Associate Events Manager

Kplu Fm; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) plan with match

Paid vacation and sick leave

15 paid holidays and two personal days

Mileage and parking reimbursements

Mental health resources

Job summary

KNKX seeks an Associate Events Manager to grow within an organization delivering live, virtual, and hybrid events in the Seattle area. The role requires strong planning, coordination, and people leadership to connect with audiences, supporters, and artists.

You will work with Marketing, Development, and internal teams, ensuring event success, budgeting, and compliance while supporting community outreach initiatives and station fund drives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Minimum three years of progressively responsible event management experience.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects with deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated with strong problem-solving skills under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, production schedules, and timelines for live, virtual, and hybrid events.
• Manage KNKX’s pool of event volunteers and on-site leadership.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Development, HR, Finance, and external partners.
• Coordinate sponsorship activation with Business Support, Development, and Marketing.
• Negotiate contracts with venues, vendors, and service providers.
• Assist in maintaining KNKX Community Calendar and event giveaways.

Skills

Event management

Project coordination

Stakeholder communication

Deadline-driven

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Communications, Marketing, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Airtable

Event management software

Job description

About us:

At KNKX we work hard to create a culture where employees feel valued and respected, are trusted and encouraged to be a part of improvements that impact their work, create value, and help build trust in public media. KNKX’s vision is to grow and become a more inclusive organization that brings joy, meaning and understanding into people’s lives. We value diverse perspectives and an array of life experiences.

KNKX is a Western Washington public media company, dedicated to bringing jazz, blues, regional news, and NPR programs to the Northwest and beyond. As an independent dual-format station, KNKX employees are energized in their mission to provide the very best music and news content to an audience of more than 400,000 weekly.

We have offices/studios in Seattle and Tacoma, and offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package (below). KNKX offers a hybrid working environment. This position is based in KNKX’s Seattle studios and generally requires two days a week in-office (an event day “in the field” counts as one) and occasional work in the station’s Tacoma studios.

Key Responsibilities

KNKX seeks an individual ready to show their capacity and talents to ideally grow over time into a position of greater leadership. Events are one of KNKX’s most visible expressions of our mission and an important way we connect with our audience, supporters, artists, sponsors, and community partners.

The Associate Events Manager is a highly-organized professional who can take ownership of smart planning, project management, execution and evaluation of live, virtual, and hybrid events. This position is charged with managing KNKX’s pool of event volunteers.

This position includes working collaboratively with other KNKX teams such as Marketing & Communications, Development, Digital, Engineering, News, Music, HR & Finance, as well as external partners. This position works primarily out of KNKX’s Seattle studios and follows the station’s hybrid work policy. Evening and weekend work is required to support events and station activities.

Core Competencies

The Associate Events Manager will support and manage station events under the direction of the Director of Community Outreach & Events and organizational leadership—to include:

• Creating comprehensive project plans, production schedules, and timelines. Balancing multiple concurrent projects while prioritizing organizational needs.
• Collaborating on all phases of event planning including concept development, scheduling, logistics, execution, and post-event evaluation.
• Facilitating collaborations with internal event stakeholders, venues, artists, community organizations and strategic partners to ensure seamless execution.
• Coordinating sponsorship activation and fulfillment in collaboration with Business Support, Development, and Marketing teams.
• Coordinating venue selection, permitting, insurance requirements, accessibility planning, catering, transportation, technical production, and other event logistics.
• Negotiating and managing contracts with venues, vendors, performers, and service providers while ensuring compliance with organizational procurement practices.
• Serving as the on-site event lead, directing vendors, volunteers, contractors, and cross-functional project teams to ensure successful execution.
• Recommending new event concepts and community engagement opportunities that align with organizational priorities including audience engagement strategies for reaching new and diverse audiences.

Other Responsibilities

Marketing & Audience Engagement

• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to develop promotional strategies supporting event attendance and audience engagement.
• Create event web content, marketing collateral, ticket giveaways, social media content, and promotional materials.
• Ensure consistent branding and messaging across all event communications.

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist in maintaining the KNKX Community Calendar.
• Create ticket giveaways for KNKX’s website and do winner fulfillment.
• Support KNKX’s School of Jazz program and other community outreach initiatives.
• Participate in station fund drives and organizational initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Communications, Marketing, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible event management experience and reasonably consistent in their employment.
• Demonstrated success in managing multiple complex projects simultaneously with strong capacity to manage projects/events on deadline, meet commitments to others, and stay organized.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, and strong problem-solving skills with the ability to remain calm under pressure.

Preferred

• Experience in nonprofit organizations, public media, arts, entertainment, or community engagement.
• Experience negotiating vendor and venue contracts and managing project budgets.
• Experience managing sponsorship fulfillment and donor events.
• Graphic design, digital marketing, and social media experience.
• Experience using event management and project management software, i.e., Airtable, etc.

Physical Requirements

• Must have reliable, insured transportation capable of transporting station equipment. (Company reimburses all mileage.)
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods during events.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) plan and station match
• Paid vacation, paid sick leave
• 15 paid holiday days and two personal days
• Mileage and parking reimbursements
• Mental health resources

Additional Information and Conditions of Employment:

Prior to hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

KNKX is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor it. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process, during the recruitment process, or who need this job announcement in an alternative format, may contact the Human Resources Office at [e-mail].

The hiring manager has the right to close this recruitment at any time therefore it would be in your best interest to apply early. Applicants will be reviewed weekly.