Bledsoe Wine Estates is a Northwest family of wineries founded by Drew and Maura Bledsoe, who returned to Drew’s hometown, after he retired from a long career as an NFL quarterback, to apply their values, leadership skills and work ethic to the business of wine. Led by Josh McDaniels, our team crafts some of the finest wines in America under three unique, but also uniquely related, brands. Characterized by elegance and complexity, and in many cases the products of groundbreaking innovation, these wines are exemplary expressions of local terroir that have garnered international acclaim.
If interested in joining a team that doesn’t play for second, embraces risk as a welcome byproduct of innovation in our daily pursuit of greatness, and knows how to have a good time along the way, we’d love to hear from you.
Overview
The Events Manager is responsible for planning and executing winery hosted events, member experiences, private dinners, in home gatherings, and select weddings. This role blends creativity with operational excellence, delivering exceptional hospitality while driving revenue and deepening member engagement. Reporting to the VP of Sales, the Events Manager will take full ownership of the event program and play a key role in elevating the winery’s brand presence.
Key Responsibilities
- Event Strategy & Planning
- Develop and manage a calendar of club, in-home, and private events that support sales and membership goals.
- Create unique event concepts that showcase the winery’s story and wines.
- Collaborate with DTC and marketing teams to ensure events align with broader business objectives.
- Execution & Hospitality
- Own all event logistics including vendors, staffing, rentals, catering, and design.
- Act as lead host, ensuring every guest experiences warm, luxury-level hospitality.
- Maintain high standards of execution across events of varying scale, from intimate dinners to large celebrations.
- Sales & Member Engagement
- Partner with sales team to incorporate wine sales and membership opportunities into events.
- Cultivate lasting relationships with members, hosts, and planners to encourage loyalty and referrals.
- Identify and pursue upsell opportunities in event design and offerings.
- Vendor & Partner Relations
- Build strong partnerships with caterers, florists, rental companies, and wedding professionals.
- Negotiate contracts, manage budgets, and ensure vendor quality meets winery standards.
- Administration & Reporting
- Track event expenses and ensure profitability.
- Provide post-event reporting, guest feedback, and recommendations for improvement.
- Maintain compliance with permits, safety, and licensing regulations.
Qualifications
- 3–5 years of event management or hospitality experience, preferably with luxury or wine brands.
- Proven ability to manage budgets and deliver high-end events.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
- Creative eye for design and guest experience.
- Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Personal Attributes
- Thrives in fast paced environment.
- Comfortable making decisions, builds trust through clear communication and follow through.
- Warm, professional presence with a passion for hospitality.
- Calm under pressure with strong problem-solving skills.
- Collaborative, yet confident in making decisions and taking initiative.
Travel Requirements
· Approximately 25-30 travel nights away per year, including monthly event travel (about 2 events per month, typically 2 days/1 night) and 3–4 extended trips requiring air travel (2–3 days each).
· Willingness to travel for in-home events, offsite club gatherings, and wedding venues as needed.
· Availability for local evening events and dinners on a recurring basis, which are not counted as travel days but are an important part of event execution and relationship-building.
· Must have reliable transportation and flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when events require it.
Compensation
- Hourly
- Performance-based bonus tied to the successful organization, execution, and financial performance of events (measured by guest satisfaction, sales outcomes, and operational efficiency).
- Opportunity to shape the future of the winery's event program through innovation, continuous improvement, and the successful expansion of new hospitality experiences.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $25.00 - $28.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
