Event Production Manager

Off the Grid is a dynamic placemaking platform dedicated to connecting communities through unique in-person experiences. Operating extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area, Off the Grid is known for activating local businesses and spaces by hosting public markets, corporate catering events, and large bespoke conferences. With dozens of events hosted weekly, the organization brings together hundreds of local food creators and more than 100,000 guests, fostering a vibrant community atmosphere. Off the Grid’s mission centers on transforming spaces into vibrant hubs of connection, ensuring that every event is not just an occasion but an immersive experience that showcases local talent and cultivates community spirit. The company operates with a strong commitment to hospitality, inspired by the philosophy that hospitality should feel personal and thoughtful, making every attendee feel uniquely valued.

The Event Production Manager at Off the Grid is a pivotal leadership role within the Event Operations Department, reporting directly to the Head of Operations. This full-time, exempt salaried position offers a competitive annual salary ranging from $105,000 to $115,000. The Event Production Manager is the creative and operational architect behind the Off the Grid experience, tasked with transforming clients’ visions and Off the Grid’s own innovative ideas into meticulously curated and executable plans. This role involves developing systems and processes that enable excellence and consistency across all markets, public events, and catering services, ensuring that quality remains high and the experience is seamless every time.

Key responsibilities include designing the event experience, selecting and managing vendors and partners, setting brand and specification standards, and producing detailed event-ready plans that guide on-site execution. Working closely with the Onsite Event Manager, who owns the field execution, the Event Production Manager ensures that every event plan is precise, comprehensive, and executable. The partnership between these roles is defined by a clear handoff of the event-ready plan, with ongoing accountability for the plan’s accuracy and effectiveness.

The ideal candidate for this role is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in event production, catering operations, or hospitality management. They possess a strong ability to curate experiences thoughtfully and translate visionary ideas into fully fleshed-out plans. Superior organizational skills, leadership experience, and a knack for building and refining scalable processes are essential. The Event Production Manager also champions vendor and venue relationships, fostering strong partnerships vital to the success of each event.

In addition to managing the production cycle—from sales handoff through event-ready stage—the Event Production Manager leads a team of Catering Event Producers, providing mentorship, performance feedback, and training to elevate the team’s capabilities. They are responsible for sourcing and onboarding vendors, developing and maintaining operational standards, and continuously improving the planning and production processes. This role demands excellent communication skills, systems thinking, and proficiency with digital tools such as Google Suite and CRM or event management platforms.

Off the Grid honors diversity and inclusion, welcoming candidates from all backgrounds and actively seeking to build a team that reflects the rich communities they serve. The role occasionally requires onsite presence, with physical demands including standing, walking, and moving equipment up to 25 pounds, and the ability to work outdoors in variable weather conditions. The schedule primarily involves weekday planning hours, with some nights and weekends to support event operations across the Bay Area. This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced event production professional to join a vibrant, mission-driven organization where their expertise will directly impact community engagement and event excellence.