The medical community, nonprofit organizations, and event-planning companies employ some of the positions detailed in the following sections. You may also find these positions exist to varying degrees outside of event-planning companies.

Development

The development staff is overseen by a senior event manager. Once the management team designs the event, the development staff will begin organizing the details for the event. The development team organizes invitations, rentals, and other specifics for an event. In large organizations, the development team can have a few hundred staff members in the department.

Fundraising

The fundraising staff within a company controls the communication with contributors. Members of the staff spearhead donation letter campaigns throughout the year as well as invitations to fundraisers. A senior member of a fundraising team may handle the accounting side of the fundraiser. Obtaining a tax identification number for the organization as well as managing the banking issues might fall under her responsibilities.

Nonprofit companies may appoint a senior staff member solely to liaise with key contributors. His responsibilities would include staying up-to-date with a sponsor using a personalized letter of contribution. Some nonprofit companies may also host events for key contributors that the senior fundraising staff member would organize and host.

Production

Once the development team has organized the event details, the information is passed along to the production team. In the days and weeks before the event, the production team stages the details to fit the venue. The production team may suggest the length of setup time, strategies for setup, and breakdown organization. On the day of the event, the production team is involved in the execution of the entire setup. A senior event manager usually supervises the development team.

Creative Department

The creative department brings the ideas of the event to life. The client will brainstorm with the creative department for concepts and design the event's theme. Once the creative department has met with the client, they set to work and turn inspiration into concrete details. Once the client approves the details, the creative department partners up with the production team to execute the event.

Event Assistant

The event manager supervises the event assistant. The assistant will work alongside the event manager in an administrative role and may attend the event. While the event assistant usually does not have contact with the client, he is gaining valuable experience. Computer skills, communication techniques, and clerical proficiency are all developed while being an event assistant.

Event Manager

The event manager supervises all departments regarding her event. The event manager is the main point of contact for a client. She directs each department according to the client's needs. The event manager will also attend and supervise the event itself.

Senior Event Manager

An owner or acting partner may hold the title of senior event manager. The senior event manager supervises all of the event managers and steps in when conflict resolution is needed. The senior event manager may manage or supervise the accounting ends of the business. It is possible he may not directly design events on a daily basis but may only work on high-profile affairs.

Breaking into the event-planning industry takes as much creativity as planning an event. You must approach this task with good judgment and a positive outlook. If you are willing to adapt to different environments, you will make the most of each experience.