Role: Operations & Production Manager | Feb 2025 – Jan 2026 | Seattle, WA
Overview:
The Seattle Christmas Market is a large-scale seasonal event, attracting over 180,000 visitors and featuring 80+ vendors, 10+ external suppliers, live performances, and immersive holiday experiences.
Summary:
In 2025, I served as Operations & Production Manager for the Seattle Christmas Market, a dynamic seasonal event drawing thousands of visitors across multiple weekends. This hybrid role required balancing strategic planning, team leadership, and hands-on event execution to deliver a seamless experience for both guests and vendors. I worked closely with cross-functional teams, vendors, and contractors to ensure the market operated smoothly from pre-production through load-out.
The Challenge
The Seattle Christmas Market faced several logistical and operational challenges. Vendor coordination, build-in/load-out schedules, and inventory management had to be executed with precision to maintain event flow and guest satisfaction. Additionally, the market was expanding, requiring more robust systems for communication, reporting, and risk management, all while keeping operations aligned with budget constraints.
Actions & Responsibilities
- Team Leadership & Collaboration: Oversaw a seasonal staff of 10+, fostering collaboration, assigning responsibilities, and maintaining clear communication across multiple departments.
- Operational Planning: Developed and executed detailed pre-production, load-in, and load-out plans for over 80 vendors, entertainment setups, and festival infrastructure. Optimized workflows to reduce delays and prevent bottlenecks.
- Supplier & Contractor Management: Negotiated contracts and coordinated schedules with external suppliers, ensuring all materials and equipment arrived on time and met quality standards.
- Budget & Resource Oversight: Managed a $3M+ operating budget, monitored expenses, and implemented cost-saving measures without compromising the guest experience.
- Problem Solving Under Pressure: Quickly resolved last-minute challenges, from inclement weather adjustments to vendor issues, while maintaining a smooth experience for attendees.
Results & Impact
- Delivered a flawless operational rollout of the event with zero major incidents during load-in or live operations.
- Improved inventory and logistics management, reducing setup time by 15% compared to previous years.
- Received recognition from leadership and vendors for maintaining clear communication and effective problem-solving under pressure.
- Enhanced team efficiency through streamlined workflows and task delegation, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
- Created systems and documentation to support consistency in future years of the market.
Highlighted Skills
Operations Management | Team Leadership | Budget Oversight | Vendor & Contractor Coordination | Risk Management | Event Logistics | Problem Solving | Strategic Planning
