Project Manager (Events)

Cella; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 61,000; Part time

Job summary

Cella, a randstad digital company, is seeking a Senior Project Manager to oversee complex, multi-workstream creative production for donor and community events within a large national organization. This role sits in the Marketing & Communications events function and partners with the creative lead to align across environmental design, slides, video, and AV for 40+ events annually.

You will drive end-to-end production plans, manage budgets and schedules, and coordinate internal teams with external

Job description

• Design (slides, decks, print assets, on-site collateral).
• Stakeholder Communication & Vendor Coordination

Location: Arlington, Virginia

Job Type: Contract

Compensation Range: $40 - 44 per hour

We are seeking a Senior Project Manager to oversee complex, multi-workstream creative production for donor and community events within a large national organization. This role will sit within the Marketing & Communications (MarComms) events function and will partner closely with the creative lead overseeing creative and environmental design across more than 40+ events annually. The Senior Project Manager will act as the central hub across creative disciplines-including environmental design, design, video, photo, AV, and vendors-to ensure deliverables are aligned to program goals, delivered on time and on budget, and ready for use at live and hybrid events. This is a high-visibility, coordination-heavy role ideal for someone who has managed complex, multi-track events and understands how creative, production, and logistics intersect.

Responsibilities

• Cross-Workstream Project Management
• Own end-to-end project management for creative elements of donor and community events (40+ per year).
• Coordinate across:
  • Environmental design (room/look and feel, installations, signage, wayfinding, experiential elements).
  • Design (slides, decks, print assets, on-site collateral).
  • Video and photo (capture needs, sourcing assets, edits, delivery).
  • AV and production (screens, staging, technical requirements, run of show).
  • External vendors and in-house creative teams.
• Identify and manage dependencies between workstreams, ensuring teams have what they need to meet production deadlines.
• Timeline, Run of Show & Production Schedules
• Develop and maintain detailed production schedules for each event, including:
  • Milestones leading into rehearsals.
  • Asset delivery timelines.
  • Vendor and internal team deadlines.
• Support or own the creation of run of show documents, including:
  • Session timing, speaker order, and transitions.
  • Room assignments and AV configurations.
  • Technical requirements and contingency plans.
• Ensure all stakeholders-including MarComms, events, creative, and vendors-are aligned and working from the latest documentation.
• Budget & Scope Management
• Partner with stakeholders to create and track budgets for event-related creative and environmental design.
• Translate program and creative ideas into realistic budgets across environmental design, furniture, screens, production, and related needs.
• Surface trade-offs and options when budgets change.
• Proactively flag scope creep, risks, dependencies, and resource constraints.
• Stakeholder Communication & Vendor Coordination
• Serve as the central point of contact across internal stakeholders, creative teams, events teams, and external vendors and production partners.
• Drive regular status updates, gather progress from each creative workstream, and elevate issues early.
• Ensure cross-team alignment so that all creative and production elements support event programming goals and audience expectations.
• Supporting the Events Creative Function
• Keep the creative lead fully informed without requiring them to be involved in every tactical detail.
• Proactively surface issues, decisions, risks, and trade-offs.
• Present structured options and recommendations.
• Help scale the creative function across 40+ events by managing coordination and project execution, allowing the creative lead to focus on high-value creative and strategic work.

Note

This role is not intended to be the on-site show caller or line producer. On-site show calling is typically handled by experienced members of the events and creative team.

Ideal Candidate Profile Must-Have Experience

• Significant experience as a Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Producer, or Creative Producer in:
  • Live, virtual, or hybrid events
  • Experiential marketing
  • Event production
  • Environmental design
  • Creative agency environments
• Proven track record managing complex, multi-track events with multiple stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • Coordinate cross-functional teams across design, video, photo, AV, events, and vendors.
  • Build and maintain detailed production schedules and run of show documentation.
  • Manage budgets and recommend cost trade-offs.
• Comfortable working with a combination of in-house creative teams and external vendors.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong project management discipline across timelines, dependencies, documentation, and risk management.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear, concise updates to leaders and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to translate programming goals into creative and production requirements.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with the ability to anticipate issues before they become problems.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes event environment with donors and senior stakeholders.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Background in environmental design, experiential design, or immersive brand environments.
• Experience collaborating with production and AV teams across staging, fabrication, and technical execution.
• Space planning experience, including understanding how creative elements, screens, and installations work within physical venues.
• Experience working in donor-focused, philanthropic, financial services, foundation, or similarly complex environments.

JOBID: 092026-146708

#PL

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

At Cella, a randstad digital company, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact [e-mail].

Pay offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Cella by randstad digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility).

This posting is open for thirty (30) days.