Special Events Programs Supervisor

Job DescriptionJoin the City of Chattanooga TeamChattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future-famously powered by the nation's first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network. The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City," the first of its kind in the United States. Our Organization As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including: Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments. Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management. Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library. Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives. Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead. Why Choose Chattanooga? The City of Chattanooga's workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing: Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff. Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible. Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. . Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization. The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away. Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast. Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River. Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges. In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets. Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you'd like to call Chattanooga home - or maybe you already do! - and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we'd love to talk to you. Salary: $64,024- $77,348 (GS. 12) Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. (EST) Hours may vary due to work assignments or projects.Work Location: 101 East 11th Street, Chattanooga, TN FLSA Status: This is an Exempt position. Department: Economic Development CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY: Incumbents in this classification plan deliver events that activate Chattanooga's public spaces. This role coordinates special events and parks programming, working with event organizers, community groups, businesses, and neighborhood stakeholders to ensure effective use of public spaces. The supervisor oversees seamless event operations, promotes community engagement and sustainability, and supports Chattanooga's vision as a vibrant and inclusive city. This position reports to the Deputy Administrator and collaborates with department heads to align efforts with the City's strategic goals. SERIES LEVEL: This is a stand-alone position. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.) Under the direction of the Deputy Administrator, develop and implement long-term strategies for special events that align with the City's mission and vision, emphasizing accessibility, sustainability, equity, and community engagement. Establish and administer policies and procedures for the Special Event Permit process, and draft ordinance revisions as needed. Oversee the development and execution of a diverse range of events, ensuring they meet the community's needs and enhance the City's public spaces. Create, manage, and sustain high-value special events for the City of Chattanooga. Ensure the smooth operation of all events with big-picture oversight regarding coordinating logistics, managing vendor relationships, overseeing marketing and promotional activities, and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations. Evaluate, recommend, and facilitate the procurement of equipment, supplies, and capital needs to ensure efficient and effective operations. Evaluate operations, facilities, and programming, and identify areas of opportunity to ensure patron accessibility and safety. Prepare and manage budgets for special events and programming, ensuring efficient resource use and adherence to financial goals and asset maintenance. Supervise and guide the activities of the Guest Services Specialist, ensuring cohesive operations and achievement of division and departmental goals. Provide team training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to ensure high performance and continuous improvement. Leads all special events and park programming-related meetings, ensuring efficient communication with event and City staff regarding goals and responsibilities. Leads and directs division operations to achieve goals within available resources; plans and organizes workloads and staff assignments; trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff. Reviews progress and directs changes as needed. Identify and secure sponsorships, partnerships, and other resources to enhance activation of park and public space events. Oversees the division's fleet and asset inventory. Must meet regular attendance requirements. Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers, and citizens. Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner. Performs other duties as assigned. DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any): MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree or high school diploma or GED with five (5)+ plus years of experience in program and large-scale event management, urban recreation programming, safety/emergency response experience, communications, marketing, or a related field, including supervisory experience; or any combination of equivalent experience and education. LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: Valid Driver's License KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: A demonstrated track record of planning, developing, and executing creative and innovative events and programs for public and private spaces. Collaborate across divisions and departments with a multifaceted internal team. Ability to see the big picture and understand relationships between programs, economic development, and community engagement. Strong leadership and organizational skills, excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, proficiency in budget management, and a solid understanding of event planning and public space activation principles. Politically astute with a proven track record of working effectively with City departments, elected officials, local, regional, and state governments, outside agencies, residents, businesses, and other key stakeholders to achieve goals and objectives. Highly effective communicator with maturity who demonstrates cultural competence, active listening, and responsiveness to the community, residents, and staff. Demonstrated skills in using MS Office software, including Excel and presentation programs. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Positions in this class typically require: reaching, fingering, grasping, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Safety Sensitive: N Department of Transportation - CDL: N Child Sensitive: Y SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check /drug test The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. JES 3.13.25 KJF 260218

Created: 2026-03-12