Manager, Programming

Blavity Inc. • Contract • Remote • 3d ago

Blavity, Inc. is a venture-funded media and technology company, founded in 2014 around a simple idea: enable Black millennials to tell their own stories. Today, we are home to the largest network of platforms and lifestyle brands serving the multifaceted lives of Black millennials & Gen Z through original content, video, unique experiences, and product solutions. Blavity Inc. has evolved into a market leader for Black media, reaching 250 million users per month through our growing brand portfolio, including Blavity, Blavity360º, AfroTech, Talent Infusion, 21Ninety, Travel Noire, Home & Texture, and Blavity House Party. Our Blavity, Inc. employee community is composed of passionate, energetic, and culturally conscious individuals working together to deliver value to each other, the company, and our clients. We are always searching for new additions to our community that will help us continue to scale, contribute meaningfully to our culture, and advance our strategic direction.

Job Summary:
Blavity Inc. is looking for a contract Manager, Programming to support the curation and execution of speaker-driven programming across AfroTech and other Blavity live events. This role is a contractor role that will work within established systems and processes to manage the speaker experience, coordinate session logistics, and keep programming content accurate and on track from planning through on-site delivery.

This role serves as the secondary point of contact for speakers, working in close partnership with the Senior Manager, Programming. In addition to supporting the primary conference, this person will independently manage programming for smaller events such as one-day activations and virtual summits, owning those projects from agenda development through execution.

The right candidate has direct conference programming experience, is organized under pressure, communicates well with speakers and internal teams, and can manage multiple workstreams simultaneously without dropping details. Previous experience in conference programming is required. Candidates without direct experience managing speaker-driven event content, session logistics, or a similar programming function will not be considered.

This role will report directly to the VP of Content & Programming

Contractors will be responsible for providing their own equipment, including but not limited to laptop computers, cell phones, or any other electronic equipment required to perform their role.

Responsibilities:
Content curation and agenda development

Draft initial program agendas by theme or topic as directed by the executive team and Senior Manager, translating strategic programming priorities into organized session structures.
Support the development and organization of session tracks, agenda grids, and programming schedules in alignment with leadership-defined themes and goals.
Assist in managing the call for proposals (CFP) process, including tracking submissions, coordinating reviews, and communicating outcomes to applicants.
Maintain programming documentation across events, including session descriptions, speaker bios, format details, and content updates.
Ensure programming content meets quality standards and reflects the educational and experiential goals of each event.

Speaker management

Serve as the secondary point of contact for confirmed conference speakers, supporting the Senior Manager in managing all communication from booking confirmation through on-site execution.
Coordinate speaker rehearsals, run-of-show logistics, briefing documents, and presentation material collection.
Collect, organize, and route all speaker-submitted assets (bios, headshots, decks, AV requirements, session descriptions) using established systems and naming conventions.
Track speaker status and outstanding materials in Sessionboard and internal tracking tools, flagging gaps before they become problems.

Smaller event and virtual summit programming

Independently manage programming for one-day events and virtual summits, owning the full project from initial agenda development through post-event wrap.
Develop session plans, source and confirm speakers, manage logistics, and coordinate with Operations and AV for assigned smaller events.
Maintain clear communication with internal stakeholders on event timelines, content decisions, and deliverables for each project.

On-site programming support

Support on-site programming and talent management across assigned events, ensuring speakers are prepared, briefed, and supported day-of.
Assist with real-time session adjustments, content issues, and run-of-show coordination in partnership with Production and AV teams.
Capture on-site learnings and post-event feedback to support continuous improvement for future events.

Qualifications:

3-5 years of experience in conference programming required. Candidates must have direct, hands-on experience managing speaker-driven event content and session logistics for conferences or large-scale live events.
Experience drafting agendas, session tracks, or programming plans from strategic direction.
Familiarity with the call for participants (CFP) process and experience managing speaker communications across multiple events or tracks.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines without losing accuracy.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including editing session descriptions and managing professional correspondence with speakers.
Experience with event management software (Sessionboard or similar) and virtual platform tools.
Proficiency in Google Suite (Google Sheets especially) and Asana; comfortable working in established systems and maintaining data integrity within them.
Ability to work independently and own smaller projects from start to finish.
Genuine connection to Black culture, tech, and the AfroTech community; passion for producing events that reflect and serve our audience.

Details

This is a fully remote, U.S.-based contract role with occasional travel required for events.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.
Approximately 20 hours per week.
Compensation: $45 per hour.
Strong potential for extended engagement based on performance.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter online at BlavityInc.com/Careers.

Blavity is committed to creating a diverse environment free of discrimination and harassment, and building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
Blavity is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, HIV Status, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.