**HIRING INCENTIVE UP TO $5000**


Primary Job Duties

Under the direction of the Tourism & Communications Director, The Tourism and Special Events Manager is responsible for planning, developing, and executing Town special events, including festivals, regional events, and community events. The Special Events Division is part of our award-winning Tourism & Communications Department, known for producing internationally recognized events that bring the community together and attract visitors from across the region.

As the Tourism & Special Events Manager, you will lead a dynamic team in delivering a diverse range of events, from large-scale festivals like Little Elm Craft Brew & Que to serving as the liaison for high-profile third-party experiences such as Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience. This role oversees a Special Event Supervisor and three Event Ambassadors, ensuring that every event—from major festivals to intimate ribbon cuttings—is executed with excellence and creates memorable experiences for residents and visitors.

The Tourism & Special Events Manager will have an opportunity to work in a community that is one of the fastest growing and most exciting suburbs in the USA. The candidate must be highly motivated and strive for success by demonstrating Little Elm’s Core Values of Integrity, Customer Service, Efficiency, and Innovation.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Leads and supervises the Special Events Supervisor and Event Ambassadors, ensuring smooth operations and high-quality planning and execution of all events.
2. Oversee the planning, development, and execution of special events and programming, from large-scale festivals to community gatherings.
3. Manages all aspects of event logistics, including scheduling facilities, volunteers, vendors, resources, and funding to deliver successful community experiences.
4. Serves as the primary point of contact for customer, sponsor, and vendor inquiries, resolving concerns and ensuring a high level of service.
5. Engages with event attendees, vendors, and sponsors to enhance the quality of experiences and build strong partnerships.
6. Develops and manages the event budget, ensuring responsible financial planning and resource allocation.
7. Provides leadership, coaching, and performance management for assigned staff, fostering a team culture of innovation and excellence.
8. Collaborates with Marketing & Communications, Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and vendors to create strategic partnerships that enhance event success.
9. Represents the department in meetings, committees, and community discussions, providing insight into marketing opportunities and event development.
10. Works closely with the Marketing team to develop promotional materials, ensuring events are well-publicized and attract strong attendance.
11. Recruits, trains, schedules, and evaluate event staff, volunteers, and contractors to ensure events run efficiently.
12. Serves as a liaison to boards, community organizations, and volunteer groups to maximize engagement and participation in town events.
13. Develops and implements sponsorship programs, building relationships with businesses and organizations to secure event funding.
14. Creates compelling sponsorship proposals and agreements, ensuring mutually beneficial partnerships.
15.  Cultivates strong relationships with vendors, businesses, and agencies to enhance event offerings and operational efficiency.
16. Negotiates and oversees event contracts, permits, and licensing agreements, ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards.
17. Assists in the development and implementation of strategic goals for the department, continuously improving event offerings and community impact.
18. Maintains flexibility with a varied work schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to meet the demands of event operations.
19.  Manages the day-to-day operations of the Special Events Division, ensuring events align with community needs and organizational goals.
20. Leads promotional efforts for special events, programs, and activities, ensuring visibility and strong community engagement.
21. Travels as needed for event execution, meetings, and professional development, staying at the forefront of industry trends.
22.  Demonstrates expertise in event planning, development, and evaluation, applying best practices to enhance efficiency and impact.
23. Fosters a culture of Servant Leadership, ensuring a positive and collaborative work environment.
24. Operates in alignment with the Town’s core values of Integrity, Customer Service, Efficiency, and Innovation.
25.  Performs other related duties as assigned to support the success of the department and its initiatives.

EDUCATION/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality, Event Management, Recreation, Business or related field preferred or High school diploma or GED and 4 or more years related experience.

LICENSES OR CERTIFICATES

1. Must be bondable.
2. Valid Texas Drivers License

LANGUAGE SKILLS

1. Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently.
2. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies or authorities, or members of the local business community.

OTHER SKILLS, ABILITIES & REQUIREMENTS

1. Knowledge of event planning methods and strategies.
2. Knowledge of social media marketing and strategies.
3. Skilled in prioritizing, organizing, and managing multiple simultaneous projects.
4. Skilled in gathering and analyzing information and making recommendations based on findings and in support of organizational goals.
5. Skilled in adapting to rapidly changing environments.
6. Skilled in recognizing problems, identifying alternative solutions, and making appropriate recommendations.
7. Skilled in analyzing processes and making recommendations for improvement.
8. Skilled in maintaining sensitive and confidential information.
9. Skilled in gathering and analyzing complex information and making recommendations based on findings and in support of organizational goals.
10. Skilled in operating a computer and related software applications.
11. Ability to establish and meet deadlines.
12. Self-motivated.
13. Demonstrate a willingness to perform duties in a team environment.
14. Ability to maintain cooperative working relationships with the public, customers, staff and town administration.
15. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with staff, customers, and vendors.
16. Ability to supervise staff.

REASONING ABILITY

1. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished by management in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
2. Ability to comprehend complex policies, procedures, regulations, and organizational structures.
3. Ability to assist staff with administrative and program operational duties in the daily operation and management of the Department.
4. Ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple projects and assignments.
5. Ability to maintain and enforce Town of Little Elm policies and procedures.
6. Ability to work successfully with diverse constituents.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk; sit; use hands to operate various machines and/or equipment; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds and be able to push and pull up to seventy-five (75) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT              

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Works in an office and outside during programming and events.

E.O.E.  The Town of Little Elm does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or military service in employment or the provision of services.