Event Production & Building Operations Manager
The Pearl SF | San Francisco, CA (on-site) Full-time, exempt | Evenings and weekends as needed on event days
Compensation: $90,000 to $100,000 base, plus 5 to 10% performance bonus Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k); paid time off; commuter/parking benefits; professional development budget
About the Role
The Pearl is San Francisco's premier event venue for corporate events, weddings, and private events. We're hiring an Event Production & Building Operations Manager to own event advancing and live execution from signed contract through final closeout, while keeping the building running flawlessly in between.
Most of your time is on the production side: owning the post-sale handoff, advancing events, and running live execution alongside our House Manager and production team. The remainder is spent as steward of the physical venue: preventive maintenance and contractor coordination. You'll report directly to the General Manager and lead the House Manager, Production Manager, and event-day staff.
Who You Are
- 4+ years in event production, venue operations, hospitality operations, or live entertainment, with experience supervising staff or vendors
- You have run live events end-to-end (load-in, A/V, show flow, FOH, closeout) at venues serving 100 to 500+ guests, across corporate and private/wedding events
- Familiar with Bay Area event permitting, ABC compliance, ADA, fire/life safety, and SF contractor and labor norms
- Systems-minded: Tripleseat, Google Workspace, Gusto, Nowsta, and BEO workflows are things you've used or can pick up quickly, and you're comfortable adopting AI tools to improve how work gets done
- Clear, direct, and calm under pressure. You don't blame other departments, you escalate early, and you close loops
What You'll Own
Event Production
- Own the handoff from Sales the moment a contract is deposited: review scope, identify needs, coordinate vendors
- Lead the full pre-event advance: technical requirements, A/V, load-in timing, floorplans, permits, and insurance
- Produce the Event Sheet, Work Order, Bar Ops Document, and floorplans: the day-of source of truth for every event
- Run live execution alongside the House Manager, owning technical execution and show flow
- Close out every event: post-event reports, vendor feedback, incident notes, and repeat-issue trends fed back to leadership
Building Operations
- Own the day-to-day condition of the building: HVAC, electrical, plumbing, A/V infrastructure, kitchen, bars, restrooms, exterior
- Build and drive the preventive maintenance calendar and make sure work actually gets done
- Source, vet, and manage contractors and vendors: A/V, cleaning, security, trades, fire/life safety, and specialty services
- Support compliance alongside the GM: ABC, fire marshal, health department, capacity, insurance, and city permits
- Track operating costs and flag variance to the GM
Leadership
- Schedule, coach, and review the House Manager, Production Manager, and event-day team
- Bring operational reality into pricing, sales scope, and marketing claims so we never over-promise
- Make calls within your domain; escalate when impact crosses departments or risks revenue or safety
Nice to Have
- Experience at an independent SF private event or music venue
- High-end wedding or corporate/brand activation background
- Technical depth in audio, lighting, or staging
- Existing relationships with Bay Area A/V, security, cleaning, and trades vendors
Physical Requirements
Extended periods standing and walking during events, ability to lift up to 50 lbs, and evening/weekend availability on event days.
Why The Pearl
Good operators are given room to operate here. You'll be trusted to own your domain, build what's missing, and hold a high standard without being micromanaged. In return, we expect you to lead without being asked, fix things before they escalate, and treat every event like your name is on it.
The Pearl is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Application Question(s):
- Tell us about a time something went wrong on event day. We're less interested in the problem than in how you communicated, who you looped in, and what you changed afterward (3–5 sentences).
Work Location: In person
