Global Event Operations Lead

Milken Institute; Santa Monica (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan

Retirement Plan 403b

Paid Time Off

Family Leave

Flexible Spending Accounts

Training & Development

Annual Mentor Program

Wellness Resources

Job summary

Milken Institute seeks an experienced Associate Director, Global Event Operations to oversee planning and execution of high-profile events worldwide. You will lead end-to-end operations, manage budgets, and coordinate with internal teams and external partners to deliver exceptional experiences.

The role requires 6–8 years in event operations or logistics, strong vendor negotiation, and proficiency with Cvent, Salesforce, and MS Office. Hybrid work in Santa Monica with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 6-8 years of experience in event operations, production, or logistics management.
• Experience with large-scale conferences (1,000+ attendees) and VIP meetings.
• Strong contract negotiations, venue operations, and event technology knowledge.
• Ability to develop, manage, and reconcile budgets, including forecasting and post-event financial analysis.
• Excellent project management and vendor management skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
• Experience with Cvent, Salesforce, MS Office, Airtable or Asana is a plus.
• Knowledge of financial reporting related to large-scale event budgets is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end event logistics, including venue selection, contracts, rooming lists, catering, audiovisual needs, and event production.
• Manage production timelines, staffing plans, and milestone tracking.
• Work with programming, engagement, and development teams to align operational plans with objectives.
• Serve as main contact for vendors and venue partners, ensuring contractual compliance.
• Lead site selection and RFP processes and negotiate contracts for hotels, venues, and vendors.

Skills

Event operations

Budget management

Vendor management

Contract negotiation

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Event technology

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Cvent

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Asana

Airtable

Job description

Milken Institute seeks an experienced Associate Director, Global Event Operations to oversee planning and execution of high-profile events worldwide. You will lead end-to-end operations, manage budgets, and coordinate with internal teams and external partners to deliver exceptional experiences.

The role requires 6–8 years in event operations or logistics, strong vendor negotiation, and proficiency with Cvent, Salesforce, and MS Office. Hybrid work in Santa Monica with occasional travel.