About OMSDC
As an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, OMSDC certifies, develops, connects, and advocates for minority business enterprises across Ohio. We work at the intersection of corporate supplier diversity and minority business growth, creating opportunities that drive economic equity statewide.
About the Role
We’re looking for a Programs & Events Manager to lead the planning and execution of OMSDC’s three signature events: the Annual Meeting, ConnectingOHIO, and the Awards Gala. These events are OMSDC’s primary fundraising vehicles and serve as the connective tissue between our corporate partners, certified MBEs, board members, and community stakeholders.
This is a hands-on role.
You’ll own the event lifecycle from early planning through post-event wrap-up, working closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, Associate VP of Operations, marketing lead, and volunteer event committees to deliver experiences that meet OMSDC’s brand standards and financial goals. Each event rotates to a different city across Ohio, so flexibility and comfort working with new venues and local partners each year is important.
You won’t be doing everything alone.
You’ll collaborate with the marketing lead on design, communications, and speaker coordination; the office manager on registration logistics; the director of finance on budgeting and ticket pricing; and the Associate VP of Operations on corporate and MBE sponsorship fulfillment. The operations team drives sponsorship relationships, and you’ll ensure that sponsor recognition, deliverables, and visibility are executed across all event touchpoints. You’ll also keep the broader team informed on budget performance and registration trends so that plans can be adjusted proactively as events take shape.
Beyond signature events, you may periodically support other programs, including virtual events, webinars, and one-off workshops.
What You’ll Do
Plan and execute OMSDC’s three signature events (Annual Meeting, ConnectingOhio, Awards Gala) from concept through completion, managing timelines, run-of-show, and day-of logistics.
Manage event budgets in coordination with the director of finance. Track expenses, negotiate vendor contracts, and ensure events meet fundraising targets.
Source and manage venues, caterers, A/V providers, entertainment, and other vendors. Because events rotate across Ohio, this means building new vendor relationships each year.
Set up and oversee ticketing, registration systems, and attendee communications. Coordinate with the office manager on onsite registration operations.
Partner with the Associate VP of Operations and marketing lead to ensure sponsors receive the recognition and value they were promised, from signage and program placement to day-of visibility.
Monitor sponsorship and registration performance, flag trends early, and recommend adjustments to keep events on track financially.
Work with the marketing lead on event branding, promotional materials, signage, and program guides. Partner on identifying and securing speakers and presenters.
Staff and coordinate event committees, which are typically composed of board members and key stakeholders. Prepare agendas, track action items, and keep planning on schedule.
Work with the volunteer lead to recruit, train, and oversee event-day volunteers.
Manage post-event reporting: attendance data, financial reconciliation, sponsor ROI summaries, and lessons learned for continuous improvement.
Support additional programs and events as needed, including virtual events, webinars, and workshops.
What We’re Looking For
3+ years of experience leading event planning or management, ideally with multi-event responsibility and fundraising or nonprofit context, for events exceeding 200 attendees.
Strong project management instincts. You keep track of dozens of moving pieces without letting things slip. Experience with Monday.com or similar project management tools is ideal.
Budget management experience. You’re comfortable owning a P&L, negotiating contracts, and making tradeoff decisions.
Excellent communication and relationship skills. You’ll work with board members, corporate executives, small business owners, elected officials, and vendors, sometimes in the same conversation.
Experience with registration and ticketing platforms. We use TicketTailor. Familiarity is appreciated but not required. You’ll also gain experience with MatchDesk, our custom platform for curated 1:1 networking at events.
Comfort working in a small team where collaboration across functions is the norm, not the exception.
Willingness to travel within Ohio for site visits, vendor meetings, and events.
Familiarity with supplier diversity, minority business development, or economic inclusion is a plus but not required. What matters more is that you care about the mission.
Details
Location: Hybrid (Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, or Toledo)
Reports to: CEO
Type: Full-time
Salary: $50,000–$65,000
OMSDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse team.