Special Events and Venues Manager (Recreation Programs Manager)

City of Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Barbara is seeking a seasoned Special Events and Venues Manager to lead the City’s events, filming, venue rentals, and related programs. This role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to coordinate across departments, partners, and community stakeholders to deliver high-quality City-sponsored events.

Responsibilities include managing budgets, supervising a multidisciplinary team, and ensuring safety, accessibility, and excellent customer service

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional recreation experience, two (2) of which included supervision of full‑time and part‑time staff.
• Bachelor's degree in recreation, public or business administration, or a closely related field.
• A valid Class C California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City's Vehicle Insurance Policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team, including full-time supervisors, coordinators, administrative staff, seasonal employees, and volunteers.
• Provide strategic direction, policy guidance, and operational oversight across all assigned program areas.
• Prepare and manage complex budgets, fee structures, and revenue programs in accordance with City goals and financial policies.
• Work closely with internal City departments and external partners to facilitate safe, inclusive, and high-quality events and services.
• Represent program areas to elected officials, boards and commissions, community partners, and the general public.
• Lead interdepartmental planning for complex and high-profile events involving public safety, traffic control, street closures, emergency access, sanitation, accessibility, alcohol service, amplified sound, use of public property, and other operational considerations.

Skills

Operate computer hardware and software

Drive a motor vehicle

Education

Bachelor's degree in recreation/public/business administration

Job description

ABOUT US

At the City of Santa Barbara, the best part of our organization is our people. As a City of Santa Barbara employee, you will work in an environment with other motivated individuals who are passionate about their work. We strive to provide employees with the support they need to thrive. Discover more about us, our values and our organizational culture here.

Shape the events and spaces that define Santa Barbara. The City of Santa Barbara is seeking a skilled and community-focused professional to serve as its next Special Events and Venues Manager to lead the City’s special events, filming, venue rental, and City-produced event programs.

Read more about the Parks and Recreation Department here.

THE POSITION

The Special Events and Venues Manager oversees a dynamic portfolio of community-serving programs and high-profile public events. This position leads a professional team and works extensively across City departments and with event organizers, businesses, community organizations, production companies, residents, and other stakeholders. The successful candidate will combine strong management and organizational skills with excellent judgment, customer service, and the ability to navigate complex operational and regulatory issues.

With a strong emphasis on event logistics, permitting, public safety, and interdepartmental coordination, this position plays a central role in delivering City-sponsored events and supporting the safe, successful execution of hundreds of small and large public and private events each year. It is also a highly visible, public-facing role that requires frequent collaboration and communication with the City Administrator’s Office, Mayor and City Council, senior leadership across City departments, nonprofit and business leaders, and community members of all backgrounds. The ability to navigate complex stakeholder dynamics with professionalism, diplomacy, and responsiveness is essential to success in this position.

Core Program Areas Under Management

1. Public Special Events and Filming: Oversee coordination, permitting, and City support for large and small public events and filming occurring on City property and in the public right-of-way. The Manager and their team guide event organizers through the permitting process and coordinate requirements involving Police, Fire, Public Works, Waterfront, Parks and Recreation, and other City departments and regulatory agencies. The program supports a wide range of community activities, from neighborhood and nonprofit events to races, festivals, parades, major civic celebrations, commercial filming, and other complex events involving significant public safety, traffic, accessibility, neighborhood, and operational considerations.
2. City-Produced Events: Lead the planning and execution of the City’s signature events, including the Independence Day Celebration, the Concerts in the Park series, the Children’s Fiesta Parade, and seasonal programming at the historic Plaza del Mar Park Bandshell. Responsibilities include event planning, budgeting, contracting, sponsorships and partnerships, entertainment and vendor coordination, public safety and logistics planning, accessibility, marketing, and on-site event management.
3. Private Event Rentals and Outdoor Venues: Oversees the City’s recreation facility and event venue rental program, including weddings, meetings, conferences, and other private rentals at indoor and outdoor venues such as the Cabrillo Pavilion, community centers, and other locations. Oversee group picnic area and outdoor rental logistics in community parks and open spaces. The Manager is responsible for maintaining a high-quality customer experience while ensuring effective facility utilization, consistent policies and procedures, appropriate cost recovery, and responsible stewardship and maintenance of public facilities.
4. Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show: Manage operations, permitting, and compliance for this long-standing weekly tradition that supports over 125 local artists showing and selling their works along Cabrillo Blvd. The Manager oversees the program’s ongoing operations, policies, participant administration, and special activities; provides guidance and responsive customer service to participating artists and craftspeople; and works with staff to address the individual questions, concerns, and issues that arise in a highly engaged participant community. The Manager also serves as the primary staff liaison to the City’s Arts and Crafts Show Advisory Committee, including developing agendas and recommendations, presenting policy and operational matters, facilitating productive public meetings, and ensuring appropriate follow-through on Committee and City direction.

Work Schedule: This position generally works a regular weekday schedule (9/80 Flex or 5/40 Traditional) however, the nature of the programs requires occasional evening, weekend, and holiday work. The Manager is expected to be present for select major City-sponsored events and other significant programs, including the City’s Fourth of July Celebration, Santa Barbara Fiesta Week, and Concerts in the Park, as well as occasional special events, venue activities, Arts and Crafts Show programs, and public meetings. These schedule needs are generally known and planned well in advance. This position is not hybrid and does require in-office work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team, including full-time supervisors, coordinators, administrative staff, seasonal employees, and volunteers.
• Provide strategic direction, policy guidance, and operational oversight across all assigned program areas.
• Serve on the Department’s leadership team and work across the Department to advance projects and priorities of the Department as a whole.
• Prepare and manage complex budgets, fee structures, and revenue programs in accordance with City goals and financial policies.
• Work closely with internal City departments and external partners to facilitate safe, inclusive, and high-quality events and services.
• Continuously evaluate program effectiveness, community impact, and operational efficiency.
• Represent program areas to elected officials, boards and commissions, community partners, and the general public.
• Lead interdepartmental planning for complex and high-profile events involving public safety, traffic control, street closures, emergency access, sanitation, accessibility, alcohol service, amplified sound, use of public property, and other operational considerations.
• Serve as a key City liaison to event organizers, film and production companies, community organizations, businesses, residents, artists and craftspeople, and other stakeholders.
• Manage the City’s private venue rental program, including facility utilization, customer service standards, reservation practices, contracts, fees, policies, and operating procedures.
• Lead the planning and execution of City-produced events, including development of event concepts, schedules, budgets, contracts, logistics, staffing plans, sponsorships, entertainment, vendors, and day‑of operations.
• Provide management oversight of the Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show, including its year‑round operations, participant administration, policies, stakeholder relations, and coordination with other activities along the waterfront.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Arts and Crafts Show Advisory Committee and support an effective public advisory process through agenda development, staff reports, presentations, meeting facilitation, and implementation of recommendations and direction.
• Evaluate existing programs and business practices and implement improvements to permitting, reservations, technology, customer service, and internal workflows.
• Develop and recommend policies, procedures, guidelines, and Municipal Code changes related to special events, filming, facility use, and the Arts and Crafts Show.
• Balance support for vibrant community events and private uses of City facilities with public safety, neighborhood impacts, accessibility, environmental considerations, operational capacity, and responsible use of public resources.
• Resolve complex and sensitive issues involving competing interests, regulatory requirements, City policies, and community expectations.
• Prepare reports, presentations, agreements, correspondence, and recommendations for Department leadership, City administration, advisory bodies, and other decision-makers.
• Represent the Parks and Recreation Department at meetings with City departments, community organizations, event producers, businesses, advisory groups, and other stakeholders.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a creative, strategic thinker and skilled operational leader who is energized by the complexity and visibility of community‑facing work. Key qualities include:

• Extensive experience managing special events, civic programs, or public‑facing services in a municipal or nonprofit setting.
• Exceptional leadership and team‑building skills across multiple program types and facility operations.
• Experience coordinating across organizational boundaries and building productive working relationships with public safety personnel, operational departments, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and private businesses.
• Experience working effectively with advisory boards, commissions, committees, or other highly engaged stakeholder groups.
• Strong business and financial management skills, including budgeting, contracts, revenue generation, fee development, and cost recovery. Of particular note for venue rentals, this is a sales‑oriented customer service program area.
• Ability to thrive in fast‑paced, high‑stakes environments with a calm, collaborative approach.
• Flexibility and an interest in collaborating with the Department’s leadership team on Departmental goals and priorities.
• Experience working with culturally diverse communities and designing programming that reflects their needs and priorities.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Special Events and Venues Manager is a management level classification, having broad responsibility for a diverse variety of programs and services for recreational users, cultural events, and facility rentals, concessions; and neighborhood services. This position reports to the Assistant Parks and Recreation Director and works with diverse community stakeholders and advisory groups.

PAYROLL TITLE: Recreation Programs Manager

BENEFITS: To view our benefits page click here.

Knowledge of

• Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regulations, County standards and City Municipal Code, and pertinent regulations and standards pertaining to use of City recreation facilities.
• Theories, principles and practices of recreation programs, event planning, program sponsorship, and leisure management.
• Information sources and trends in the field of recreation programs.
• Organization, delivery and management principles related to municipal programs and evaluation practices.
• Research methods and statistical techniques and applications.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Project management principles.
• Supervisory principles and performance evaluation practices; employee motivation techniques.
• Budgeting practices; grant administration practices; purchasing practices.
• Contract administration practices.
• Customer service principles.

Skills

• Operate computer hardware and use information systems and related word processing, database, spreadsheet, and graphics presentation software programs; operate a calculator.
• Operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to

• Plan, organize, and implement community programs, events, services, and activities, and identify and recommend program development needs and priorities given available resources.
• Develop program goals and evaluate attainment of objectives; establish policies and procedures to address administrative and public needs.
• Train and orient a variety of instructors, volunteers, and contract personnel regarding City recreation programs, community services, facility use, and procedures.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Select, train, supervise, coordinate, and evaluate the work of staff and volunteers.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete administrative and financial reports.
• Write service contracts and prepare grant applications and sponsorship applications to obtain financial funding.
• Work cooperatively with staff, management, Commission and advisory committee representatives, community groups, contractors, vendors, volunteers, and the general public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Make public presentations.
• Exercise judgment with general policy guidelines.
• Work independently.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience

• Seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional recreation experience, two (2) of which included the supervision of full‑time and part‑time professional and support staff;

Education and/or Training

• Graduation from a four‑year college or university with a Bachelor's degree in recreation, public or business administration, or a closely related field

License, Certificate and/or Other Requirements

• A valid Class C California driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the City's Vehicle Insurance Policy.

Desirable Experience and Training

• Experience in:
  • community event management
  • facility operations and rentals
  • multi‑generational recreation experience
  • hospitality/tourism
  • entertainment, arts or cultural programming
• Sources and trends in the field of special events management, hospitality and neighborhood services.

It is important that your application and supplemental questionnaire show all the relevant education, training, and experience you possess which qualifies you for this position. All applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed and the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the selection process. Be sure to be thorough in your responses. Statements such as “See application”, “Extensive Experience”, or “See Resume” are not an acceptable substitute for a completed application and supplemental questionnaire.

The selection process may consist of an application screening, written exam, computer skills exam and/or an oral interview. The successful candidate's employment history will be thoroughly evaluated prior to appointment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

There is currently one (1) vacancy within the Parks and Recreation Department.