Manager, Events

Events Manager

Location: Sacramento, CA
Department: Marketing & Programs
Reports to: Senior Director of Marketing & Programs
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Work Arrangement: Hybrid
Salary Range: $75,000-$95,000

Travel: 25%-35%

California Life Sciences (CLS) is seeking an experienced Events Manager to oversee the end-to-end planning and execution of a diverse, high-impact events portfolio that delivers meaningful value to our members and advances California’s life sciences ecosystem.

This role is execution-focused and highly visible, responsible for managing the logistics, coordination, and delivery of approximately 45 events annually ranging from large-scale signature programs to smaller, high-touch policy and member engagements. The Events Manager will work closely with the Senior Director of Marketing & Programs, who leads overall event strategy and sponsorship, while taking primary ownership of logistics, onsite execution, and cross-functional coordination.

This position requires exceptional organization, sound judgment, strong communication skills, and comfort working directly with senior executives, legislators, sponsors, and board members.

• Manage end-to-end logistics for a portfolio of ~15 signature events and ~30 smaller programs annually, including:
  • Policy and advocacy events (fly-in days, legislative briefings, elected official receptions, industry fundraisers, issue education events, various industry meet and greets)
  • Innovation and entrepreneurship programs (symposiums, pitch events, showcases, webinars)
  • Member engagement events (networking receptions, executive dinners, happy hours)
  • Awards receptions and galas
• Own detailed event planning, including AV proposals and coordination, food and beverage planning, timelines, run-of-show development, speaker coordination, staffing plans, registration flow, and onsite execution
• Lead day-of event operations, including registration and check-in, staff/volunteer coordination, speaker support, and real-time problem solving
• Events may require evening or occasional weekend availability depending on program needs.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for internal stakeholders including:
  • Policy & Advocacy
  • Membership and Business Development
  • Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Work directly with legislators, Members of Congress, legislative staff, sponsors, senior leadership, and board members
• Manage sponsor deliverables in coordination with the Senior Director, ensuring commitments are executed accurately and professionally
• Independently manage relationships with venues, vendors, and production partners

• Track event expenses and manage execution within approved budgets
• Flag budget risks, scope changes, or cost concerns early to the Senior Director
• Support contract coordination and reconciliation as needed
• Report on basic event performance metrics, including attendance, no-shows, budget vs. revenue, and attendee demographics/titles
• For legislator-facing events, manage gift reporting and compliance in coordination with legal counsel; experience with state reporting is highly desirable

• Collaborate closely with the marketing and communications team on event promotion and messaging
• Collaborate with policy and advocacy team on any communications/content development that is tied to an event involving policy making stakeholders in California and Washington, DC.
• Build and manage event registration pages (Eventbrite)
• Draft high-quality written materials, including invitations, run-of-show documents, speaker briefs, and sponsor instructions
• Manage attendee lists, check-in data, and post-event list reconciliation

• Utilize Eventbrite, Form Assembly (with Salesforce integration), and Asana to manage event workflows
• Follow established event processes and templates while proactively identifying opportunities for improvement
• Ensure accurate data tracking and reporting across all events

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent combination of education, training, and/or…