Operations & Events Manager

Overview

The Bay Area Creative Foundation (BACF) celebrates, cultivates, and inspires creativity in youth and young adults. We believe in fostering a society that embodies creative spirit, art, and innovation. Our flagship program, the Creative Youth Awards (CYA), invites high school students across the San Francisco Bay Area to submit original artworks and performances spanning visual art, film, music, dance, photography, and writing.

Since our 2021 launch, over 6,890 creative works have been submitted and $404,000 in cash awards distributed directly to students.

Our annual Creative Youth Celebration (CYC) showcases these emerging artists through performances, exhibits, interactive art-making, and discussions with acclaimed local creatives—culminating in a free, public event that inspires and connects the next generation of artists.

As BACF enters its sixth year of programming, we’re looking for a highly organized, solutions-focused Operations & Events Manager to serve as a central hub for our small but impactful team. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, you’ll manage the systems, budgets, and logistics that keep our organization running — from CRM oversight and vendor management to supporting development efforts and board reporting.

You’ll also be the lead producer and project manager for our flagship Creative Youth Celebration, overseeing planning, budgets, venues, talent, volunteers, and day-of production. Alongside these core duties, you’ll help shape BACF’s communications and outreach, ensuring timely, professional engagement with students, partners, sponsors, and stakeholders.

This is a year-round operational leadership role with a high-profile public event at its heart — perfect for someone who can think strategically, execute precisely, and keep multiple priorities moving forward in service of our mission.

• In support of the Executive Director, serve as the primary project manager for cross-departmental initiatives and as-needed projects, ensuring goals, timelines, budgets, and deliverables are met.
• Partner with the Executive Director to implement and manage the organization’s development strategy, fundraising campaigns and events.
• Oversee and optimize BACF’s CRM database (Donor Perfect) to ensure accurate records, reporting, and stakeholder communications.
• Lead solutions-oriented management of organizational operations, including insurance, payroll, technology platforms, and vendor relationships.
• Manage budgets, financial tracking, and reporting in collaboration with the Bookkeeper and Executive Director.
• Prepare materials and present updates at quarterly board meetings as needed.
• Identify, propose, and implement improvements to processes, tools, and systems that increase efficiency and impact.

• Act as lead producer and point of contact for the annual Creative Youth Celebration (CYC), managing all aspects of planning, logistics, and execution. The 2025 CYC event was a free, 5-hour programmed event held at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Over 500 people attended.
• Oversee event timelines, budgets, staffing plans, vendor contracts, and on-site operations.
• Coordinate with the Program Director to develop programming and secure talent, including students, artists, and speakers.
• Work with the Executive Director to secure in-kind donations, partnerships, and sponsor ships to support event success.
• Manage volunteer recruitment, training, and scheduling for events.

• Respond to general inquiries and ensure timely, professional communication with students, partners, and stakeholders.
• Draft and distribute the monthly e-newsletter and other organizational communications (in collaboration with Marketing Manager).
• Support Program Director with outreach for annual projects and initiatives.

• Bachelor’s degree required
  ; advanced training in project management or nonprofit operations is a plus.
• Minimum 4 years of professional experience in operations, project management, event production, or nonprofit administration.
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects and in-person events from inception to…