Experiential Marketing Program Manager

Program Manager, Experiential Activations & Product Demonstrations

Location: Menlo Park, CA (San Francisco, CA also considered)

Job Type: 12-Month Contract

Travel: 40–50%, including occasional evenings, weekends, and international travel

** This is an on-site contract position for 12-months with potential to extend. **

Our tech client is seeking an experienced Program Manager, Experiential Activations & Product Demonstrations to lead high-profile product experiences, executive demonstrations, and partner activations for innovative consumer technology spanning wearables, virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and digital applications.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys bringing emerging technology to life, and can confidently engage senior executives, high-profile talent, and strategic partners. You’ll own activations from planning through execution, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver seamless, memorable experiences at major events and exclusive partner engagements.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead end-to-end experiential activations and live product demonstrations, from major industry events to high-touch, one-on-one executive and partner engagements.
• Develop compelling product narratives and deliver engaging demonstrations of both released and unreleased technologies to senior executives, celebrities, and influential partners.
• Support senior leaders during high-visibility engagements, ensuring polished presentations and seamless execution.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to test activation strategies, refine execution playbooks, and share best practices.
• Coordinate event logistics, staffing, equipment inventory, device setup, schedules, contingency plans, and post-event follow-up.
• Collaborate with teams across partnerships, marketing, communications, policy, and security to align resources, approvals, and execution.
• Train and enable colleagues on product onboarding to ensure a seamless experience for external partners.
• Maintain clear project documentation, timelines, task trackers, and project boards while leveraging AI tools to improve operational efficiency.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience in experiential marketing, field marketing, event production, partnerships, or a related field.
• Proven experience managing live activations or product demonstrations from concept through execution, including on-site ownership under tight deadlines and changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive execution across complex, cross-functional organizations.
• Experience presenting to and engaging senior executives, high-profile talent, major officials, or other influential audiences.
• Strong understanding of, and enthusiasm for, consumer technology, with the ability to communicate complex product concepts clearly.
• Experience managing external partner engagements, product launches, or product-seeding programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to travel 40–50%, including occasional evenings, weekends, and international trips.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience delivering hardware demonstrations, product-seeding programs, or partner-facing technology activations.
• Experience managing activations across multiple markets or internationally.
• Experience supporting VIPs or high-profile talent and coordinating with talent representatives and security teams.
• Background in media, sports, entertainment, music, fashion, creator partnerships, or similar industries.
• Experience working with policymakers, government affairs teams, or institutional partners.
• Experience developing training materials or enabling cross-functional teams on product onboarding.
• Familiarity with AI tools, workflow automation, and emerging technologies to improve efficiency and quality.
• Understanding of responsible AI practices, including quality assurance, risk assessment, and bias mitigation.

** This is an on-site contract position for 12-months with potential to extend. **

Compensation Range: $70-$80/hr

** This pay range is Client-specific for the opening advertised. The identity of the Client will be disclosed if you are selected to move forward in the hiring process. **

Benefits:

• Employer contributions toward the cost of employee-only medical and dental premiums
• Vision - opt-in available
• 401k
• PTO
• Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, AD&D coverage
• Short-term Disability, Accident, Cancer/Critical Illness, Pet insurance - opt in available