Senior Project Manager

About The Role

Position

Senior Project Manager

Compensation

50,000 - 60,000 for 6 month project, with possibility to extend

Report to

Chief Operations Officer

Start Date

July 1, 2026

Independent is seeking a disciplined, hands on, Senior Project Manager to support operational planning, cross-functional coordination, and fair execution. This role works closely with management and internal departments to manage timelines, workflows, operational communications, and project delivery across Independent and Independent 20th Century. The Senior Project Manager serves as a central coordination point between teams and external partners, helping ensure projects remain organized, on schedule, and operationally aligned from planning through onsite execution. Importantly, the Senior Project Manager should be passionate about systems and processes, and willing to teach that passion to young teams. This is a leadership position in which coaching young people and shaping mindsets is key.

Key Responsibilities

Operational & Project Leadership

• Lead project planning and operational coordination across multiple concurrent initiatives and fair timelines
• Build and manage detailed project schedules, trackers, operational workflows, and departmental deliverables
• Maintain visibility across interdependent workstreams and proactively identify operational risks, bottlenecks, and scheduling conflicts
• Drive accountability across teams and ensure timely follow-through on action items and deliverables
• Support operational decision-making and escalation management during high-pressure project phases
• Provide strategic leadership through effective coaching and mentorship

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as a central point of coordination between leadership and internal departments including production, exhibitor relations, marketing, VIP, programming, and operations
• Lead recurring cross-department meetings and maintain clear communication across stakeholders
• Ensure operational consistency and alignment across internal systems, timelines, and communications
• Support implementation and refinement of internal workflows, processes, and project management systems

Fair Operations & Vendor Management

• Coordinate with production consultant, contractors, vendors, and service providers throughout planning and onsite execution
• Support fair installation, live event operations, troubleshooting, and breakdown logistics
• Oversee operational readiness across departments during active fair periods
• Assist in managing onsite issue resolution and real-time operational problem-solving

Reporting & Administrative Oversight

• Maintain organized operational documentation, reports, schedules, and project archives
• Support leadership with reporting, planning, and postmortem processes
• Assist with onboarding and knowledge transfer processes during transition periods
• Assist with financial true ups and vendor payments

Systems

• Drive protocols for using systems across the organization (ie Hubspot, Monday.com, Slack, Dropbox)
• Develop and maintain rules around system usage & maintenance
• Work with stakeholders and consultants on transitions from legacy systems to updated systems

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in project management, event operations, exhibition management, live events, or related operational leadership roles
• Strong experience managing complex cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders and overlapping deadlines
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments
• Strong judgment, prioritization, and escalation management capabilities
• Experience managing vendors, production timelines, and operational logistics
• Proficiency with project management platforms such as Monday.com, Asana, Airtable
• Proficiency with office systems such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office
• Proficiency with CRM systems such as Hubspot, Salesforce, or similar platforms
• Experience within art fairs, exhibitions, galleries, cultural organizations, hospitality, or live events valued