Event Activations Manager, Branded Merch Industry

Proven Promotions · Santa Ana, CA · Full-time · On-site + event travel across US
$24–$30/hour + commission

Help brands show up in person, and make those moments count.

At Proven, our clients want more than a logo on a shirt. They want people to experience their brand, remember it, and walk away wearing it. That's what our event activations deliver, and we're looking for the person who'll help us grow this side of the business.

About Proven Promotions
Proven is a growing distributorship in the promotional products industry, delivering creative branded merchandise solutions and related services to our clients. Our core business at Proven is Branded Merch Creative Ideation & Sourcing, but we also offer Onsite Merch Activations like our Hat Bar, Online Shops, On Demand Shops, Redemption Shops, Fulfillment/Kitting/Warehousing and Custom Product Development. We specialize in creative solutions for our clients using our favorite medium, branded merch!

About the role
We are seeking an experienced and driven individual to oversee our event activations. The ideal candidate is sales-driven, organized, proactive, calm-under-pressure yet energetic, process improving, creative, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

You'll own our event activations from start to finish. You'll find and welcome clients, sell the packages, staff the events, run them on-site, and post about them afterward. A year from now, success looks like a steady calendar of booked events you sourced yourself, an event staff pool you can count on, a social presence that brings in inquiries, and a book of event clients who come back to Proven for their other branded merch needs.

What you'll do

• Be on-site at every event we book. Plan, organize, hire, set up, run the activations, manage the client relationship, and break down.
• Sell event and activation packages. Cold call, email, and network to bring in new business, then take it from first conversation to signed booking.
• Grow event clients into merch clients. When an event client needs gifts, giveaways, or displays/signage for that event, you bring it to Proven and earn commission on it.
• Hire and lead event staff. Recruit, schedule, and train the crew who work our events.
• Build Proven's social media. Shoot photos and video at events, create content, and post consistently so our work sells itself.
• Keep it organized. Track leads, bookings, event logistics, and follow-ups so nothing slips.
• Pitch in where needed. We're a small team, and this role will grow as the program grows.

What we're looking for

Required:

• 2+ years of experience in events, sales, hospitality, or marketing
• Experience making outbound sales calls or prospecting for new business
• Examples of social media content you've created for a brand, business, or yourself
• Available for evenings and weekends when events are booked
• Reliable transportation to get to events across Southern California
• Able to set up and break down event displays, including lifting up to 40 lbs

Nice to have:

• Experience in promotional products, apparel, or experiential marketing
• Experience hiring, scheduling, or leading event staff (small to large groups)
• Comfortable with photo and video editing tools (Canva, CapCut, Adobe, etc.)
• Existing network of event planners, venues, or local businesses in Orange County or LA

Pay and perks

• $24–$30/hour, based on experience
• Commission on merchandise orders from your event clients
• Overtime paid on long event days
• A role you can shape and grow as the events program grows

How to apply
Apply through Indeed with your resume and a link to 2–3 pieces of social content you've made. In a few sentences, tell us about the best event you've worked and what you did to make it great.

Proven Promotions is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Experience:

• Branded Merchandise: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Santa Ana, CA 92705