Description

Job Summary
The Associate Director of Talent & Programming oversees talent sourcing, logistics management, and programming development for large-scale culinary and wine events. This role is responsible for curating high-quality programming while ensuring seamless execution of cooking demonstrations, wine seminars, and talent-driven experiences.

Working closely with editorial, event, public relations, and cross-functional teams, this position shapes event schedules, manages talent relationships from outreach through on-site execution, and leads a small team to deliver exceptional programming.

This is a hybrid role with in-office and remote flexibility.

 
Key Responsibilities
Talent Sourcing
Lead talent sourcing efforts across chefs, winemakers, beverage professionals, and culinary personalities
Identify, prioritize, and secure high-profile talent aligned with programming goals
Maintain strong relationships with talent, agents, publicists, and industry partners
Support editorial-driven talent initiatives and outreach efforts
Programming Development & Curation
Collaborate with editorial teams to develop and curate event programming schedules
Assess programming needs, event flow, and capacity requirements
Ensure programming is diverse, innovative, and aligned with brand standards
Talent & Programming Logistics
Oversee production and execution of seminars and demonstrations
Manage talent logistics including scheduling, travel coordination, and on-site support
Partner with production and operations teams to ensure seamless event execution
Serve as primary point of contact for talent during planning and on-site activities
Ensure exceptional hospitality and talent preparedness
Team Leadership & Collaboration
Manage and mentor direct reports, providing guidance and development opportunities
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Editorial, PR, Operations, Production, Sponsorship, and Marketing
Oversee talent-related budgets including forecasting, expense tracking, and reconciliation
Support sponsorship execution as needed
Ensure clear communication across teams to facilitate smooth execution
 

Requirements

Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree preferred in marketing, communications, or a related field; equivalent experience considered

Experience:

7+ years of experience in talent management, event programming, editorial programming, or live event production
Experience working with high-profile or celebrity talent preferred
Prior people management experience required
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Strong understanding of culinary, wine, and beverage industries, including emerging trends
Proven ability to manage complex logistics and multiple stakeholders
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure live event environments
Flexibility to work non-traditional hours during peak planning and event execution periods