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Temp Senior Associate, Event Operations

Milken Institute
1 day ago
Temporary
On-site
Santa Monica, California, United States
$27 - $32 USD hourly

About the Milken Institute


The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them. Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.


The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event. 


About the Position


The Milken Institute is seeking an experienced Event Operations professional to support the execution of the Milken Institute Global Conference, one of the world’s leading gatherings of executives, policymakers, investors, and global thought leaders. This role will deliver a high-profile, large-scale conference that convenes thousands of attendees, hundreds of speakers, and multiple stages of programming. The position is ideal for a hands-on event professional who is comfortable managing vendor coordination, and financial tracking in a fast-paced production environment. The hiring period is expected to run through the end of June, aligned with the execution of the Global Conference.

The Senior Associate will work closely with the Institute’s events, programming, technology, communications, and development teams to ensure seamless planning and execution across all operational elements of the event.

Responsibilities

  • Conference & Event Operations
  • Support planning and execution of the Milken Institute Global Conference
  • Manage relationships with AV providers, production partners, vendors, and sourcing agencies
  • Maintain event production timelines, run-of-show documentation, and staffing plans
  • Assist with venue coordination including hotel room blocks, Event Spec’s/BEO management, and room setups
  • Order and manage event materials and supplies
  • Support internal event planning meetings and documentation
  • Provide on-site operational support during conference week


Vendor Management & Invoicing

  • Track and manage high-volume vendor invoices across multiple event categories
  • Review invoices for accuracy against contracts, budgets, and purchase orders
  • Coordinate with vendors and internal teams to resolve billing discrepancies
  • Monitor event spending and flag budget variances or unexpected costs
  • Duties as assigned


Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 5+ years of event operations or event production experience
  • Proven experience supporting large conferences or corporate events (500+ attendees)
  • Working knowledge of catering operations, BEOs/FEOs, AV production, and event logistics
  • Demonstrated experience managing vendor invoicing, expense tracking, and event budgets
  • Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines in a fast-moving environment
  • Comfortable working both independently and with cross-functional teams
  • Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail
  • Professional, calm, and solutions-oriented under pressure
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
  • Experience with Cvent, Salesforce, Air Table and event registration systems
  • Advanced Excel skills
  • Experience supporting high-profile or executive-level events

 

Working Conditions & Travel Requirements

 

This position will work in a professional office environment on a hybrid schedule consisting of three (3) days per week reporting in-person to the Santa Monica office location (Tuesday – Thursday), with the remaining two (2) days working remotely. Please understand, this schedule is subject to change at the Institute’s sole discretion. 


This person will also be required to travel occasionally to other offices and/or venues to assist with events as needed, requiring occasional work outside of traditional hours. Additionally, this position requires interacting virtually on a regular basis with Milken Institute staff based in other locations in the United States and around the world. 


Note


The statements herein are intended to describe the overall nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer. 


We are interested in qualified candidates who are eligible to work in the United States. Please note, we are not sponsoring visas at this time, being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment.


Please submit resume and cover letter illustrating how your experience and skills will contribute to the department and any unique qualities you bring to the position. If applying via Indeed, please upload your resume and any supporting documentation as one attachment. Any application that does not include both a resume and cover letter will be rejected. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact our Human Resources department to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.


Our Culture


The Milken Institute is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran. 

 

Every person at the Milken Institute is treated with respect, supported with resources and training, and exposed to a broad range of experiences. We foster a space for growth with opportunities to share knowledge and passion with both clients and colleagues. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our leadership is actively involved in our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and fostering a culture that creates opportunities for everyone. 


Benefits

  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • Retirement Plan - 403b (5% match)
  • Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
  • Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
  • Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
  • Fertility Support
  • Short-Term & Long-Term Disability 
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
  • Pet Insurance Discount
  • Training & Development:
  • LinkedIn Learning – over 15,000 self-guided classes offered
  • Annual Mentor Program
  • Wellness Resources:
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • CALM app membership