Company description

About us: 

18 Reasons is a nonprofit that increases food security through the power of home cooking. Our mission is to empower our community with confidence and creativity to buy, cook, and eat good food every day. Our vision is to create equity and belonging through the transformative and healing power of home cooking.

We offer multiple food education programs. At our 18th Street Kitchen in San Francisco, we host paid cooking classes with chefs from around the world, and ticket sales help support our free programming for low-income families. Through our Community Programs, we offer three, multi-week cooking and nutrition education programs for youth, families, adults, and birthing parents: Cooking Matters, Food As Medicine (FAM), and Nourishing Pregnancy. Each year, we teach thousands of families to buy, cook, and eat good food on a limited budget. You can read more about our approach to discussing food in the community here.

About you:

This role is an opportunity for an experienced professional to take your skills to the next level while supporting a dynamic community institution entering our 17th year of growth. The Special Events Manager will be pivotal in planning and executing exceptional events that showcase and amplify 18 Reasons’ mission. Your role involves managing and producing key fundraising events, managing our Membership Program, facilitating and overseeing private parties, and contributing to the growth of our organization and community.

We seek a detail-oriented professional with excellent organizational skills, creative vision, and a deep passion for food, learning, community, and equity. A career at 18 Reasons offers the chance to develop new skills while making a meaningful impact in the community. We take special care to create a team of positive, flexible, and driven individuals who share a commitment to caring for others.

The person in this role is responsible for designing and executing impactful events, including our annual spring fundraising gala, donor cultivation gatherings, private parties, auction dinners, a fall fundraising dinner, and other community-facing programs that support the growth of 18 Reasons’ programs and Membership. You will champion our core values of Food, Heart, Learning, Liberation, and Moxie. Reporting to the Director of Development & Communications, this position is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional to help build the capacity and influence of the Development & Communications Department.

Responsibilities 

As our Special Events Manager, you do not need to be an expert in all areas before you start, but you must be highly organized, motivated, curious, and eager to learn. You are meant for this role if you are a lifelong learner driven by a passion for planning, creating memorable experiences, and bringing stories to life through exceptional events.

Ultimately, we are looking for someone with a talent for event planning, a love of building relationships, and a wholehearted enthusiasm for growing with our organization.

Fundraising and Special Events:

Spearhead the planning and execution of our spring gala, Master Chefs at Home, and fall fundraiser, Teach a Community to Fish, with a focus on expanding reach, increasing engagement, and growing the impact of these events.
Provide exceptional management and personalized service to attendees, sponsors, and table hosts, ensuring a memorable and impactful experience.
Serve as the primary liaison for venues and vendors, ensuring seamless communication, coordination, and execution.
Collaborate with the Development & Communications team to create captivating event themes and compelling collateral that reflect our brand and vision.
Conceptualize and execute engaging cocktail parties, setting the tone for vibrant and unforgettable gatherings.
Manage the run of show and stage program, ensuring smooth transitions and a cohesive flow throughout each event.
Plan and execute other special events as needed, including private auction dinners and donor cultivation gatherings.
Manage 18 Reasons Staff Party Planning Committee (PPC), which plans in-person All Staff Days throughout the year, Holiday Party in December, and All Staff Retreat. 

Membership:

Lead efforts to grow and retain 18 Reasons Membership program, ensuring members feel valued and engaged.
Develop and execute strategies for Membership stewardship, including exclusive events, special perks, and personalized outreach.
Work closely with the DevComms team to create compelling messaging and promotional campaigns that drive Membership growth.
Plan and coordinate Membership-related events and experiences to strengthen connections between members and 18 Reasons.
Track Membership data, analyze trends, and provide insights to enhance engagement and retention.
Serve as the primary point of contact for Membership inquiries, providing excellent customer service and fostering strong relationships with members.

Private Parties and Public Events (Teaching Kitchen):

Plan and Manage Private Parties:
Define Private Party logistics, including pricing, staffing structure, and terms of contracts and invoices, in close collaboration with the 18th St. Kitchen Program Director. 
Serve as the primary point of contact with the renter from the event request through the end of the event.
Hire, train, and manage event assistants to support private events
 

Job description

Collaborate with chef instructors to plan menus
Track event budgets and disburse tips to staff

Facilitate Private Parties:
Order and shop for ingredients
Provide hospitality and great service to all guests, teachers, and event assistants
Practice safe food handling habits. Coach assistants, instructors, and guests who need assistance with safe food handling.
Clean, sanitize, and maintain equipment, serveware, and cooking and dining areas
Clean, prep, and serve food as directed by the chef instructor
Serve wine and beer to guests over 21 years of age. 
Secure the facility (we share the facility with other businesses that keep different hours).
Facilitate public events at the Teaching Kitchen(s) about 4x a month, pending the schedule of Private Parties and fundraising events. (Public events will be planned by the Program Director.) The frequency of public event facilitation may shift depending on private event demand and the fundraising event calendar. Facilitation of public events is very similar to Private Parties, though you will be managing volunteer assistants.
Manage a variable schedule that will fluctuate depending on the event season, with increased evening and weekend work required during peak event times.
Answer emails and calls in the Info@18reasons.org inbox on a 1x/week basis, providing customer service to guests attending the Teaching Kitchen(s) or seeking other services at 18 Reasons.

Additional Notes:

Tasks and responsibilities can vary depending on other help needed in the organization and program growth over time. 

Qualifications:

2+ years experience in hospitality and customer service 
2+ years of experience with project management
Skilled in managing multiple logistics and projects
Strong written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to engage effectively with diverse individuals in guest management and relationship-building.
Experience with planning parties and events
Experience using Google Workplace 
Ability to quickly learn new technology and software programs, as needed. 
Must have a reliable internet connection to complete the email-based event preparation tasks. 
Within the first month of employment, must have a valid California Food Manager Certification and pass the Responsible Beverage Service exam with the California ABC.
Candidates must be located in or willing to relocate to the Bay Area to work in-person (San Francisco or the East Bay) an average of two days a week and remotely three days a week (schedule and locations vary by season and events)
Ability to commute to two Teaching Kitchens: 18th Street Kitchen in San Francisco and our pending Teaching Kitchen in the East Bay.
Must be available for weekend and weeknight work as required by events. Peak event seasons will require more frequent evening and weekend hours, while other times of the year may allow for more flexibility. The schedule offers flexibility, including the option for flex time to support a balanced work-life approach, particularly during non-peak event periods.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires being on your feet 30% of the time, driving 10% of the time, and working in a virtual office setting 60% of the time. While in the field, long periods of standing on hard surfaces, frequent lifting, moving, or carrying supplies up to 50 pounds, including use of stairs, are required. In a food service environment, sturdy closed toed shoes are required for safety. General office duties include: computer work, phone communication, and printing. The ability to travel to 18 Reasons on-site meetings and educational workshops throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding counties, as needed, is required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable any qualified person to perform the essential job duties. 

18 Reasons is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our employees, program participants, and community. As a condition of employment, all staff are required to have a minimum of one full COVID-19 vaccine series, unless a valid medical or religious exemption is approved. Proof of vaccination or an approved exemption must be provided prior to the start date.

Classification & Compensation:

This is a full-time, salaried position. 18 Reasons has an equitable and transparent compensation policy; we do not negotiate salaries. To read more about our compensation philosophy, click here. The salary will be set by the number of years of experience the candidate has in a similar position (Manager level or above):

Tier 1 (0-2 years experience) $83,000
Tier 2 (3-5 years experience) $87,000
Tier 3 (6+ years experience)  $91,000
 

Benefits include 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental insurance, IRA matching up to 3%, 12 holidays, 4 weeks PTO, two weeks of paid office closures (December and July), and a 25% discount at Bi-Rite Market.

Supervision:

You will report to the Director of Development & Communications

Compensation

this position is: salaried, 75k-100k

Application instructions

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Deadline

June 06, 2025