Onsite Event Manager

About the role

The Onsite Event Manager is OTG's field leader and the person who delivers the experience—on behalf of the client and on behalf of the OTG brand. This is the leader who takes an event-ready plan and makes it real, transforming spaces and owning how every activation looks, feels, and runs (from plan review through execution and close-out), across public markets, public events, and catering.

Responsibilities

• Review every event-ready BEO / Public Event Playbook; bounce gaps back to the Event Production Manager for refinement before execution

• Own event execution from load-in through close-out across markets, public events, and catering

• Lead OTG's largest and most complex activations in collaboration with the onsite events team—owning setup, service flow, guest engagement, experiential elements, and breakdown as a coordinated team effort

• Serve as the field decision-maker for live incidents that exceed producer authority

• Review post-event reports for completeness and actionable insight; close the loop on flagged issues

• Deliver the guest-facing brand experience at every OTG activation on behalf of the client and the OTG brand—executing and maintaining to the brand and spec standards defined by the Event Production Manager

• Capture the magic of the experience for the client and for OTG's public communication channels—executing marketing-defined activation and content-collection elements as set in the BEO / Public Event Playbook, in collaboration with marketing (marketing is principally responsible for activation and content)

• Set and enforce hospitality standards in the field; coach producers and crew to deliver consistently, not just on the best days

• Champion OTG's identity on the ground: signage, creator placement, staff presentation, and all guest-facing elements on-brand and intentional

• Resolve issues before guests notice them and create moments of authentic discovery

• Own materials ordering and ongoing maintenance for all event types—procuring and maintaining to the specs defined upstream

• Ensure event materials are ordered, delivered, and event-ready on time

• Maintain accurate records of equipment status and condition

• Manage the day-of operational relationship with all 3rd party vendors onsite—staffing platforms (e.g. Instawork), AV, decor, rentals, and entertainment

• Conduct onsite quality checks; provide direct feedback when standards aren't met; manage live escalations

• Track and report field-observed vendor performance—fill rates, no-show rates, quality scores—to the Event Production Manager to inform sourcing decisions

• Serve as the primary onsite point of contact for creators (mobile food businesses) across markets, public events, and catering

• Own creator onboarding and mid-season public event creator booking and curation

• Own creator onsite reporting, accountability, and performance—deliver direct, constructive feedback on setup, sanitation, service speed, and guest engagement; document and follow up on corrective actions

• Ensure creators meet contractual obligations, safety and sanitation requirements, and OTG's code of conduct

• Own document and permit compliance for events, with particular focus on public events

• Ensure health, safety, and sanitation standards are met above and beyond local municipal codes

• Complete and review incident reports promptly and accurately

• Own OTG's onsite training program: build on existing materials, then iterate continuously based on field observation, event performance, and team feedback

• Design and deliver onboarding for new producers and seasonal refreshers for returning staff—hospitality standards, brand rituals, safety, and equipment use

• Build and maintain training documentation, competency checklists, and certification records

• Spend meaningful time coaching in the field—model the standards you expect

• Directly manage Onsite Event Producers, Market Producers, the Operations Coordinator, and the Event Production & Logistics Lead

• Provide regular 1:1s, performance feedback, and development plans for each direct report

• Build and publish event staffing schedules across all programs, balancing certifications, availability, event complexity, and labor budget

• Foster a team culture grounded in OTG's values: exceptional hosts, precise execution, authentic connection

• Report and resolve field-side defects; partner with the Event Production Manager on planning- and spec-side defects, using the BEO bounce-back as the model

Qualifications

• 4–6 years of event production, catering operations, or hospitality experience—including meaningful time running complex, multi-vendor activations on the ground

• At least 2 years directly supervising onsite event or catering teams

• Demonstrated experience managing 3rd party vendors in the field—staffing platforms, AV, decor, or entertainment—with high standards and direct accountability

• Experience owning event compliance, permitting, and site-specific operational protocols

• Proven ability to execute creative concepts with concept integrity intact, from plan to activation

• A natural leader and communicator—warm, direct, and confident with clients, venue partners, creators, vendors, and team members

• Calm under pressure with strong real-time problem-solving instincts

• Proficiency in Google Suite; comfort with scheduling, staffing platforms, and event production tools

• Valid California Driver's License with a clean driving record; reliable transportation to Bay Area event sites