Employment Opportunities 

If there are no currently job listings posted here, please send your resume to Shannon McLaughlin, ​Vice President of Operations & Administration, at smclaughlin@mrla.org to be kept on file for future openings.

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Grassroots & Event Coordinator 

Department: Government Affairs
Reports To: Vice President, Government Affairs

Job Summary: Provide planning, management, and promotion of meetings and events; and provide grassroots and local advocacy management for the Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association (MRLA). Please send resume and cover letter to John McNamara, Vice President of Government Affairs, at jmcnamara@mrla.org.  

Essential Job Functions
 Event Planning & Management:

• Provide event management for the MRLA to include meetings and events for the Board of Directors, Government Affairs, and Membership Department as needed.
• Government Affairs: Plan and execute annual Political Action Committee (PAC) fundraising events as well as legislative days under the direction of the Vice President, Government Affairs
• Membership Department: Plan and execute various regional events to promote membership with MRLA under the direction of Vice President, Marketing & Membership Strategy
• Women In Hospitality Leadership (WIHL): Plan and execute annual WIHL Conference and regional Chapter events under the direction of Vice President, Marketing & Membership Strategy
• MRLA Board of Directors: Plan and execute event logistics for Board of Directors events including quarterly meetings, strategic planning meetings, and others as needed
• Maintain meetings calendar, timelines, and checklists for events
• Responsible for staffing registration and set up for events
• Create and maintain events and records in MRLA’s database
• Responsible for selling event-specific sponsorships for all MRLA events and associated administrative tasks (excludes MRLA Corporate Sponsors and Michigan Hospitality Foundation/Education events)
• Maintain MRLA Banquet Room rental schedule and coordinate setup
• Negotiate contracts, including room blocks, food & beverage, and audio/visual
• Verify contractual obligations are met
• Work with department heads to ensure events are within budget

Grassroots and Local Advocacy Management

• Monitor, track, and report introductions at the municipal level
• When necessary, travel to attend committee hearings/meetings
• Serve as a liaison between MRLA and local hospitality groups including Detroit Restaurant & Lodging Association (DRLA)
• Attend relevant coalition meetings that align advocacy goals at local and state level
• Research and draft legislative summaries for weekly newsletter updates & quarterly articles
• Assist the Vice President, Government Affairs in preparing materials for meetings
• Manage schedule for Vice President, Government Affairs
• Other tasks as assigned 

Education, Experience & Skills

1. Associate degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred

1. Minimum two years administrative or meeting planning experience required
2. Working knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office Suite
3. Experience with Association Management Systems databases preferred
4. Ability to interpret Banquet Event Orders (BEOs)
5. Ability to negotiate contracts
6. Legislative experience preferred
7. Familiarity with Michigan Campaign Finance Law preferred

 
 Key Competencies 

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills

1. Excellent customer service skills
2. Ability to multi-task and quickly adapt
3. Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time
4. Comfortable performing in a high-pressure and fast-paced environment
5. Attention to detail and accuracy
6. Able to take instruction and direction

 Working Conditions & Physical Requirements 
Office work will be performed indoors in a generally comfortable office environment. Event Management may require employee to be on-site at meeting venue whether indoors or outdoors. Employees must possess the following physical requirements:

1. Able to communicate on a telephone and hear and speak clearly to MRLA members and others served “in-person”
2. Sufficient vision to read printed documents, computer screens, forms and other communications with or without corrective lenses
3. Able to sit or stand for long periods of time.
4. Able to reach above shoulder level, bend, squat, sit, stand, crouch, reach, kneel, twist, and turn.
5. Able to travel locally and out-of-town using private or commercial transportation and staying in public accommodations.
6. Able to attend meetings, conventions, outings and other events, which may be held in large convention facilities with various accessibility, and maneuver through such facilities to perform a broad variety of duties.
7. Able to work outside of the regular hours of 8-5, Monday – Friday to include early mornings, later nights and some weekends from time to time depending on events scheduled.

 Professional/Technical Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

1. Computer skills, including the ability to prepare correspondence and reports in Microsoft Office Suites
2. Experience with Atlas membership management software preferred, but not required
3. Ability to prioritize work, manage time and work independently and responsibly
4. Demonstrate sound judgment in exhibiting behavior that may impact the organization
5. Demonstrate positive interactions with employees, as well as existing and prospective MRLA members
6. Demonstrate professional image, maturity, self-confidence and positive attitude
7. Excellent phone etiquette