Manager

Playground Global is an early-stage deep tech venture capital firm backing technical founders with engineering expertise, a collaborative environment, and a first-hand understanding of the intricacies of deep tech. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Playground's mission is to transform ambitious ideas into impactful businesses that benefit humanity and the planet. We invest in areas like next-generation computing, automation, energy transition, and engineered biology. Our portfolio includes pioneering companies such as PsiQuantum, Relativity Space, Ultima Genomics, MosaicML (acq. by Databricks), d-Matrix, and Strand Therapeutics.

Position Overview

Community building through events is a critical part of Playground's identity. We define our community as Founders, Venture Capitalists, Strategic Corporate Venture Capitalists, Limited Partners, and the broader innovation economy ecosystem. We're seeking a highly skilled Event Manager to plan and execute dynamic, engaging events for our community. This individual will work closely with various investing and operating partners at Playground and requires strong collaboration skills. They must be independent and self-driven.

The ideal candidate will be meticulous, organized, and capable of managing multiple moving parts under pressure. They will ensure that any last-minute changes or challenges are handled with minimal disruption. Above all, they will bring a strong customer service mentality to the job.

The Playground office is a one-of-a-kind space. Housed in a 70,000-square-foot space that is a former cannery, it features multiple conference rooms, a cafe with private chefs, a fully equipped workshop, and exhibits showcasing Playground's investments, including a rocket, bipedal robots, and more. While most event organization will occur at the Playground office, some functions will be held in and around industry conferences in San Francisco, Boston, and New York.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute a range of events throughout the calendar year, from small gatherings, thematic happy hours, and targeted investor events to large-scale meetings with over 150 attendees.
• Communicate and work cross-functionally to spearhead and support programming to broaden and deepen Playground's ecosystem.
• Manage every aspect of event logistics, including venue/room selection, vendor management, budgeting, on-site coordination, order placements, travel planning, restaurant reservations, registration counts, and RSVP tracking.
• Act as the main point of contact for events, gathering and disseminating all relevant information to attendees, speakers, and stakeholders.
• Develop and manage event timelines to ensure all deliverables are on schedule.
• Maintain proactive and high-quality service to event attendees and stakeholders.
• Troubleshoot issues that arise during the planning and execution of events, providing timely solutions.
• Collaborate with operations and culinary teams to ensure smooth operations.
• Use and continue to build our CRM to drive effective distribution lists.
• Prepare internal stakeholders for conferences and events.
• This Marketing function will require close collaboration with Investor Relations/Capital Formation and Corporate Development.

Qualifications

• You have proven experience in event planning or management is a must. Potential backgrounds for candidates include, but are not limited to, venture capital events, event marketing at startups, big tech firms, or event agencies.
• You have strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• You can manage multiple projects simultaneously, with competing deadlines and high stakes.
• You have experience in negotiating and managing budgets and tracking expenses effectively.
• You possess exceptional problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to handling challenges.
• You have the ability to remain calm under pressure and maintain a customer-service-focused mindset.
• You have an entrepreneurial spirit, hustle, and extreme attention to detail.
• You have the ability to successfully collaborate in cross-functional team event execution from idea through execution and post-production analysis.
• You have the comfort, desire, and confidence with regular business travel and hosting site visits in Palo Alto.

The annual base salary range is $130,000 to $150,000. The base salary will depend on numerous factors such as experience, knowledge, and skills. We offer a competitive performance bonus plan based on individual performance and company success.

This role is located in Palo Alto, California, and is not remote. It requires some travel and longer on-site hours associated with events.

At Playground, we’re committed to racial equity, social justice, and equal opportunity. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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