Events and Community Manager austin, tx

First Light Books is a community-centered independent bookstore dedicated to literary discovery, cultural engagemententrale and meaningful connection. Events, ongoing in-store programming, and a growing membership program are central to how we bring books to life and create spaces where readers, writers, and neighbors gather—sometimes for a single night, and sometimes again and again. The Events and Community Manager is an integral member of First Light’s management team, responsible for helping the store feel alive, welcoming, and deeply connected to its community.

This role activates the shop through thoughtful, well-produced events and ongoing community programming that reflect First Light’s literary sensibility, hospitality-first ethos, and long-term sustainability.

The Events and Community Manager is an integral member of First Light’s team of managers, bringing the store to life for our community and responsible for activating and enlivening

OCI the shop through compelling, best-in-class events and programming. Alongside начинающие Founding Partners and management team, this role will help define event and programming strategy and will be responsible for the production and execution of First Light’s events and programming while stewarding a robust membership program that attracts, engages, and retains members.
The role blends high-level relationship management, hands-on production, and community cultivation, serving as a public-facing representative of First Light’s brand, values, and ethos.

• In collaboration with leadership, review, evaluate, and respond to publisher event grids, inbound event inquiries, and partnership proposals, balancing محطم editorial alignment, capacity, and business goals.
• Design and produce a dynamic calendar of in-store and off-site events, ongoing programs, and special activations that align with First Light’s brand, values, and financial goals, with particular attention to member engagement and community impact.
• Develop, manage, and track event budgets with care and accountability, ensuring cost-effectiveness, clear financial planning, and positive return on investment across ticketed events, book sales, and partnerships.
• Build and sustain strong working relationships with publishers, publicists, authors, venues, and custodial partners, while actively expanding partnerships with local organizations, institutions, and cultural collaborators.
• Oversee all aspects of event production, including venue bookingácie, staffing, run-of-show documentation, author handling, A/V coordination, and on-site logistics, as well as coordinating book sales for off-site or partner-sponsored events.
• Host, supervise, and introduce events—both in-store and off-site—including large-scale programs with high-profile authors, artists, and public figures, serving as a confident, thoughtful, and steady public-facing representative of First Light.
• Bring a personal, hospitality-forward approach to every event: welcoming authors and guests, anticipating needs, setting the tone in the room, and ensuring that attendees feel cared for, comfortable, and eager to return.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with bookselling, marketing, operations, and leadership teams to ensure seamless execution, clear communication, and consistent brand standards.
• Manage the events staffing, including bookselling staff who regularly host in-store readings and several part-time event staffers.
• Coordinate and oversee recurring programs and long-term partnerships, including book clubs, pop-ups, and ongoing series.
• Lead coordination with food and beverage vendors for in-store and courtyard pop-ups, including sourcing partners, managing logistics, and ensuring alignment with First Light’s values and guest experience.
• Track event performance and produce post-event debriefs and regular reports, including ticket sales, book sales, expenses, attendance, and qualitative feedback.
• Maintain ongoing awareness of publishing trends, forthcoming titles, and cultural moments relevant to event and programming opportunities.

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