Events Manager, Los Angeles

David Kordansky Gallery seeks a highly motivated, extremely organized, and collaborative individual to join our team as Events Manager. The Events Manager is a critical, cross-departmental role at the gallery, responsible for the planning and execution of all Los Angeles gallery private events and offsite large-scale private events to advance the gallery's goals of presenting the work of its artists with passion, care, and precision and creating welcoming and engaging experiences that connect audiences to the artists' work. The Events Manager is an independent decision-maker in matters of event planning and execution, overseeing other gallery staff to execute events successfully, and is a position that must exercise discretion and judgment in decisions that benefit the organization. This position reports to the Director, Marketing and Communications. Due to the nature of this position, a flexible schedule will be required for events in the evening and on the weekends.

David Kordansky Gallery is one of the most dynamic venues for contemporary art in Los Angeles and in New York and is internationally regarded as a leading gallery of its generation. Established in 2003, the exhibition program is dedicated to presenting artists' work with passion and intellectual rigor, and to bringing the utmost care and precision to showcasing artistic visions. The Gallery is committed to presentations that blend scholarship and connoisseurship with equity and inclusion. We are an institution rooted in our hometown of Los Angeles, and in California, even as we embrace cultural activity as a fully global phenomenon.

Maintaining a culture of belonging is important to us—we strive for a workplace where every single team member feels valued, supported, and heard. We believe in the power of creativity and seek opportunities for connection, collaboration, and learning between cultures and communities. We are committed to championing policies and practices that promote diversity, foster cultural equity, and sustain an environment of inclusivity. The Gallery is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and abilities. The Gallery does not discriminate, and does not permit discrimination against its employees, interns, volunteers, or applicants. We recognize our strengths lie in the broad range of individuals who contribute their time and talents to our mission, and we pledge to create a safe, accessible, and inclusive place to work.

The Gallery's consistent growth, developed in tandem with its artists' ambitions, occurs through the unique participation and contribution of each employee. We look for colleagues who are the most driven, the most talented, and the most creative. Every member of the Gallery's team should aim for excellence and ingenuity, surpassing challenges and discovering new possibilities together. We value long-term commitment and loyalty, and in turn provide avenues for career advancement across all departments.

1. Produce, manage, and lead the planning and execution of all private events held at the Los Angeles gallery or offsite, including private artist dinners (such as post-opening dinners, art fair dinners, and client/VIP dinners, etc.), large-scale gallery events, and other events as necessary.
2. Create project timelines and event management documents to ensure planning and execution is on time and streamlined.
3. Supervise gallery staff as needed in the planning and execution of event-related tasks and day-of event execution.
4. Ensure cross-departmental communication and collaboration in the planning, scheduling, and execution of private events.
5. Supervise and manage event execution/load out, internal staff, and external vendors, acting as onsite event lead for all in-person events.
6. Develop and manage budgets and invoicing for all events, securing approvals from Directors and submitting accurate invoices for payment in a timely manner.
7. Secure and negotiate multiple bids for services, contractors, supplies, equipment, etc. to ensure costs are in budget.
8. Manage event invitation process from start to finish, including invitation design and printing, and overseeing gallery staff in the management of guest lists and RSVPs, seating charts, and name place cards, etc.
9. Monitor and ensure the safety of artwork and guests during all events held at the LA gallery and at offsite events.
10. Secure event insurance riders as needed.
11. Conduct post-event evaluations to provide key learnings and insights to continually improve the gallery's events and programs.
12. Secure permitting as needed for gallery events and stay up to date on all city, county, and state laws and regulations governing events, including permitting, sound ordinances, and parking.

Our ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented and creative with exceptional organizational skills; an excellent verbal and written communicator; and possesses the ability to work successfully in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. We seek candidates who are extremely self-motivated, responsible, and efficient, and who hold a sincere appreciation for and experience with navigating diverse cultural spaces. In addition:

1. Knowledge of and/or passion for contemporary art and culture required.
2. A successful record of demonstrable accomplishments in envisioning, implementing, and managing high-level special events and programs preferred.
3. At least three (3) years of experience in event management strongly preferred; at least five (5) years welcomed.
4. At least one (1) year of experience working at a contemporary art gallery and/or contemporary art museum preferred.
5. BA in a related field preferred, but consideration is given to candidates with related education and experience.
6. Ability to develop robust, effective, and clear event timelines with accompanying visual aids and documentation.
7. Proven fluency in budget preparation, management, reporting, and cost control.
8. Skills in a Mac-based environment preferred, including: Google Suite (Gmail, Calendar, Sheets) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
9. Skills in the Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator) welcomed.
10. Experience using project management software such as Asana or Basecamp preferred.
11. Experience using mail merge software such as Yet Another Mail Merge (YAMM) and event RSVP/check-in software such as Zkipster preferred.
12. Basic knowledge of databases such as Artlogic or similar preferred.
13. Fluency in multiple languages welcomed.
14. Reliable means of transportation to facilitate in-town travel for event tasks and onsite event supervision.
15. BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

This is a full-time salaried position that is based in LA.

The pay scale for this position is $65,000-$85,000. Salary offers are based on a range of factors including but not limited to experience, relevant skills, training, education and internal equity.

Benefits for full-time employees, following a waiting period, include:

• Premium PPO or HMO medical insurance (fully subsidized, at no cost to employee).
• Vision insurance (fully subsidized, at no cost to employee).
• Dental, long-term disability, and voluntary life insurance.
• Paid personal and vacation days (starting at 13 days annually, increased over time).
• Paid sick time (6 days annually).
• Paid holidays and floating holidays (10 days annually).
• Paid gallery closures.
• Paid family leave.
• Participation in a 401k retirement plan (with employer contribution).

This position is based in Los Angeles, CA.

Please submit the following via email with the subject line "DKG LA: Events Manager" to jobs@davidkordanskygallery.com:

1. One PDF containing:
2. a cover letter detailing your previous experience and how you would approach the position.
3. a resume.

In your application, please note all relevant skills requested in the qualifications above. BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Applicants with most, if not all, of the requested qualifications are invited to apply. Submissions including the above items will be prioritized. No phone or walk-in inquiries, please.