Sr. Events & Operations Specialist

Rivian · Palo Alto, California

About Us

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is a joint venture between two industry leaders with a clear vision for automotive’s next chapter. From operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions, we’re addressing the challenges of electric vehicles through technology that will set the standards for software-defined vehicles around the world.

The road to the future is uncharted. By combining our expertise across connectivity, AI, security and more, we’ll map a new way forward. Working together, we’ll create a future that’s more connected, more intelligent, more sustainable for everyone.

Role Summary

We’re looking for a dynamic and highly organized Sr. Events & Operations Specialist to own and elevate every touchpoint of how we engage executive visitors, partners, and our own teams. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role for someone who is passionate about crafting exceptional experiences - from VIP visits and leadership summits to company-wide all-hands events.

Additionally, this role serves as a crucial backup for our Senior Leadership Administrative Partners. When our admin partners are at capacity, traveling, or out of the office, you will step in to provide administrative support to our leadership team.This role will be flex 3 days a week in our Palo Alto, California office.

Responsibilities

Experience & Events (Primary Focus - 75%)

  • End-to-End Event Management: Conceive, plan and run internal and external events, including, but not limited to, executive offsites, leadership summits, team happy hours, and company-all-hands meetings.

  • VIP & Visitor Logistics: Handle travel, lodging, meeting schedules, and on-site details for visiting executives, partners, and VIP guests.

  • Vendor & Venue Management: Research, book, and negotiate contracts with venues, caterers, AV production crews, and transportation services.

  • Materials & Communication: Create and distribute all communication and event material, including polished event schedules, welcome packets, and briefing documents for attendees.

  • Budgeting: Manage the budgets for events and visitor programs, ensuring high-quality experiences while keeping costs tracking to plan.

  • Safety & Coordination: Ensure visitor events comply with building security and safety protocols, and collaborate with internal teams for smooth execution.

Executive Assistant Backup & Support (Secondary Focus - 25%, As Needed)

  • EA Coverage: Act as the primary backup for our Executive Assistant team, stepping in to support executive leaders during peak times, vacations, or leaves of absence.

  • Calendar & Travel: Assist with managing complex calendars and booking domestic or international travel when providing coverage.

  • Expenses & Admin: Handle expense reports accurately and on time, and manage vendor invoices or payments as requested.

  • Meeting Prep: Help organize meeting agendas, prepare presentation slides, and compile briefing materials.

  • Confidentiality: Maintain strict privacy regarding sensitive business discussions and executive data.

  • Special Projects: Take on occasional administrative projects to help the leadership team run smoothly.

Qualifications

  • 7+ years of experience in corporate event planning, hospitality, or executive administrative support (ideally in a fast-paced or tech environment).

  • Proven track record of successfully planning and running corporate events from start to finish.

  • Strong project management skills: ability to keep multiple events organized simultaneously with high attention to details.

  • A hospitality mindset and white glove approach: you genuinely enjoy taking care of people, anticipating needs before they arise, and solving problems on the fly.

  • Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to interact professionally with senior executives and high-profile guests.

  • Experience managing budgets and negotiating contracts with external vendors.

  • Proficiency with productivity tools (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365), expense software, and project management tools.

  • High discretion and experience handling confidential information and high-sensitivity situations.

Total Rewards

Full-time positions include base salary, eligibility for an annual performance bonus, and eligibility for equity.

In addition to base salary, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies offers benefits tailored to the local market. For more information on the benefits available for full-time employees, check out our Global Benefits Site.

External candidates can apply for this role through the Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies careers site (https://rivianvw.tech/#careers). If you are a current employee, please apply through our internal job board.

Equal Opportunity

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are also committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable fair employment practice laws regarding citizenship and immigration status.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies is committed to ensuring that our hiring process is accessible for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability or limitation, such as those covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, that requires accommodations to assist you in the search and application process, please email us at [email protected].

Candidate Data Privacy

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies” may collect, use and disclose your personal information or personal data (within the meaning of the applicable data protection laws) when you apply for employment and/or participate in our recruitment processes (“Candidate Personal Data”). This data includes contact, demographic, communications, educational, professional, employment, social media/website, network/device, recruiting system usage/interaction, security and preference information. Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use your Candidate Personal Data for the purposes of (i) tracking interactions with our recruiting system; (ii) carrying out, analyzing and improving our application and recruitment process, including assessing you and your application and conducting employment, background and reference checks; (iii) establishing an employment relationship or entering into an employment contract with you; (iv) complying with our legal, regulatory and corporate governance obligations; (v) record keeping; (vi) ensuring network and information security and preventing fraud; and (vii) as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may share your Candidate Personal Data with (i) internal personnel who have a need to know such information in order to perform their duties, including individuals on our People Team, Finance, Legal, and the team(s) with the position(s) for which you are applying; (ii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies affiliates; and (iii) Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies’ service providers, including providers of background checks, staffing services, and cloud services.

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may transfer or store internationally your Candidate Personal Data, including to or in the United States, Canada, and the European Union and in the cloud, and this data may be subject to the laws and accessible to the courts, law enforcement and national security authorities of such jurisdictions.

If you provide a mobile telephone number as part of your application or during the recruitment process, Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies may use that number to contact you via SMS text message for recruitment-related purposes, including scheduling, logistics, and status updates. Message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message you receive from us. Consent to receive SMS messages is not a condition of applying for or being considered for employment.

Please see our Candidate Data Privacy Notice (English) and Candidate Data Privacy Notice (Serbian) for more information.

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Please note this job posting represents an open, active vacancy. Additionally, we are not currently accepting applications from third party application services.

Operations pay context

Based on 4,346 disclosed Operations salaries on RoleSuite, the role pays a median of $110K/year, with most offers between $83K and $145K (10th–90th percentile: $66K–$184K).

This posting lists $107K–$134K, in line with the $110K market median.

See the full Operations salary breakdown →
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