Managing Director, Live Experiences

The Gardens of Golden Gate Park unite three historic gardens—the landmark Conservatory of Flowers (1879), the Japanese Tea Garden (1894), and the 55-acre San Francisco Botanical Garden (1940)—featuring more than 10,000 different kinds of plants from around the world. Our pioneering public-private partnership combines the city's expertise in horticulture and facilities with the nonprofit’s strengths in visitor experience, education, philanthropy, membership, marketing, and community engagement. Together, we connect people to plants, the planet, and each other, cultivating an internationally renowned destination where conservation, natural beauty, and community flourish.

About the Role

The Managing Director, Live Experiences is a senior leader responsible for translating the gardens’ institutional identity into elevated, memorable, and emotionally resonant experiences that strengthen the brand and drive business results. This general management role leads the design, planning, and execution of marquee experiences on a civic scale, reflecting the living heritage, operational agility, and “everybody’s gardens” ethic across 60+ programs and 120+ events delivered annually. The role oversees a $7M+ portfolio, ensuring high-quality delivery, financial discipline, and profitability while fostering team alignment and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive programs and events experience strategy aligned with the organization’s brand and business objectives, partnering closely with the Chief Experience Officer (CXO).
• Own full-cycle delivery of 60+ programs and 120+ events annually, from pre-arrival communications to post-visit activities, including marquee experiences like Flower Piano and Lightscape.
• Lead a team responsible for experience pipeline cultivation, design, vendor management, and on-site execution, with direct accountability for quality and timelines.
• Steward partnerships with the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department and collaborate with the Advancement team to cultivate corporate sponsors and institutional collaborations.
• Design and deliver experiences for broad and VIP audiences, grounded in visitor expectations, local trends, and consumer behaviors.
• Activate all three gardens through dedicated programming and after-hours experiences to attract new audiences, drive membership, and improve capacity utilization.
• Set and uphold visual and experiential quality standards, promoting plant-focused programming that deepens connections between people, plants, and the planet.
• Own program and events budgets, ensuring margin and profitability across the $7M+ portfolio, and manage vendor and partner relationships.
• Define and track KPIs for programs and events, evaluating success through revenue, attendance, and visitor satisfaction metrics.
• Report performance against strategic and financial objectives to the Executive Team, Board, and key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive leadership in live events, live entertainment, theme parks, immersive experiences, or large-scale civic programming.
• Demonstrated track record delivering high-impact live experiences with direct accountability for operational quality and financial performance.
• Strong leadership and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple direct and third-party relationships simultaneously.
• Exceptional creative vision with a hospitality and customer service ethic, and attention to detail.
• Experience building or stewarding major civic, entertainment, or institutional partnerships.
• Sound judgment and initiative under pressure, with a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Commitment to advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) objectives and applying an equity lens to work.
• High level of professionalism, collaborative work style, and unwavering commitment to visitor experience and the Gardens’ mission.

Work Environment

This is a physically active, indoor-outdoor, public-facing role. The Managing Director works across all three garden sites in varying weather conditions, including outdoors, inside a tropical conservatory, and in shared office spaces. The role requires:

• Engaging in physical motions such as standing, walking on uneven surfaces, crouching, bending, squatting, kneeling, climbing stairs, and using a ladder.
• Regularly lifting and/or moving up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Using and maintaining tools and equipment safely and effectively.
• Managing risk and adhering to safety and emergency protocols.
• Frequent presence during evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by events.

Pay

$120,000 - $125,000 annually.

Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt role with benefits.