Who We Are:

Founded in 1891 by a group of visionary volunteers, The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees) is Massachusetts' premier conservation and preservation organization. The Trustees' preserves, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts. Our properties are open to all, and we thrive by involving as many people as possible in all that we do. We aim to protect special places for future generations to enjoy in perpetuity, and have helped protect more than 50,000 acres, including 27,000+ acres on more than 120 reservations that are open to the public. As a non-profit conservation organization, we are funded and supported entirely by our visitors, supporters, volunteers, and our 100,000 Member households. We encourage you to learn more about The Trustees on our website, www.thetrustees.org.

Posting Information:

Salary/Hourly Rate: $65-75,000

Hours per week: 40

Job Classification: Full-Time, Exempt

Job Type: Onsite

Location: Southeast Region, MA (offices at the Bradley Estate in Canton and Weir River Farm in Hingham)

What You'll Do:

Your Impact:

Ready to create memorable special events with the Trustees' stunning Southeast properties as your canvas? In this role you'll use your creativity and organizational superpowers to bring to life Winterlights, a Trustees Signature Event, as well as facilitate special events like weddings, parties, and public gatherings that people will remember for years to come.

The Role: As the Regional Events Manager you'll be responsible for Winterlights at the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton, leading the creative design of one of the region's most beloved seasonal events and welcoming thousands of guests annually. This is your chance to craft an immersive, large-scale experience that blends art, storytelling, and the magic of light. As the creative lead, you'll design a cohesive visual journey across multiple acres of outdoor space and the estate house, incorporating innovative lighting techniques, scenic elements, and interactive features. Your work will set the tone, evoke wonder, and leave a lasting impression on every visitor who walks through the gates.

During the spring and summer seasons, you'll be the point of contact for Fireside Catering weddings at Bradley and will oversee other private rentals across The Trustees' other Southeast properties including Bird Park in Walpole, the Governor Ames Estate in Easton, Armstong-Kelley Park in Osterville, and Weir River Farm in Hingham. You will occasionally support our Public Engagement team, helping at public events, concerts, and festivals across the region.

You are an enthusiastic partner, collaborating with state-wide colleagues in Retail, Enterprise Partnerships, Stewardship, Horticulture, and Public Engagement. You will manage seasonal staff for setup, breakdown, and run-of-show, and flex your strong customer service skills, providing a magical and memorable experience for thousands of visitors each year. You bring creativity, craftsmanship, and a little magic to every project.

In This Role You Will:

Creative Lead - Bradley Winterlights

• Planning, design, and installation: 
• Develop and oversee the Winterlights budget
• Conceptualize and design the overall creative vision for the holiday lights festival, including themed zones, centerpiece features, and crowd flow
• Create mood boards, concept art, sketches, or 3D renderings to communicate design direction
• Collaborate with Winterlights Tech Manager, seasonal installation team, fabricators, lighting specialists, and other Trustees Winterlights sight managers to bring concepts to life, selecting lighting elements, props, and materials to support the desired aesthetic, emotion, and guest experience
• With the Tech Manager, develop a master plan and timeline for design implementation
• Ensure designs are scalable, weather-appropriate, safe, and suitable for large public spaces and high foot traffic
• Stay current on trends in lighting design, experiential events, and interactive art installations
• Run-of-show operations (opens Friday after Thanksgiving and runs Wednesday - Sunday through the first weekend of January): 
• Develop and execute a staffing plan and master schedule, hiring, training, and coordinating the seasonal event team and volunteers 
• Oversee permitting, ticket sales, and gift shop/concessions inventory
• Serve as the shift manager each night: monitor weather and ticket sales, arrive prior to the event staff to ensure daily operations run smoothly, and stay on-site through the duration of nightly closing and clean-up
• Coordinate site logistics and manage staffing needs throughout the event, making sure all critical roles are filled, and staff can deliver an excellent experience to our visitors
• Breakdown and clean-up (second week of January through the end of the month. Depending on site constraints and weather, breakdown may extend into February.)
• In partnership with the Tech Manager, develop and implement an efficient breakdown, inventory, and clean up schedule for all interior and exterior displays
• Analyze data including total revenue and spending data, visitor experience feedback to understand trends and create a strategy for driving ticket revenue to ambitious NET Gain goals
  
  

Events across other Southeast properties

• Weddings at the Bradley Estate
• Act as the main point of contact for our external wedding contractor, managing the internal calendar to avoid scheduling conflicts and overseeing payment schedule
• Coordinate Horticulture, Facilities, and Stewardship teams to provide exceptional customer service and client experience on the property
• Other regional events
• Maintain the regional event calendar of property rentals, birthday parties, and community events
• Manage event operations: oversee the Event Rental webpage, field client inquiries, plan and execute event details, maintain client files, coordinate event vendors, and track data
• Hire, train, and coordinate seasonal part-time event assistants
• Manage the event budget and meet revenue targets
• Synchronize all contract staff including deliveries, caterers, and entertainment and supervise set-up, day-of operations, and clean-up, or manage part-time event assistants to do so
• Evaluate and report on the success of the function
• Perform other assigned tasks that support private event sales and Trustees public event programming as necessary (festivals, concerts, picnics, etc.)
  
  
  

Requirements

What You'll Need:

Skills and Experience:   

• Strong artistic eye with a flair for storytelling through light, color, and spatial design
• Technical expertise:
• Demonstrated experience in a creative design field such as lighting, visual merchandising, event production, landscape design, or theatrical set design
• Ability to think outside the box and turn unconventional ideas into tangible results
• Familiarity with design software (SketchUp, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) is a plus
• Comfortable working outdoors and managing installations during peak holiday season
• Experience working with commercial-grade holiday lighting and control systems
• Event management
• 2 to 4 years of sales and management in hospitality, preferably in cultural institutions 
• 2+ years of self-managed experience in event services, meeting management, event coordination or planning
• Demonstrated ability to strategically interpret and execute client vision while reinforcing organization objectives
• Excellent organizational and event management skills; ability to initiate, plan, prioritize and oversee multiple events successfully. This role requires leadership and independence
• Positive, outgoing, and attentive demeanor, persuasive communicator, professional appearance, consistently delivering high-impact customer service
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook, with ability to learn a sales and venue management program
• Comfortable pulling, analyzing, and reporting data from a variety of platforms and sources
• Flexibility to adapt to a varied work schedule and event scheduling demands
• Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions including rain and snow
• Degree from an accredited college or university (preferred)
  
  

Eligibility Criteria:

• Current authorization to work in the United States - a candidate must have such authorization by his or her first day of employment.
• A valid driver's license, as well as a satisfactory driving record as outlined in The Trustees' driving policy. [if needed]
• A satisfactory criminal background (CORI) check.
  
  

Don't quite have all the skills and experience listed above? We still want to hear from you! Research shows that historically marginalized groups are less likely to apply if they do not meet every single requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team and encourage you to apply even if you are missing some of the skills and experience above.

Questions? Contact our People team at [email protected]

Benefits


Your Benefits:

• Sick time: 15 days per year
• Vacation time: 20 days per year (prorated)
• 12 observed holidays, 3 floating
• Health insurance: You are eligible to participate in the Trustees health insurance benefit via Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). BCBS also offers additional benefits, such as fitness reimbursement and rewards for healthy habits. 
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Massachusetts Paid Family Medical Leave
• Life Insurance 
• 401k with 5% match after 1 year of employment
• Employee Assistance Program: Free access to a confidential service that helps employees and their communities with personal and work-related issues, such as mental health support, counseling, and financial advice. 
• Reciprocity: Employees have access to free and discounted admission and membership to more than 50 nearby museums and cultural institutions. 
• Discounts: Enjoy free entry to all Trustees properties, discount event tickets, and discounted merchandise at our stores and on stays at our inns. 
• Day of Wonder: Spend one workday per year to exploring a Trustees property
• Day of Service: Spend one workday per year to helping with a project at a Trustees property 
  
  
  

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

The Trustees is a proud equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any protected status including, but not limited to, age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual preferences, nation of origin, religion, or disability status and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with varying abilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants. We aspire to reflect and effectively serve the residents and communities of Massachusetts, who are at the core of our mission.   

The Trustees' commitment to advancing the organization's vision for this work may be found here: Diversity, Belonging, Inclusion and Equity.

 It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. 

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible work environment. To request reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at [email protected].