HIRING Director of Operations 2025 (PT Contract)

Director of Operations

Position: Part-Time Contract (with potential for full-time conversion)
Location: San Francisco, CA
Type: Hybrid (must be in office at least 1-2x a week)
Hours: 12-16 hours per week
Compensation: $40-50/hour (or rate commensurate with experience)
Contract Duration: March 31 – June 27, 2025 with potential to extend

About Make It Mariko

Make It Mariko is an award-winning creative events agency based in San Francisco, proudly led by women of color. We curate magical, meaningful experiences designed to inspire, uplift, and connect communities.

We are committed to curating creative, inclusive, and diverse spaces in the events industry to challenge the status quo and pave the way for a new generation of event experience curators. Our company was founded in 2015 by veteran Event Producer and former Google X Head of Marketing Events, Gina Mariko Rosales.

We do Experience Design, Planning & Production for:

Brand Activations & Launch Campaigns
Corporate & Community Conferences
Corporate Leadership Summits
Community Festivals (like UNDISCOVERED SF, our flagship event)
Special Events (Holiday Parties, Milestone Birthdays, etc)
Social Impact Events

Through our sister company, Weddings In Color, we also curate wedding experiences. Learn more about our company values and hear our origin store here: www.makeitmariko.com/about.

About the Role

Overview: We are seeking a strategic and highly organized Director of Operations to join our team on a part-time contract basis, with high potential to transition into a full-time role. This role is designed for a process-driven, strategic leader who can oversee business operations, sales funnel automations, and team support while preparing the company for expansion. This role will support both our agency – Make It Mariko – as well as our weddings company – Weddings In Color.

The ideal candidate will work closely with the CEO to reduce day-to-day operational tasks, automate processes, and implement scalable systems, ensuring long-term business success. This position is perfect for an experienced event operations leader who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and is eager to contribute to our company’s big goals that we’re working towards, like owning and operating our own Event Venue!

This role could easily grow into a General Manager position for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities:

Executive & Business Operations

Handle high-level billing, invoicing, and expense management
Manage the CEO’s inbox and calendar while implementing systems to reduce reliance on direct oversight.
Optimize workflows and business tools (i.e. ClickUp & Dubsado/FG Funnels) to enhance automation and productivity.

Team & Project Management

Maintain our internal Vendor Directory & Rate Sheets (~1-2 hours per month)
Assist with staffing, hiring, and onboarding efforts to build and maintain a strong, effective team.

Sales & Client Relations Management

Help transition our sales process from Dubsado into FG Funnels (white label of Go High Level; 90% likely this is our choice, but also open to hearing ideas on other platforms) and setup new sales funnels with the goal of booking 20 more weddings in 2025, and 5 more corporate clients
Setup our new CRM system by importing our contacts from Mailchimp and spreadsheets and tagging appropriately
Own and refine the sales pipeline—respond to leads, manage consultations (in partnership with CEO), oversee proposals, and track sales performance.
Develop and oversee client onboarding, ensuring smooth transitions for new projects and high touch customer service experience.

The Ideal Candidate:

Preference will be given to candidates who want to continue working with us past the 3 month contract.

At least 4 years professional experience working directly in Events, Sales Funnels, and/or Business Development. *Must have direct experience working with Events in the past.*
Efficient in learning new technology and comfortability with project management software (ClickUp), CRMs, and sales automation.
Strong business acumen with the ability to refine and scale internal systems.
Sales-savvy—can optimize the sales funnel and drive revenue.
Leadership mindset—can manage and mentor a growing team.
Demonstrated ability to deliver an exceptional experience for clients.
Strong problem solver who is resourceful and can find creative solutions to any challenge.
Strong communication skills – verbal, written and presentation – and can confidently pitch in both a 1:1 and group setting.
Someone who thrives in ambiguity and is highly attuned to people’s needs.
Past experience working with artists/arts orgs, social justice orgs, or nonprofits is a plus
Confident creative writing skills. We use the Oxford comma.
Understands culturally sensitive language and understands how to write/speak appropriately about POC & marginalized communities

Why you might be excited about Make it Mariko:

We are working on BIG, high impact projects and working towards running our own Venue/Ranch in the future.
You will be constantly surrounded by and introduced to amazingly talented and inspiring creatives and artists.
You will get invited to a lot of awesome industry parties, events, happy hours, and karaoke of course 🙂
We’re flexible. You’ll be able to work hybrid and have a flexible schedule.

Why you might NOT be excited about us:

We operate like a lean, mean startup. Everyone pitches in and helps as needed. No one is too good to clean up garbage or carry barricades, even our CEO.
The work moves fast and changes happen frequently in this industry. If you don’t manage change well, this is not the company for you.
We’re San Francisco based (and proud!) and we like working in person as we just moved into our new Studio.
We often deal with complex challenges and ambiguous goals. The pace changes often, clients often don’t know what they want, and they pay us to figure that out for them.

Additional Details & How to Apply

Timeline:

Applications accepted on a rolling basis until March 21, 2025.
Interviews will begin the week of March 24, 2025.
Work will begin on March 31, 2025.

Location: San Francisco, CA

We will co-work together at least 1-2x a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) from our new San Francisco studio, which is located at 447 Minna Street in SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. We are committed to building community in the cultural district with our events, and are looking for someone who feels equally excited about this work. All other work can be done remotely.

REady to apply?

apply here

Pro Tips

Save your work in another doc to ensure you don’t lose your work before submitting.
If you have issues with the form application, email us at hello@makeitmariko.com.
NO CALLS. Questions are encouraged during the interview process.
Please follow directions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
We can spot a Chat GPT cover letter within seconds. We will spend just as much time reviewing your application as you spend writing it. So please make sure to personalize.