Manager, Special Events

ABOUT THE LUCAS MUSEUM OF NARRATIVE ART Opening in September 2026, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is dedicated to illustrated storytelling.  Founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, the museum’s collection features works by artists including Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judith F. Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish; as well as comic art legends such as Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R. Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange. The Museum also houses the Lucas Archives, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas’s filmmaking career.    Designed by Ma Yansong of MAD with a landscape by Mia Lehrer of Studio-MLA, the Museum is in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, on an 11-acre campus that includes new green space and a 300,000-square-foot building with galleries, two theaters, a library, restaurant, café, retail store, and community spaces.    

POSITION SUMMARY

The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is seeking an experienced Manager, Special Events to be a key member of the Special Events team. Reporting to the Director, Special Events, this role will oversee all aspects of their internal and external event portfolio including fundraising and cultivation events, exhibition openings, and space rentals among other events and special projects. Collaboration with internal colleagues in addition to external relationship management with clients, partners, and vendors will be integral to the role.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Independently lead assigned event portfolio, and provide support on larger events and projects
• Serve as an expert in the Museum’s event spaces and capabilities; always providing a high level of customer service and operational excellence across all event touchpoints
• Uphold standard for entertaining at the Lucas Museum aligned with our brand, mission, vision, and values
• Enforce rules and regulations in regard to hosting within museum spaces
• Assist in managing venue management system including departmental calendar and databases
• Serve as a liaison between internal resources including Facilities, Security, Visitor Services, A/V, and Communications
• Develop and distribute event memos to effectively communicate activity across the museum
• Build and maintain relationships with vendors, partners, and additional stakeholders
• Administrative duties in relation to event portfolio

External Events

• Support the team in evaluating and implementing a successful rental program strategy
• Assist in vetting and processing potential clients in collaboration with the Director, Event Sales
• Responsible for executing contracts, managing COIs, and tracking payment
• Collaborate with Membership and Development on event prerequisites
• Assist in full event cycle from including inquiries, walkthroughs, contracting, planning, and onsite production and management
• Drive solicitation efforts to meet and exceed revenue goals through sales and partnership strategies in collaboration with the Director, Event Sales

Internal Events

• Serve as a resource for all internal event needs
• Partner with museum departments to plan and produce internal events such as galas, cultivation dinners, exhibition openings, and other museum-wide initiatives
• Development of the look, taste, and feel of events; collaborating with the appropriate vendors to develop menu, design, lighting, entertainment, and other event elements
• Work within internal budget and identity ways to minimize costs and spend
• Work with internal stakeholders to assure their goals are achieved and in keeping with the standards of the Museum
• Administrative tasks and special projects related to event portfolio

Additional assignments and special projects as needed and designated by the Director of Special Events.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Analytical Rigor: Simplifies complex problems by using critical thinking to evaluate problems, gathering information, incorporating multiple perspectives, understanding causes, and identifying best-possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more effi