Events Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Event Specialist

Washington, DC Metro Area

Who We Are

General Catalyst is a global investment and transformation company that partners with the world's most ambitious entrepreneurs to drive resilience and applied AI. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond. With offices in San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Berlin, Bangalore, and London, we have supported the growth of 800+ businesses, including Airbnb, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Commure, Glean, Guild, Gusto, Helsing, Hubspot, Kayak, Livongo, Mistral, Ramp, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, Sword, and Zepto.

The General Catalyst Institute (GCI) is GC's policy and public affairs arm, bridging the worlds of venture capital and government to promote national and global resilience through transformative technologies. GCI partners with policymakers, entrepreneurs, and global leaders to shape policy across AI, defense and industrials, energy, fintech, and healthcare - amplifying the voices of GC's 900+ portfolio companies in the policy conversations that matter most.

About the Role
We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Event Specialist to join our team. This role will primarily focus on planning, organizing, and executing events, including dinners, happy hours, networking events, etc., across a variety of sectors and stages, with a primary focus on supporting the General Catalyst Institute (GCI). This role will also assist in the planning and execution of large-scale summits and activations at third-party events. This is an exciting opportunity to develop event management skills in a fast-paced and collaborative environment while working with a global investment and transformation company. 

Responsibilities

• General Catalyst Institute-Led Events
• Partner with GCI leadership and the policy team to plan and execute intimate, high-impact gatherings, including policy dinners, government roundtables, and founder-policymaker networking events.
• Support end-to-end execution of GCI events, including briefings, receptions, and convenings with senior government officials, NGOs, academics, and industry leaders.
• Manage all logistics, including venue selection, vendor management, menu planning, audience curation, guest communications, event setup, breakdown, and on-site support and troubleshooting.
• Ensure all events align with GCI's brand, mission, and strategic goals around global resilience and public policy.
• Manage all event documents, including timelines, budgets, and run-of-show materials.
• Manage post-event surveys, reporting, and data management.
• Provide on-site support for all GCI-led events.
  
• Investor-Led Events:
• Partner with investors to plan and execute small, intimate gatherings such as dinners, roundtables, and networking events.
• Support end-to-end execution of investor events, including dinners, happy hours, roundtables, and networking events. 
• Manage logistics, including venue selection, vendor selection, menu planning, audience management, guest communications, event setup, breakdown, and on-site support and troubleshooting.
• Ensure all events align with GC's brand, quality, and strategic goals.
• Manage all event documents (timelines, budgets, run of show, etc.).
• Manage post-event surveys, reporting, and data management. 
• Provide on-site support for all investor-led events.
  
• Industry & Policy  Events:
• Assist the broader events team with GC's participation in major third-party conferences, policy forums, and industry gatherings.
• Manage registration, travel logistics, and materials preparation for team members as needed.
  
• Flagship Events:
• Collaborate on planning and executing GCI's major annual flagship event, as well as large-scale summits bringing together portfolio founders, operators, policymakers, and global leaders.
• Support pre-event research, attendee communications, and on-site execution.
• Assist with guest management, creative programming, vendor management, and post-event evaluation.
  
• Operational Support:
• Act as project manager for all investor events.
• Maintain detailed briefs, timelines, budgets, and project plans for events.
• Develop and track post-event feedback to improve future events.
• Build relationships with vendors, venues, and other external partners.
• Help manage all event materials, inventory, and storage unit. 
• Manage event platforms and ensure guest lists are being kept up to date. 

Requirements

• 3-5 years of experience in event planning, operations, marketing, or related fields.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills, with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A proactive, problem-solving mindset with a willingness to learn.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable working in-office (3 days/week), supporting evening events, with occasional travel.

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with event management software and tools (Gatsby, Affinity, Google Sheets, Canva, Figma).
• Experience in or passion for the venture capital or startup/tech ecosystem.
• Previous hospitality and/or marketing experience is not required, but is a bonus.
• Experience in community building or management is not required, but is a bonus 
• Experience working in or with the federal government, Capitol Hill, or executive branch agencies
• Background working at a think tank, policy institute, trade association, or advocacy organization
• Familiarity with the DC event venue landscape (e.g., private clubs, embassy spaces, Capitol Hill venues)
• Experience managing high-security or credentialed events with government officials or senior officials requiring special 
• protocols

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Opportunity to work with a dynamic, mission-driven team.
• Exposure to a global network of innovative founders and companies.
• Career development and mentorship in event management.

If you're excited about building exceptional experiences and learning from a world-class team, we'd love to hear from you!

General Catalyst is an equal-opportunity employer.

General Catalyst embraces our responsibility to create a sense of belonging for all races, identities,

genders, and backgrounds across our industry. We are committed to diversifying our industry in terms of both investors and the founders we back.