Job Description:
Job Summary
The Associate Director of Talent & Programming oversees talent sourcing, logistics management, and programming development for large-scale culinary and wine events. This role is responsible for curating high-quality programming while ensuring seamless execution of cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, and talent-driven experiences.
Working closely with editorial, event, public relations, and cross-functional teams, this position shapes event schedules, manages talent relationships from outreach through on-site execution, and leads a small team to deliver exceptional programming.
This is a hybrid role with in-office and remote flexibility.
Key Responsibilities
Talent Sourcing
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Lead talent sourcing efforts across chefs, winemakers, beverage professionals, and culinary personalities
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Identify, prioritize, and secure high-profile talent aligned with programming goals
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Maintain strong relationships with talent, agents, publicists, and industry partners
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Support editorial-driven talent initiatives and outreach efforts
Programming Development & Curation
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Collaborate with editorial teams to develop and curate event programming schedules
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Assess programming needs, event flow, and capacity requirements
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Ensure programming is diverse, innovative, and aligned with brand standards
Talent & Programming Logistics
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Oversee production and execution of seminars and demonstrations
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Manage talent logistics including scheduling, travel coordination, and on-site support
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Partner with production and operations teams to ensure seamless event execution
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Serve as primary point of contact for talent during planning and on-site activities
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Ensure exceptional hospitality and talent preparedness
Team Leadership & Collaboration
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Manage and mentor direct reports, providing guidance and development opportunities
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Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Editorial, PR, Operations, Production, Sponsorship, and Marketing
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Oversee talent-related budgets including forecasting, expense tracking, and reconciliation
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Support sponsorship execution as needed
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Ensure clear communication across teams to facilitate smooth execution
Qualifications
Education:
Bachelors degree preferred in marketing, communications, or a related field; equivalent experience considered
Experience:
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7+ years of experience in talent management, event programming, editorial programming, or live event production
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Experience working with high-profile or celebrity talent preferred
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Prior people management experience required
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
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Strong understanding of culinary, wine, and beverage industries, including emerging trends
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Proven ability to manage complex logistics and multiple stakeholders
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Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
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Strong interpersonal and communication skills
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Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure live event environments
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Flexibility to work non-traditional hours during peak planning and event execution periods