Executive Director, Columbia Food & Wine Festival

The Executive Director of the Columbia Food & Wine Festival is a staff position under The Post and Courier, whose events arm is the host of the annual festival. The Executive Director shall participate in and oversee all planning and preparation, sponsorship sales, marketing and execution of the annual Columbia Food & Wine Festival programming. The Executive Director has authority of the festival budget and staffing; and will manage a team of contracted event planners and marketing partners who will assist in the preparation and execution of various components of the festival. This position should display a continued focus on P&L management and achieving budgeted revenue and net income targets for the events they oversee. While this position's focus will be Columbia Food & Wine Festival, it will also organize Free Times' annual Best of Columbia party in Columbia Food & Wine's off-season.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as director of Columbia Food & Wine Festival, managing team of contractors, vendors, and internal staff resources to ensure all CFWF events are planned, marketed and executed.
• Create and manage to annual budget for Columbia Food & Wine Festival; with budgets outlined for each key vertical of the festival and each unique event under the CFWF umbrella
• Serve in top leadership position on Columbia Food & Wine's planning team; managing all contractors and marketing partners, leading planning team meetings, and ensuring all members achieve deliverables by established deadlines
• Develop and/or approve scopes of work and contracts for all contractors and other CFWF partners
• Serve as lead representative for CFWF, participating in networking events, media interviews and appearances, and conferences
• Build and maintain close relationships with all CFWF partners and participants, including but not limited to sponsors, food and beverage talent, farms, media partners, hoteliers, volunteer groups, and more
• Secure sponsorships for Columbia Food & Wine Festival, both individually and in-partnership with Free Times' advertising sales team
• Serve as lead planner directly for select CFWF Signature Events
• Manage all government funding partnerships; including but not limited to submitting HTAX requests, providing HTAX reimbursement requests and reporting, and building strong partnerships with elected officials
• Create and manage to budgets for all CFWF events; displaying the ability to achieve revenue budgets and manage expenses to ensure profitability targets are achieved.
• Provide high level oversight of internal staff resources handling financial management for Columbia Food & Wine, ensuring sponsors and partners are invoiced, revenue is recognized, and all vendors, talent and other expenses are paid timely after the annual festival concludes
• Partner with advertising sales team and sales leadership to secure sponsorships for Columbia Food & Wine Festival
• Manage Free Times' ticket sales platform, creating CFWF event pages, monitoring ticket sales progress, and answering questions from event guests
• Ensure all Columbia Food & Wine files are organized and processes are adhered to; training contractors and internal staff resources on both as needed
• Conceptualize annual theme, create sponsorship opportunities, and handle all planning for Free Times' annual Best of Columbia party

• Be involved in local community; attending networking events and other opportunities to build local relationships and identify key partnerships.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements, minimum education level, and experience:

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, communications, hospitality management or a related field
• Proven record of success in securing sponsorships

• Minimum of three years marketing or event planning experience
• Experience in media, entertainment and/or hospitality industries preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to plan and execute multiple events throughout the year
• A working knowledge of the fundamentals and emerging trends of digital media sales, advertising and marketing solutions for local businesses
• Effective organization and time management skill
• Firm understanding of social media tools, capabilities, measurement and analytics
• Strong customer service and problem-solving skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Familiarity with use of CRM systems
• Self-starter with the ability to work both independently and within a collaborative team environment
• Excellent customer service, interpersonal, and presentation skills
• Cross-function and collaboration skills
• Creativity and ability to think outside of the box
• Attention to detail with the ability to prioritize and re-prioritize as needed in a fast-paced and somewhat stressful working environment

Physical Requirement, Work Environment and Travel:

Close eye work on computer, continuous sitting, constant walking, standing, light to moderate lifting 15-20 pounds.

The worker is frequently subject to inside environmental conditions, which provide protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

Frequent local travel and occasional state and national travel is required.