The Assistant Manager/Manager, Events Management, will oversee the planning and execution of events hosted by Singapore Art Museum (SAM), including exhibition openings, donor receptions, and stakeholder engagements. This is a standalone role, suitable for someone who is highly organised, resourceful, and hands-on, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across departments. This role is responsible for ensuring the smooth and professional delivery of all events, managing everything from guest experience and F&B to on-site logistics and cross-department coordination. The Assistant Manager/Manager will report to the Estates division for operational matters, while supporting the Marketing & Communications, Partnership and Patronage, Business Development, Production Management, Visitor Experience teams on stakeholder-facing aspects of events.
Key upcoming projects include the Singapore Biennale in October 2025 and a Benefit Event in January 2026. Both events will require at least 46 months of advance preparation, and the workload will build up significantly in the lead-up to these milestone moments.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and manage end-to-end execution of SAM-hosted events, including exhibition openings, fundraising events, and VIP receptions
- Oversee guest list planning, invitation roll-out, RSVP tracking, seating arrangements, and guest communication
- Manage appointed event management companies or agencies, including the preparation of briefs, evaluation of proposals, and oversight of deliverables to ensure alignment with SAM's objectives and standards
- Coordinate F&B selection, vendor sourcing, event setup, dcor, and logistics
- Liaise with Mapletree and relevant authorities for events taking place beyond SAM's premises
- Work closely with internal teams on event publicity, on-site branding, and media needs
- Prepare detailed event run sheets and manage live event coordination across all parties
- Ensure compliance with safety and venue protocols for all events
- Plan and execute events involving Political Office Holders (POHs), ensuring all arrangements meet official protocols, security, and guest experience standards
- Conduct post-event evaluations and maintain documentation for institutional reporting
- Build and maintain a database of preferred vendors and event templates
- Manage event-related procurement processes, including drafting specifications for ITQs/ITTs, evaluating submissions, and ensuring compliance with procurement policies via SAP or relevant systems
Qualifications
- Minimum 5 years experience in event management, preferably within the arts, hospitality, or cultural sectors
- Strong planning, vendor management, and interpersonal communication skills
- Experience managing external event management companies or vendors, including briefing, negotiation, and performance oversight
- Proven experience managing events involving Political Office Holders (POHs), with strong understanding of protocol, security, and guest handling requirements
- Experience managing high-level events with VIP guests and external partners
- Able to work independently and collaboratively across teams
- Comfortable being the sole events lead, managing multiple projects, budgets, and timelines with minimal supervision
- Comfortable working evenings and weekends, as required by event schedules
- Experience in procurement processes (ITQ, ITT) and finance systems such as SAP is preferred
- Solutions-oriented and resourceful, with a strong eye for detail and guest experience
