Event Manager - Senior

Washington, DC, USA|Remote, Travel, Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Hourly

Range $45.00 - $70.00

Work Schedule

Flexible

Day Shifts

Benefits

401(k) matching

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Flexible spending account

Employee assistance program

employee discount

Paid Time Off

Professional development assistance

Retirement Plan

Parental leave

Job Description

Blackberg Group is a distinguished Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) that specializes in delivering integrated strategy, communications, operations, digital services, and organizational effectiveness to federal agencies. The company is committed to combining strategic prowess with creative ingenuity to redefine the future of public service. Blackberg Group excels at transforming challenges into opportunities and infuses bold creativity and fresh perspectives into every project, making it a leader in its industry. The firm prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where innovation thrives and collaboration is encouraged, aligning with its commitment to equal opportunity employment. Blackberg Group supports a range of federal and commercial clients, consistently delivering impactful and high-quality outcomes through expert management and strategic direction.

The Senior Event Manager at Blackberg Group plays a vital role in overseeing the end-to-end planning and execution of high-profile events, including federal agency public outreach, scientific convenings, business development activations, conferences, and large-scale expos. This role demands an experienced professional capable of managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs that require strategic event planning, vendor relationship management, client communications, and on-site execution. Starting as a 1099 independent contractor, this position offers a competitive hourly rate between $45.00 and $70.00, with the potential to convert to a full-time employee within six months based on performance and program needs.

The Senior Event Manager will serve as a strategic lead across the firm's extensive events portfolio, ensuring seamless coordination of all event aspects, including logistics, engagement strategies, budgeting, and reporting. With a primarily remote work environment and a strong preference for candidates located in the Washington, D.C. Metro Area, the role also requires periodic domestic travel to support onsite events. Established event management systems such as Eventbrite, Cvent, and platforms like Asana and Monday will be utilized to track registrations, manage communications, and streamline project workflows.

This opportunity is well-suited for a leader highly skilled in vendor negotiations, event budget management, and coordinating with various stakeholders including venues, security teams, and shipping providers. The role also includes responsibilities that extend to business development, wherein the Senior Event Manager will contribute to proposal preparations and represent the firm at industry events. Candidates are expected to have a minimum of seven years of professional event management experience, with a demonstrated history of supporting federal government and commercial clients.

Job Requirements

Minimum seven years of professional experience managing events, conferences, or large-scale outreach initiatives
Demonstrated experience supporting federal government clients or contracts
Demonstrated experience supporting commercial clients
Proven track record managing complex, high-profile events with multiple stakeholders and competing deadlines
Experience leading vendor negotiations and managing event budgets
Experience coordinating with venues, vendors, shipping providers, and security teams
Ability to work independently with strong organizational, problem-solving, and customer service skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and event or project management tools
Willingness and ability to travel periodically to support onsite events
Bachelor's degree preferred

Job Qualifications

Minimum seven years of professional experience managing events, conferences, or large-scale outreach initiatives
Demonstrated experience supporting federal government clients or contracts
Proven experience supporting commercial clients including corporate, association, or non-profit sectors
Proven track record managing complex, high-profile events with multiple stakeholders and competing deadlines
Experience leading vendor negotiations and managing event budgets
Experience coordinating with venues, vendors, shipping providers, and security teams
Ability to work independently with strong organizational, problem-solving, and customer service skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and event or project management tools such as Asana, Monday, or Smartsheet
Willingness and ability to travel periodically to support onsite events
Bachelor's degree in event management, communications, public affairs, marketing, or a related field is preferred
Experience supporting federal agencies or executive-level government offices is preferred
Experience working with National Park Service or events on the National Mall is preferred
Located in the DC Metro Area is preferred but not required

Job Duties

Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings, conferences, outreach events, and large-scale expos for federal and commercial clients
Serve as a primary point of contact for client stakeholders, providing strategic counsel on event format, audience engagement, and activation strategy
Develop and own detailed event timelines, budgets, Run of Show documents, and post-event reports
Direct exhibit and booth design, build-out, inventory, shipping, storage, setup, and teardown
Manage invitations, RSVP tracking, and registration platforms (Eventbrite, Cvent, or similar)
Oversee speaker logistics, including collecting bios and headshots, preparing briefing materials, and supporting speaker dry runs
Lead on-site event operations, including setup, breakdown, and real-time issue resolution with minimal client involvement
Adapt event logistics and engagement strategies for virtual platforms and hybrid environments
Develop and distribute post-event surveys, reports, and metrics for client deliverables
Support firm business development activities, including contributing to proposals for events-related work and representing the firm at industry events