Event Manager (Lansing) - (Expired Job)

The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA) is a well-established organization committed to serving the hospitality industry throughout Michigan. As a leading association in this sector, MRLA advocates for the interests of restaurants and lodging businesses by providing valuable resources, education, and networking opportunities to its members. With a focus on enhancing the hospitality experience and supporting industry growth, MRLA works collaboratively with its subsidiary and affiliated entities, including the Michigan Hospitality Foundation (MHF) and a Political Action Committee (PAC), to promote the health and development of the state's restaurant and lodging sectors.\n\nThe Events Manager role within MRLA holds a pivotal position as the primary logistics coordinator responsible for managing a wide range of events that support the association's mission and strategic goals. These events include fundraisers, educational workshops, board meetings, membership promotion events, conferences, webinars, and legislative activities. The role requires a dynamic and detail-oriented professional who will collaborate closely with multiple departments such as Government Affairs, Membership, Marketing, and Communications to ensure seamless event execution that aligns with organizational objectives.\n\nSpecifically, this position entails orchestrating event details for MRLA and its aligned entities, requiring strong organizational skills, effective communication, and the ability to juggle multiple priorities. The Events Manager is tasked with planning and executing varying types of events including annual PAC fundraising, statewide Women in Hospitality Leadership (WIHL) conferences, and regular board meetings. Additionally, the role involves coordinating sponsorships, budget management, contract negotiations, and post-event evaluations to maximize impact and meet fundraising targets.\n\nThis role also offers substantial interaction with chapters of the Women in Hospitality Leadership initiative, requiring the management of chapter events, communication facilitation, and membership tracking — all contributing toward empowering women in the hospitality industry. As part of the administrative responsibilities, the Events Manager maintains accurate data records and event documentation within MRLA’s database, ensuring efficient operational workflows.\n\nThe position requires physical involvement in event setup and execution, with duties including lifting and transporting event materials, negotiating room blocks and vendor contracts, and working flexibly across a hybrid work environment that combines office and remote workdays. Physical stamina and adaptability are essential, given the demands of event management in both indoor and outdoor venues, often involving early mornings, evenings, weekends, and extensive local or out-of-town travel.\n\nThis full-time role offers a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, life and disability coverage, retirement plan options with matching contributions, paid time off, holiday pay, and access to exclusive travel benefits. With strong preferences for candidates experienced in CRM software platforms and Microsoft Office Suite, the position provides an excellent career opportunity for an individual passionate about the hospitality industry and event coordination.