Company description

About Mess Hall
Mess Hall is a unique culinary incubator and shared commercial kitchen supporting independent food entrepreneurs in Washington, DC.

Since opening in 2014, Mess Hall has helped launch dozens of food businesses while building a vibrant community of chefs, makers, and entrepreneurs. Our facility also hosts a wide range of food-focused events, from corporate gatherings and weddings to original culinary programming.

Mess Hall has received numerous accolades including the Mayor’s Sustainability Award, recognition as a Top Business Accelerator by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and a Washington Business Journal Innovator Award.

Job description

Mess Hall is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial Director of Events & Programming to lead and grow our events business.

This is a senior role reporting directly to the Founder/CEO and requires someone who excels at both selling events and executing them flawlessly. The right candidate understands that great events require strong client relationships, detailed planning, and hands-on leadership during execution.

The Director of Events will be responsible for generating event revenue while also managing the full lifecycle of events, from inquiry and contract through production and follow-through.

This role blends sales, production, marketing, and creative programming, and requires someone who is highly organized, detail-oriented, entrepreneurial, and comfortable wearing many hats.

Because events take place outside traditional business hours, this position requires evening and weekend availability.

Key Revenue Channels
The Director will help grow Mess Hall’s events business through three primary channels:

1. Private Event Rentals
   Corporate events, weddings, social celebrations, brand activations, and community gatherings.
2. Original Programming & Ticketed Events
   Culinary experiences, food festivals, demonstrations, classes, and innovative food-focused programming.
3. Restaurant Pop-Ups and Culinary Collaborations
   Occasional chef-driven dining experiences and special culinary activations.

Core Responsibilities
The Director of Events & Programming oversees both event sales and event execution.

Event Sales
• Respond promptly and professionally to event inquiries
• Conduct site visits and client consultations
• Develop compelling event proposals and negotiate contracts
• Help develop pricing structures and event packages
• Build and maintain relationships with corporate clients, nonprofits, and community partners
• Develop partnerships and sponsorship opportunities
• Identify new opportunities to grow event revenue

Event Planning & Execution
• Plan and manage events from contract through completion
• Produce detailed BEOs and event timelines
• Coordinate food and beverage with Mess Hall members
• Manage vendors, rentals, and equipment needs
• Hire and manage bartenders, event staff, and contractors
• Oversee event setup, execution, and breakdown
• Ensure compliance with Mess Hall policies during events
• Track event budgets and maintain event P&L reporting
• Create and refine internal systems that improve event operations

Programming & Partnerships
• Develop creative ticketed programming and culinary experiences
• Build relationships with chefs and food entrepreneurs
• Expand partnerships with local organizations and businesses
• Create opportunities that promote Mess Hall members to wider audiences

Marketing & Promotion
• Promote events through Mess Hall’s social media channels
• Collaborate on website content, promotional materials, and event decks
• Support sponsorship fulfillment and visibility
• Track marketing effectiveness and event ROI

Qualifications
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in BOTH event sales AND event execution
• Demonstrated ability to manage events from inquiry through production
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple events and priorities simultaneously
• Comfort working in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment
• A passion for food, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and community building

Preferred but not required:

• Existing relationships within the DC community
• Experience working with chefs or food businesses
• Experience in shared workspaces, incubators, or culinary environments

Schedule
This position requires flexibility, including evening and weekend work, depending on event schedules.

Compensation
Competitive salary plus commission tied to event revenue.

Full-time benefits include:

• Health insurance (Mess Hall contributes 50%)
• Paid vacation and sick leave
• 401(k) with employer match

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $50,000 - $75,000

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline