A Day in the Life

You can’t spell planet without plant, which is why we’re on a mission here at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. With the support of our community, we’re harnessing the power of native plants to ensure biodiversity thrives for generations to come. But, creating a brighter future is going to take a lot of green thumbs (and other talents), which is why we’re looking to grow our team. As the Garden’s Events and Marketing Coordinator, you’ll help us manage our bustling events calendar heading into our Centennial Capital Campaign (officially kicking off January of 2025) as well as support everyday marketing requests to help our department run smoothly and best support other team’s needs across the Garden. So, are you ready to join the movement?

The right candidate thrives in the details and loves being complimented on their organizational skills. You’ll work in partnership with everyone on the marketing team, but most directly with the Events and Marketing Project Manager (who is a rock star) to coordinate membership and donor-based events that deliver unforgettable and inspiring experiences for our community. If you’re detail-oriented, extremely organized, proactive about meeting deadlines, and have strong verbal and written communication skills, we want to hear from you.

This is an on-site, non-exempt, full-time (40 hours per week), 2-year position with the potential to extend duration, dependent on funding. While rooted within the Marketing and Communications department, you’ll work proactively and collaboratively across all departments to support the Garden’s event and marketing goals. Offices are based in Santa Barbara (Mission Canyon) and candidate is expected to be onsite. While most events take place during the week, some weekends will be required.

What You’ll Do

Event Coordination

Support all aspects of Garden run events including with an emphasis on membership and donor cultivation events, including: planning, booking speakers, securing catering and rentals, and coordinating logistics.
Draft vendor and event contracts and ensure compliance and timely execution.
Create detailed event timelines and schedules.
Communicate cross-department regarding event details
Serve as onsite event representative, communicating with guests to ensure best-in-class experience
Serve as a secondary point of contact for vendors, contractors, and partners, ensuring clear communication and smooth event execution throughout.
Support expense reporting by tracking project expenses and submitting invoices and receipts, as needed

Marketing Support

Assist with general marketing tasks including but not limited to writing copy, taking photos, and posting website content
Facilitate event integration into larger marketing promotional calendar to ensure event success
Represent the department, when needed, to help facilitate questions from staff, volunteers, and guests

General

Support team with monthly, quarterly, and annual department reporting
Work collaboratively with marketing peers as needed to ensure the marketing team’s collective work achieves our standard of excellence.

You Must Be Able To

Manage multiple deadlines and proactively prioritize effectively
Communicate clearly and effectively, have exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, and an acute attention to detail and accuracy.
Proficiently use Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Planner, SharePoint, etc.), ClickUp, Canva, Adobe, and Ramp
Sit for up to 2.0 hours at a time and use a computer and phone for lengthy periods.
Occasionally walk and navigate uneven terrain (Garden trails) and/or carry boxes, usually under 25 lbs.

You Will Definitely Need

Minimum of one year of event service experience in catering, rentals, planning, hospitality or another related field.
Superb written and oral communication skills consistent with AP-style guidelines, including story/message development, copywriting, detailed editing, and excellent grammar. Comfortable with critique and the revision process.
Creativity, eye for design, and self-motivation
An aptitude for managing multiple, simultaneous projects and working with a team.
A passion for conservation and the Garden’s mission.
A commitment to excellence, teamwork, equity, and inclusion.

It Would Be Nice If You Had

Photography experience
Experience with WordPress management systems and HTML knowledge
Experience with marketing platforms including Sprout Social, Google Suite, MailChimp, WordPress.
Bilingual Spanish skills

Things You Should Know

The Garden is a beautiful place to work and, in this role, you will sometimes be outdoors. In addition to beautiful views, birds, and adorable chipmunks, outdoor work environments also include exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure.

Disclaimer

As an employee, you must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden jobs

Events and Marketing Associate

Events and Marketing Associate