are working on BIG projects, like purchasing our first Event Space! This will begin as a contract role, but could very quickly turn into a full time position (and even a General Manager or COO role) for the right candidate who wants to build long-term with us and even take on sales & operations in the future.

Women of Color are highly encouraged to apply.

About Your Manager: Gina Mariko Rosales

Hello! I’m a Filipino & Japanese American founder and proud #Pinayista with 12+ years experience in event planning, nonprofit operations, and corporate marketing & events. I was born and raised in the Bay Area and I currently live in San Francisco.
I worked for Google/Google X for 7 years most recently as their Head of Marketing Events. I also run a nonprofit called Pinayista.
I’m fresh off of a 3 month sabbatical after a crazy traumatic year, and I’m looking to reimagine my life and my business so that it better serves my new goals of peace, rest, and connection.
I’m a recovering perfectionist looking to find the right strategic partner who I can trust to manage the day to day client work so I can focus on bigger picture projects, creative direction, and business development. I hope that you’re equally passionate about creating magical, meaningful moments through events as I am.
I care about your career growth and want to make sure you are successful in this industry. I love to mentor people and make strategic connections/introductions to help meet your goals.
I appreciate sarcasm, lots of laughter, karaoke, wine nights, and direct, honest communication. I see my team as my family and I love hanging out outside of work.
I’m a dancer and feel strongly about contributing to the San Francisco creative community.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Event & Project Management (85%)

Project manage various client events to ensure we’re staying on track for deadlines and deliverables. Communicate directly with our clients, schedule meetings, take notes at client meetings, and follow up with updates and action items.
Venue & Vendor research & proposal creation for client presentations
Vendor quotes & contract review
Work with graphic designers to create design assets for events & swag
Write copy for events and marketing materials
Event design & layout creation, including designing spaces for ideal attendee experience
Work with event sponsors to design custom brand activations
Accounting & budgeting for events and receipt organization
Manage Day-of Coordination independently including clean up and vendor load out
Permit coordination with various city agencies (will provide training on this)
Build relationships with community leaders, vendors, and industry event partners
Collaborate across the team to improve team processes, efficiency, and overall happiness
General research, planning, and outreach for events, venues, vendors, or key stakeholders as needed
Eventually manage an Event Coordinator

Apps used: Google GSuite (Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Slides, Sheets, Docs), Clickup, LastPass, Dubsado, Bill.com, Zoom (training will be provided to learn new platforms)

Event Marketing (15%)

Write impact-focused event blogs after each event with photo wrap ups
Quarterly email newsletters or as needed based on need
Light social media management via Later.com for Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. 1-2 posts per week, and building community through commenting and sharing community events. (Will pass on to Event Coordinator later on)
Behind the scenes Insta Stories during events
Graphic design & videography coordination for marketing content
General website updates via WordPress
Monitor relevant social discussions about the company, competitors, and industry

Apps used: Mailchimp, Later.com, WordPress, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn

General

Respond to messages in a timely manner and escalate as needed
Build strong relationships with industry professionals, influencers, performers, and community members
Attend weekly team meetings
Professionally represent Make it Mariko at all events

What we’re looking for:

At least 4 years professional experience working directly in Events, Marketing, and/or Business Development. *Must have experience working directly with clients in the past.*
Demonstrated ability to deliver an exceptional experience for clients.
Strong problem solver who is resourceful and can find creative solutions to any challenge.
Great interpersonal skills – you enjoy interacting with people and building new relationships.
Impact driven work – We work hard, and we work smart. We are looking for someone who stays focused on goals and purpose. We believe in REST.
Strong communication skills – verbal, written and presentation – and can confidently pitch in both a 1:1 and group setting.
Someone who thrives in ambiguity and is highly attuned to people’s needs. Being an event planner is often like being a psychologist, as we need to figure out what is best for our client.
Working knowledge of all the apps listed above are a plus. Training will be provided to learn HOW we specifically use each app as a company, but we expect that team members are tech savvy and can learn new apps independently. Please list out in your application each app that you have experience working with.
Past experience working with artists/arts orgs, social justice orgs, or nonprofits is a plus
Confident creative writing skills. Must use the Oxford comma 😉
Understands culturally sensitive language and understands how to write/speak appropriately about POC & marginalized communities
Ability to work remotely and work in San Francisco 2 days a week (days are flexible).
Must be fully vaccinated and stay up to date with Covid booster shots
Must have access to a car

Why you might be excited about Make it Mariko:

We are working on BIG, high impact projects this year including purchasing our first Event Space (30+ acres in the Bay Area), all funded by women of color investors! This role could easily turn into a Full Time General Manager/COO position for the right candidate who wants to build long-term with us. Read about our first attempt at buying here.
You will be constantly surrounded by and introduced to amazingly talented and inspiring creatives and artists.
You will get invited to a lot of awesome industry parties, events, happy hours, and karaoke of course 🙂 All optional, but the best way to build your network in this industry.
We believe in REST. You’ll be able to work remotely and set your own schedule for the most part.

Why you might NOT be excited about us:

We operate like a lean, mean startup. Everyone pitches in and helps as needed. No one is too good to clean up garbage or carry barricades, even our CEO.
The work moves fast and changes happen frequently in this industry. If you don’t manage change well, this is not the company for you.
We like working in person when we can, and we’re San Francisco based (and proud!). Most industry parties and community events happen in SF as well. We have covid protocols in place at our studio.
We often deal with complex challenges and ambiguous goals. The pace changes often, clients often don’t know what they want, and they pay us to figure that out for them.

Additional Details & How to Apply

Hours & Compensation

20-25 hours per week
$3K per month
Contract position

To Apply: Please email jobs@makeitmariko.com with the subject line “Your Name / Event Director”, and include the following:

A Cover Letter describing your interest, experience, and background. Please make sure to address the following:
- Your relevant experience for this role based on this job description
- Why you want to join the Make it Mariko team
- What apps you’re already familiar with from those listed above
Resume (PDFs only!)
Attach or provide a link to a past writing sample or event lookbook that accurately reflects your writing and/or design style.
NO CALLS OR DMs PLEASE.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the right candidate is found. Interviews will begin immediately. Please share with anyone interested.