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D Magazine Partners | Dallas, TX

Project-Based 1099 Contract Role

Potential for Full-Time Opportunity in 2027

Overview:

D Magazine Partners is hiring an experienced Events Manager on a contract basis to plan, produce, and execute the remaining 2026 portfolio of events across D Magazine, D Home, and D Weddings.

The contractor will own end-to-end event production for up to three of D Magazine's marquee events through year-end, including Best Real Estate Agents, Best Doctors & Pediatric Specialists, and Best of Big D. The engagement is project-based and scoped event-by-event, including additional small to mid-scale events based on staffing needs. Strong performance during the engagement may be considered for a full-time, benefits-eligible role in 2027.

This role reports to the Sr. Director, Marketing & Events. It is a peer to the in-house Events Manager and works alongside the in-house event coordinators and year-round intern team. The contractor does not have formal direct reports.

Engagement Terms

• Contract type: 1099 independent contractor, project-based engagement.
• Term: Engaged on a per-event basis beginning as early as June 2026. No minimum guaranteed term; each event is independently scoped, contracted, and invoiced. Final scope concludes upon delivery of the last contracted event (anticipated by December 2026).
• Compensation: Flat per-event project fee, negotiated per event based on scope and deliverables. No hourly billing; out-of-scope work, if required, will be quoted and approved in writing as a separate fixed-fee addendum prior to commencement. Contractor is responsible for self-employment taxes and any business expenses; no benefits, paid leave, or reimbursements provided.
• Schedule: On-site presence required for each contracted event. Some in-office presence required based on the internal team meeting schedule. Events are typically Tuesday–Thursday evenings.
• Location: Must reside in the DFW area. Must have a personal vehicle for transportation.

Responsibilities

Owns the production lifecycle for each event in scope, from planning through strike:

• Event production end-to-end: venue booking (unless already booked), ownership of run-of-show, seating, signage, attendee experience, speaker coordination, catering, event design, materials, and on-site execution.
• Vendor selection, negotiation, and management: manage vendor proposals and contracts (catering, AV, rentals, photography, valet, decor, printing). Meet or exceed budget through vendor contract negotiation and creative cost efficiencies.
• Sponsor activation execution: deliver against committed sponsor deliverables for each event in coordination with the sales team. (Note: Strategy and new-business sponsor sales remain with internal leadership.)
• Invitations, registration, and guest experience: manage invitation lists, RSVP / registration platforms, and on-site check-in. Provide hospitality-focused communication to sponsors and guests throughout.
• Budget ownership: track and manage all event expenses against budget; report variance and trade leverage to the Sr. Director, Marketing and in-house Event Manager.
• Cross-functional coordination: lead day-to-day communication with internal stakeholders (editorial, sales, marketing) and external partners (venues, vendors, sponsors).
• Setup, execution, and strike: physical on-site presence and hands-on participation on event days, alongside the in-house team and interns.
• Documentation and handoff: maintain vendor contacts, run-of-show templates, and post-event reports that the in-house team can use after the engagement ends.
• Event-specific coordination: participate in cross-functional planning syncs (Events / Sales / Editorial) scoped to each contracted event, in-person or remote as required by the event production schedule.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience producing corporate, B2B, or large-scale consumer events; experience with sponsor activations strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated track record managing end-to-end event production: venues, vendors, budgets, and on-site execution.
• Business and financial acumen to negotiate vendor contracts and manage event budgets to target.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills; able to run multiple events on parallel timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; hospitality-oriented manner with sponsors, guests, and internal stakeholders.
• Strategic, big-picture thinker with strong tactical execution; calm under pressure with the ability to make decisions independently and adjust quickly to changing conditions.
• Existing relationships within the DFW events industry strongly preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; comfortable with event registration platforms including Accelevents and SquadUP.

How to Apply

Submit a résumé and a brief cover letter to resumes@dmagazine.com with the subject line: "Events

Manager – Contract."

Your submission should include:

• A summary of two or three relevant events you have produced.
• An explanation of why a project-based 1099 engagement, with potential for full-time conversion in 2027, aligns with your current career stage and goals.
• A description of your approach to per-event flat-fee pricing for marquee corporate events.