Event Manager

Description

About Us:

16 On Center Chicago owns and operates several live music venues, third-party production, restaurants, bars, and food halls across Chicago and New York. Join the team of one of the country's leading independent promoters.

Our most effective service to our community comes from a team with a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds, and experiences. 16 On Center actively seeks a diverse applicant pool and encourages candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Position Summary:

As the Event Manager at Olly Olly Market, you will be responsible for identifying, attracting, and securing event and catering bookings that drive revenue and achieve sales targets. This role seeks an optimistic, driven, and dedicated person who enjoys driving growth by identifying strategic opportunities and building relationships with potential clients, is skilled at multitasking, and committed to consistently meeting goals.

This role works collaboratively with the events and venue teams and must embody 16 On Center’s “hospit-totally” spirit and can-do attitude. The Event Manager is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies, establishing and nurturing client relationships, and ensuring a seamless planning process from inquiry through execution.

Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Sales and Revenue Generation
  • Proactively identify and qualify potential leads to build a robust sales pipeline
  • Develop and implement effective sales strategies to meet and exceed monthly, quarterly, and annual sales targets
  • Negotiate pricing, contracts and packages to secure event booking
  • Track and report on progress toward revenue goals, upsells, and repeat business
• Marketing and Promotion
  • Create and execute marketing strategies and promotional materials to attract prospective clients
  • Present and implement annual marketing plans to grow top-line revenue
  • Leverage digital marketing, social media, and advertising to raise awareness and generate leads
  • Represent the portfolio of venues at industry events, trade shows, and networking opportunities
• Client Relationship Management
  • Build and maintain long-term client relationships, serving as a trusted partner throughout the planning process
  • Deliver excellent customer service and proactive communication from inquiry to post-event follow-up
  • Work cross-functionally with culinary, beverage, operations, and marketing teams to ensure seamless event delivery
• Event & Catering Operations
  • Lead client site visits and serve as primary point of contact for on-site needs during event execution and for catering orders
  • Collaborate with internal teams to align logistics, staffing, and client expectations
  • Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by event schedule
• Financial Management
  • Prepare event budgets and design proposal for clients
  • Monitor costs, margins, and profitability to achieve financial goals
• Market Research
  • Stay current with industry trends, competitors and emerging marketing opportunities
  • Use market insights to tailor offerings and remain competitive
• Reporting
  • Generate regular reports on sales performance, revenue collected and client feedback
  • Present data-driven recommendations to Leadership

Requirements

About You:

• 4-6 years of experience in sales, business development, or event planning
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, hospitality, or related field preferred
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Strong knowledge of event industry trends, pricing strategies, and best practices
• Proficiency with Tripleseat, Creative Suite, Canva, Microsoft Office, and Social Tables
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Creative thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Flexibility and adaptability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Ability to stand and move for extended periods during events, and to perform the essential functions of the role with or without reasonable accommodation