Astronaut Events & Experience Manager

Reporting to the Vice President, Astronaut Office & Experience, as the Astronaut Event & Experience Manager, you will be responsible for the execution of facility-based activities for our Astronaut Community, ensuring each interaction reflects Virgin Galactic’s standards, values, and commitment to education and operational excellence. As part of the Astronaut Office & Experience team, you will help deliver high-quality, immersive experiences that build confidence, excitement, and readiness for spaceflight. Support the company strategy by holding yourself and one another accountable for getting the work done. 

These experiences are based out of our Las Cruces, New Mexico office and are primarily centered at Spaceport America, New Mexico, with frequent travel to Phoenix, Arizona and regular visits to other Virgin Galactic facilities.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver astronaut experiences – design, coordinate, and execute engaging on-site events that support astronaut preparation, foster community, and build excitement for the spaceflight experience.
• Host and compere astronaut experiences  – lead from the front to manage the attendees, tailor to the individual, build strong relationships within the community and develop a deep understanding of their motivations.
• Manage event execution end to end – oversee all phases of experience delivery, from planning through execution and post-event reconciliation, ensuring objectives are met and high standards upheld.
• Deliver attendee communications – manage pre and post-event communications to ensure participants are informed, prepared, and supported throughout the experience.
• Coordinate cross-functional delivery – work collaboratively to achieve goals and/or complete tasks in partnership with internal teams, including Security and facility partners, to ensure seamless execution, attendee readiness, and compliance with access requirements.
• Manage vendors and contracts – source, coordinate, and manage external vendors; negotiate contracts; oversee vendor delivery to ensure quality and reliability.
• Own event budgets – create and manage experience budgets in alignment with company guidelines; track expenses and implement cost controls to ensure delivery within approved parameters.
• Develop feedback and improvement loops – implement post-event feedback mechanisms, analyze insights, and apply learnings to continuously improve future experiences.
• Support forward planning – contribute to the development of a forward-looking experience calendar for the Future Astronaut community, partnering with internal stakeholders to ensure a balanced and diverse offering.
• Establish experience standards – create, document, and maintain operating guidelines and standards for all facility-based experiences to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability.

Required Skills and Experience

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in premium, bespoke event management, hospitality management or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing events from concept through execution and reconciliation
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport in high-touch, customer-facing environments with professionalism
• Communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas. 
• Experience managing budgets, vendors, and contracts
• Exceptional attention to detail with a strong focus on process and logistics
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive progress in a fast-paced environment
• Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to work independently
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Proven ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Willingness to work outside standard business hours to support a global customer base

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The annual U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $81,650.00–$124,600.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles. 

Export Requirements 
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list