Events Manager

DTSF; Sioux Falls (SD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (Single Plan)

Paid Time Off (20 days annually)

Holiday Time Off (12 days annually)

SafeHarbor 401k with 4% Company Match

Dental & Vision Insurance (Employee)

Parking Pass

Job summary

Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF) is seeking an Events Manager to lead the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of signature events and year-round activations that boost foot traffic and local economic activity.

The role emphasizes building a robust volunteer corps, strong vendor partnerships, and meticulous execution. The position requires exceptional project management, relationship-building, and logistics.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of event planning experience.
• 3+ years of volunteer management experience.
• 3+ years of project management experience.
• College degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, execute, and continuously improve DTSF's signature events and year-round activations, ensuring they drive foot traffic, economic impact, and community engagement.
• Recruit, train, and manage a reliable team of volunteers to support event setup, execution, and tear-down - expanding organizational capacity and reducing staff burden.
• Recruit, curate, and manage event participants- including vendors, performers, artists, and businesses to ensure high-quality experiences and maximize event revenue through booth sales, registrations, and program participation.
• Build and maintain event registration and participation systems in Neon CRM and related platforms, ensuring smooth workflows, accurate rosters, strong customer experience, and timely communication.
• Lead all event logistics, including permitting, contracts, infrastructure, run-of-show development, public safety coordination, vendor onboarding, and onsite troubleshooting.
• Manage event budgets, aligning expenses with organizational priorities and driving revenue growth through participation fees, sponsorship integration, and strategic programming.
• Evaluate event performance and implement improvements, compiling insights, testing new concepts, and proposing innovative programming that aligns with DTSF's mission and downtown advocacy goals.

Skills

Event planning

Volunteer management

Project management

Vendor coordination

Education

College degree preferred

Job description

Reports to: CDO

Location: On-site
FLSA Status: Full-time - Exempt

About Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF)

Downtown doesn't happen by accident - it takes vision, hustle, and heart. Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc. (DTSF) is a mission-driven 501(c)4 organization leading the charge in shaping a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving urban core. We exist to activate the city's center - through placemaking, storytelling, partnerships, and daily boots-on-the-ground effort.

We're all in on Downtown. We connect business owners, civic leaders, artists, residents, and visitors to cultivate a culture of creativity, opportunity, and progress. If you're looking to make an impact where it matters most - this is the place, and now is the time.

Role Overview:

The Events Manager drives the planning, execution, and continual improvement of DTSF's signature events and year-round activations. This role is ideal for a highly motivated, energetic individual who thrives on feedback, actively seeks ways to elevate existing programs, and embraces opportunities to develop new experiences that strengthen Downtown's economic and cultural vitality. A successful candidate is systematic and detail-driven, capable of building and managing a strong volunteer corps to expand capacity and reduce staff burden.

This role requires exceptional project management, relationship building, and logistical execution. The manager is responsible for curating memorable, mission-aligned events; coordinating seamless participant experiences; and leveraging events as a revenue generator through strong vendor pipelines, sponsorship integration, and high-value programming. They work cross-functionally to ensure events drive foot traffic, economic activity, and community connection - while owning the backend systems, operational workflows, and metrics that measure event impact.

Full time, Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Required to work some evenings, weekends, and Holidays. DTSF Signature Events may require heavy lifting, exposure to weather, and prolonged standing. Riverfest and Parade of Lights events are considered black-out days for PTO for all staff. The events manager is expected to be present at all Signature events.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, execute, and continuously improve DTSF's signature events and year-round activations, ensuring they drive foot traffic, economic impact, and community engagement.
• Recruit, train, and manage a reliable team of volunteers to support event setup, execution, and tear-down - expanding organizational capacity and reducing staff burden.
• Recruit, curate, and manage event participants- including vendors, performers, artists, and businesses to ensure high-quality experiences and maximize event revenue through booth sales, registrations, and program participation.
• Build and maintain event registration and participation systems in Neon CRM and related platforms, ensuring smooth workflows, accurate rosters, strong customer experience, and timely communication.
• Lead all event logistics, including permitting, contracts, infrastructure, run-of-show development, public safety coordination, vendor onboarding, and onsite troubleshooting.
• Manage event budgets, aligning expenses with organizational priorities and driving revenue growth through participation fees, sponsorship integration, and strategic programming.
• Evaluate event performance and implement improvements, compiling insights, testing new concepts, and proposing innovative programming that aligns with DTSF's mission and downtown advocacy goals.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of event planning experience.
• 3+ years of volunteer management experience.
• 3+ years of project management experience.
• College degree preferred.

Benefits

• Health Insurance (Single Plan covered 100% by Employer)
• Paid Time Off (20 days annually)
• Holiday Time Off (12 days annually)
• SafeHarbor 401k with 4% Company Match
• Dental & Vision Insurance (Employee Paid)
• Parking Pass