Location: Christchurch or Auckland

Status: Part-Time Contract

About the Role

As Event Specialist, you'll create exceptional experiences that bring New Zealand's startup community together.

Working closely with the Marketing Manager, you'll lead the planning and delivery of Ministry of Awesome's national events programme, coordinating everything from intimate founder meetups through to flagship events such as Electrify Aotearoa.

You'll own the operational journey from concept to delivery—coordinating venues, speakers, suppliers, ticketing, logistics and attendee experience while ensuring every event reflects the quality and professionalism of Ministry of Awesome.

This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives on bringing people together, enjoys solving problems and takes pride in delivering seamless, memorable experiences. You'll work closely with founders, speakers, partners, sponsors and suppliers, balancing multiple events and stakeholders at once while keeping every detail on track.

Success in this role is measured by the quality of our events, outstanding attendee experiences, strong stakeholder relationships and the successful delivery of Ministry of Awesome's growing national events programme.

About You

You are a highly organised event professional who enjoys turning ideas into well-executed experiences.

You love bringing people together and understand that great events are built through thoughtful planning, clear communication and exceptional attention to detail.

You are comfortable coordinating multiple suppliers, speakers and stakeholders, managing competing priorities and remaining calm under pressure when plans inevitably change.

You enjoy building relationships and creating positive experiences for everyone involved, from keynote speakers and ecosystem partners to founders attending their first startup event.

Most importantly, you are passionate about entrepreneurship and excited by the opportunity to help strengthen New Zealand's startup ecosystem through meaningful events and community connections.

What you'll be doing

1. Event Planning & Delivery

Plan and deliver Ministry of Awesome's national events programme across multiple initiatives.

• Lead the planning and delivery of Coffee & Jam, Founder Capability Sprints, Christchurch Startup Capability Day, Electrify Aotearoa Community Connections and other Ministry of Awesome events.
• Develop project plans and timelines for each event.
• Coordinate venues, suppliers, production and logistics.
• Manage event registrations and attendee communications.
• Ensure every event delivers a professional and engaging attendee experience.
• Support on-the-day event delivery, hosting and troubleshooting.
• Coordinate post-event debriefs and continuous improvement.

2. Speaker & Stakeholder Management

Build positive relationships with speakers, partners and suppliers to ensure successful event delivery.

• Coordinate speaker outreach, confirmations and briefing.
• Manage speaker communications, biographies, presentations and requirements.
• Liaise with sponsors, ecosystem partners and community organisations.
• Coordinate travel and accommodation where required.
• Maintain positive relationships with venues and suppliers.
• Ensure speakers and partners have an outstanding Ministry of Awesome experience.

3. Event Operations & Logistics

Coordinate the operational detail that enables seamless event delivery.

• Develop comprehensive event runsheets and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate venue requirements, room layouts, signage and registration.
• Manage AV, production and technical requirements.
• Coordinate catering, dietary requirements and supplier logistics.
• Oversee ticketing platforms, attendee registrations and reporting.
• Coordinate volunteers and event support staff where required.
• Ensure contingency planning and operational readiness for all events.

4. Budget & Supplier Management

Manage event budgets and supplier relationships to deliver high-quality events within approved budgets.

• Monitor event budgets and expenditure.
• Obtain supplier quotes and coordinate bookings.
• Manage venue, catering, AV, production and travel costs.
• Track event expenditure and reconcile budgets.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and maximise value.
• Maintain strong relationships with preferred suppliers.

5. Community & Event Experience

Create welcoming, engaging experiences that strengthen New Zealand's startup community.

• Coordinate attendee communications before, during and after events.
• Support event promotion in collaboration with the Content & Communications Specialist.
• Welcome attendees and create a positive event atmosphere.
• Coordinate networking opportunities and community engagement.
• Collect attendee feedback and event insights.
• Identify opportunities to continually improve the attendee experience.

Skills & Experience

We're looking for someone who combines exceptional organisation with a passion for creating memorable experiences.

You'll ideally have:

• 3–5 years' experience in event management, event coordination or programme delivery.
• Experience delivering multiple events simultaneously, from workshops through to conferences.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Experience managing event budgets and suppliers.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience coordinating speakers, venues and logistics.
• Experience using event registration or ticketing platforms.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent problem-solving skills.
• Confidence working independently while collaborating with a wider team.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
• A collaborative, proactive and positive approach.
• A genuine interest in startups, entrepreneurship and New Zealand's innovation ecosystem.