Event Project Managers & Event Planners
Part Time Contract
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 specialize in crafting 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 Gina Mariko Rosales and we have a wide network of creative partners, vendors, and clients that we work with throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
We do Experience Design, Planning & Production for:
- Curated Experiences
- Brand Activations
- Launch Campaigns
- Corporate & Community Conferences
- Corporate Leadership Summits
- Community Food & Music Festivals (like UNDISCOVERED SF & POC Food & Wine Festival)
- 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
Make It Mariko Project Managers will work closely with our Team, Vendors, and Clients to curate various events, activations, and projects. We are looking for seasoned events professionals who have a proven track record of direct Client & Project Management experience, strong vendor relationships already built, and can get to work quickly with minimal direction. The Project Manager will do a range of event planning work focused on managing Client meetings, complex timelines and deadlines, vendor & venue management, writing event comms, event design, budgeting, and more.
This is a great opportunity for a talented freelancer or consultant who wants to work on strategic events and get involved with multiple high impact community projects in the Bay Area creative community. You will be working directly with our clients representing Make It Mariko and also with our amazing vendor community of diverse producers, stage managers, photographers, videographers, graphic designers, DJs, artists, and more.
In 2025 we’re working on BIG projects, like moving into our new studio at 447 Minna, launching our first Wedding Show, and year two of POC Food & Wine Festival.
Women of color and people from historically marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.
What You’ll Be Doing:
Duties include but are not limited to:
Project Management & Event Planning
- Project manage various client events to ensure we’re staying on track for deadlines and deliverables. Communicate directly with our clients, schedule meetings, and follow up with updates and action items.
- Project Management using Clickup
- Venue Sourcing & Management
- Vendor Management & Coordination (reviewing contracts, negotiating budgets, scope of work coordination)
- Catering & Bar
- A/V, Lighting, Stage
- Rentals & Decor
- Entertainment, Activities, and more
- Accounting & budgeting for events and receipt organization
- Day of Timeline & Run of Show creation
- Manage Event Design & Layouts for ideal attendee experience and company brand alignment
- Creative Direction in partnership with our in-house Graphic Designers to create custom branded assets, event signage, swag, and marketing materials
- Venue Layout Management
- Write basic copy for events and guest communications as needed
- Logistics Coordination (Registration, Travel, Sponsors as needed per each event)
- Manage Day-of Coordination including vendor load in/out
- General research, planning, and outreach for events, venues, vendors, or key stakeholders as needed
General Expectations
- Attend regular team meetings and check ins as needed per project
- Use Clickup to track weekly tasks and hours
- Keep event materials (spreadsheets & decks) updated regularly
- Collaborate across the team to improve team processes, efficiency, and overall happiness
- Build strong relationships with industry professionals, influencers, performers, and community members
- Respond to messages within 24-48 hours and escalate as needed
- Professionally represent Make It Mariko at all events
Apps used: Google GSuite (Gmail, Meet, Drive, Calendar, Slides, Sheets, Docs, Chat/Spaces), Clickup, AllSeated, 1Password, Zoom
What We’re Looking For:
- At least 3-4 years professional experience working directly in Project Management, Events, Marketing, and/or Business Development.
- Must have experience working directly with Clients in the past, and can lead with a mix of command, authority, and empathy.
- Must be extremely proactive to push timelines forward to meet complex deadlines.
- Must work independently and proactively; managing UP to our busy CEO so that nothing gets missed
- Hyper organized and has a passion for nerding out on organization.
- Someone who thrives in ambiguity and is highly attuned to people’s needs.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver an exceptional experience for clients.
- Strong problem solver who is resourceful and can find creative solutions to any challenge.
- Great interpersonal skills – you enjoy interacting with people and building new relationships.
- Has growth mindset and is open to learning new methods/skills in order to scale
- Strong communication skills – verbal, written and presentation – and can confidently pitch in both a 1:1 and group setting.
- Working knowledge of all the apps listed above are a plus. Training will be provided to learn HOW we specifically use each app as a company, but we expect that team members are tech savvy and can learn new apps independently. Please list out in your application each app that you have experience working with.
- Past experience working with artists/arts orgs, social justice orgs, or nonprofits is a plus
- Confident creative writing skills. Must use the Oxford comma.
- Understands culturally sensitive language and understands how to write/speak appropriately about POC & marginalized communities
- Ability to work remotely and come into San Francisco for events & team meetings.
Requirements
- Must have access to own laptop and WIFI for remote work
- Must be proficient with Google GSuite (Drive, Docs, Sheets, & Slides)
- Must have access to a car.
Why you might be excited about Make it Mariko:
- We are working on BIG, high impact projects this year including launching our new Studio Mariko + Year two of our POC Food & Wine Festival.
- 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 🙂 These events are the best way to build your network in this industry.
- You’ll be able to work remotely for the most part and set your own schedule as a contractor.
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. If you don’t manage change well, this is not the company for you.
- We have very high design standards. There will most likely be a lot of redlines and edits at first. It’s not personal.
- We like working in person when we can, and we’re San Francisco based (and proud!). Most industry parties and community events happen in SF as well.
- 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
Hours
- Part Time / Contract
- Hours will vary depending on the project and client, but typically each project ranges between 2-4 months of planning, ending with an in person event/activation.
Compensation
- Generally we pay $30-40/hour for Event Project Managers, but it all depends on the specific project and scope of work. Please list your preferred hourly rate when you apply.
- This is a 1099 position.
Location
MUST BE SF BAY AREA BASED.
This will be mostly remote work, but we ask contractors to come in to co-work with us at least once a week (sometimes 2x) at our new studio at 447 Minna Street in SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. The MIM team generally comes in on Tuesdays & Thursdays.
TO APPLY:
Please email jobs@makeitmariko.com with the subject line “Your Name / Event Project Manager”, and include the following:
- A Cover Letter describing your interest, experience, and background. Please make sure to address the following:
- Why you want to join the Make It Mariko team
- Your relevant experience for this role based on this job description
- Your preferred hourly rate / range
- What is the biggest event you’ve ever worked on? Largest budget you’ve independently managed?
- Your availability:
- How many hours a week are you able to work?
- How many events are you interested in taking on at once?
- When can you start?
- What apps you’re already familiar with from those listed above
- Resume (PDFs only)
- Link to your Portfolio of past events/projects you’ve managed
- Attach or provide a link to a relevant past writing sample & event lookbook that accurately reflects your writing and/or design style. Suggested examples are a sample blog, social media posts, marketing copy. DO NOT send formal academic papers.