Department: Small Business & Innovation
Reports to: VP of Small Business & Innovation
Location: LEAP’s office is located in a historic redeveloped building in the heart of the REO Town district with free arking, immediate access to the River Trail and within a short walk or bike ride to downtown Lansing.
Posiiton type: Exempt (Full-time)
Salary range: $56,000 – $60,000 commensurate on demonstrated skills and experience.
Benefits:
- Competitive health insurance offering, including dental and vision
• 401(k) program with 1:1 employer match up to 6% and immediate vesting
• Additional ancillary benefits such as annual performance pay bonuses
• Best-in-class paid time off and paid holidays
• Health savings account
• Fully paid life, short- and long-term disability insurance
Overview:
LEAP's Small Business & Innovation department is seeking a Small Business & Innovation Events Manager to lead the planning and execution of 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation (E&I) Week, LEAP's flagship annual event connecting entrepreneurs, partners, sponsors, and the broader Lansing innovation ecosystem. This role will own E&I Week end to end, from developing and securing sponsorship opportunities and managing sponsor relationships to kickoff event coordination, hub programming, and volunteer management. The role will also take responsibility for other department events throughout the year, including The Connect and other events as assigned.
A key component of this role is developing and executing a sponsorship strategy that generates financial support for E&I Week while building strong, long-term relationships with businesses and ecosystem partners. This is an opportunity to shape and grow a signature regional event, build lasting relationships across the Lansing region's entrepreneurial community, and help expand the resources available to support entrepreneurship and innovation.
Roles & Responsibilities
• Plan, coordinate, and execute 517 E&I Week, including the kickoff event, week-long hub programming, and coordination with partner-hosted sessions
• Develop and execute an annual sponsorship strategy for 517 E&I Week, including identifying prospects, conducting outreach, developing sponsorship opportunities, soliciting and securing financial support, and managing sponsor deliverables
• Build and maintain relationships with current and prospective sponsors, businesses, and ecosystem partners to grow sponsorship revenue and long-term engagement
• Develop sponsorship materials, proposals, presentations, and customized partnership opportunities aligned with sponsor goals and E&I Week priorities
• Track sponsorship commitments, payments, benefits, and fulfillment to ensure a strong sponsor experience
• Secure and manage relationships with keynote speakers for E&I Week
• Design and oversee small activations within the hub to engage attendees between sessions
• Recruit, train, and manage event volunteers
• Plan and execute The Connect
• Manage event budgets, timelines, and vendor relationships
• Coordinate with internal teams (marketing/communications, the SmartZone, program staff) to ensure aligned messaging and logistics
• Manage a contractor supporting event planning and execution
• Evaluate event outcomes and gather feedback to continuously improve programming
• Build and maintain relationships with entrepreneurs, sponsors, and ecosystem partners
