Open Book Job Description

Events Program Manager

Position Title: Events Program Manager
Organization Name: Open Book
City: Minneapolis, MN
Type: Full Time, Exempt
Reports to: Open Book Executive Director
Salary and Benefits: $60,000 – 66,000; select holidays, paid vacation, HRA, PFML
Deadline to apply: Priority to applications received by August 6, 2026.

Early submission highly encouraged.

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ABOUT OPEN BOOK

Open Book is a community gathering place dedicated to diverse and dynamic creativity, conversation, and collaboration rooted in the literary and book arts. Founded in 2000, Open Book is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which owns and operates the building at 1011 Washington Avenue South in Downtown East, Minneapolis. This building is home to three Founding Partner nonprofit organizations: Minnesota Center for Book Arts, The Loft Literary Center, and Milkweed Editions. Open Book is also home to FRGMNT Coffee, other nonprofit and for-profit tenants, and has several conference rooms and a public performance space available for rent.

Open Book provides a vibrant gathering space for an increasingly diverse array of individuals, groups, non-profit organizations and businesses from around the Twin Cities metro region and beyond. Open Book currently schedules more than 350 rental events annually in our spaces, and welcomes more than 14,000 visitors/month. We provide discounted rates for non-profit & educational groups, and also host business & social gatherings of many kinds.  

JOB SUMMARY

The Events Program Manager is a part of the three person Open Book leadership team, working closely with Open Book’s Executive Director and Guest Services Supervisor. This position ensures the success of rentals, community gatherings, and events at Open Book. They serve as the lead contact for meeting and event renters and Open Book tenants when using Open Book’s meeting rooms and Performance Hall. This role also manages events which support the expansion of Open Book’s presence in the community, as well as offering administrative support to the Executive Director for fundraising and development projects.

The Events Program Manager also provides contract services to The Loft Literary Center. The Loft is dedicated to advancing the power of writers and readers to craft and share stories, create and celebrate connection, and to build just, life sustaining communities. The Events Program Manager works closely with Loft team members and partners to execute the logistics of Loft events, meetings, and convenings. Loft related programs include events such as: mentor series author appearances, Poet Laureate, education and awards readings, youth in-person/onsite programming, and other events. Loft internal meetings include in-person board and staff meetings and donor events. In addition, the Loft regularly partners with other literary and community organizations to produce collaborative programs and events.    

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Open Book: Meeting and Event Rentals (60%) 

Summary: Manage & develop all aspects of Open Book’s thriving Meeting & Event Space Program with an adherence to balancing earned revenue goals and room rental needs of Founding Partners and tenants. 

• Manage booking, contracting and invoicing for meeting room & event rentals, utilizing HoneyBook project booking software.

• Provide support for successful event rental and execution, including room set ups, catering support, tech, house management, and security resources as needed.

• Manage promotion of Open Book events & select rental events through social media channels.

• Implement Open Book’s internal and external space use policies and work with the Executive Director to adapt and refine current systems to receive, book, and invoice rental requests.

• Coordinate and keep up-to-date Open Book’s shared rental calendar.

• Coordinate with Building Ambassadors the setup and break-down for rentals and events, including relevant technical & A/V equipment setup and troubleshooting.

Community Connections and Development (10%)

• Develop, schedule, program and manage community-focused events for Open Book, such as Doors Open Minneapolis and occasional vendor fairs.

• Work with the Executive Director to develop new events designed to meet community needs and raise Open Book’s profile in the community. 

• Provide administrative support to the Executive Director for Development activities, including donor data-entry and donor acknowledgements.

Operations and Administrative Support, Other (5%)

• Serve as a secondary point of contact for building emergencies and security calls, which may occur outside of regular business hours.

• Assist Executive Director with other tasks and duties as assigned

Loft: Events Coordination (25%)

General Event Activities

• Planning: Work with Loft team members and partners to envision and determine the production needs for events including determining space needs and availability, A/V and tech needs, catering, bookselling, and coordination of other vendors, as needed 

• Outreach: Staff occasional large tabling events off-site

• Administration: Work with the Loft’s Admin Coordinator to keep events up-to-date on the Loft’s annual program calendar; collect and share information for participating artists; and to optimize the scheduling of building and community use of Loft spaces, as appropriate .

• Coordination:  Support the Loft’s Event Lead as needed for events operations; coordinating vendors, exhibitors, and volunteers; providing direction to readers and presenters; serving as lead on the A/V, sound, lights, and technology and tech run throughs 

• Participate in Loft program team meetings and one-on-one check-ins to provide updates and reports on Loft-related events and to recommend improvements to event programs and processes 

We are seeking candidates who have a combination of the following experience, skills and traits: 

• A passion for the mission and values of Open Book

• Commitment to an equitable, inclusive and respectful work environment 

• Minimum five years experience in customer-service roles, including a minimum two years in booking, staffing, producing or supporting meeting and event rentals, or similar relevant experience

• Customer service orientation — the ability to remain personable and diplomatic in all engagements with work teammates, room renters, visitors, and building tenants

• Experience with promotion and sales of events and short term rentals

• Ability to build rapport quickly and work collaboratively with multiple stakeholders and to communicate in a professional and responsive manner

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills

• Experience managing complex schedules, with an ability to anticipate potential conflicts and allocate resources 

• Highly organized, with ability to complete tasks thoroughly with a high degree of self-motivation, reliability, and attention to detail. 

• Advanced capacity for problem solving, including ability to solve complex customer service needs and issues in a proactive and positive manner

• Strong technical abilities: ability to learn multiple software platforms, including online booking software. Experience with the following software a plus: Google Workspace, HoneyBook, Peerspace, online meeting platforms incl: Zoom, Teams, Google Meet

• Experience with A/V and event-related equipment, including computer projection, wired/wireless microphones, and small lighting system

• Familiarity with live-streaming, professional PTZ cameras and/or NDI a plus

The ideal candidate will also have: 

• A sense of ease and humor

• A positive, curious and forward-looking approach

• A strong interest in literature and the arts

• Experience working with volunteers

Working Conditions & Schedule:  

• Flexible schedule and availability: Primarily days, w/ some nights/weekends

• Ability to be “on call” overnight occasionally for building issues, physically coming to the building during off-hours when necessary. (Providing backup when the Executive Director is out-of-town, a few times/year.)

• Must be able to move furniture and set up chairs and tables for events as well as operate office equipment, computers, and audio/visual equipment

• Physical activity—light lifting (20-30 pounds)

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TO APPLY:

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

1.    Please submit a resume & cover letter addressed to Kellan Christopher, in one combined PDF via email to: apply@openbookmn.org
       Subject: Events Program Manager: Your Name

2.     Your one-page cover letter should express your interest in this specific position, and how it aligns with your professional goals.

3.     Before emailing, please rename your combined letter+resume file as follows:

○      Lastname, Firstname-Open Book.pdf
‍ ‍example: Lopez, Maria-Open Book.pdf

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with initial interviews scheduled on a rolling basis.

Early submission is highly encouraged.

Ideal start date is early September 2026.

Regarding the use of AI:

As Open Book and its Founding Partners center human creativity, authenticity and connection in our work - we prefer that you minimize the use of AI tools in your application materials. Although we recognize there may be valuable uses of evolving machine learning technologies, we want to hear from you in your own original voice.  Exception: uses for necessary accommodations.