The Head of Events will own the strategy and hands-on execution of high-impact experiences that connect developers, engineering leaders, customers, and the broader tech community with PlanetScale. This role involves managing a global events calendar, driving measurable outcomes in developer acquisition and brand love, and operating as a highly hands-on individual contributor while setting strategy.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end events strategy and portfolio for PlanetScale, spanning owned developer experiences, conference presence, sponsored/partnered events, executive dinners, pop-up activations, meetups, field programs, and hybrid/digital formats.
Set the creative and experiential bar, bringing a strong point of view on design, storytelling, branding, and details so every touchpoint (booth, merch, venue, food, etc) reflects PlanetScale’s brand and stands out.
Drive measurable outcomes in developer acquisition, product adoption, community growth, pipeline, and brand love. Define the metrics that matter and hold the program accountable to them.
Build and manage a global events calendar. Evaluate, prioritize, and execute a disciplined portfolio of events.
Own and manage the events budget with clear ROI frameworks, financial discipline, and the ability to reallocate based on performance data.
Manage vendors, agencies, venues, AV, and creative partners; hold external partners to the same quality standard expected internally.
Operate as a highly hands-on individual contributor while setting strategy. This is a lean role where you’ll both define the vision and drive the majority of the execution yourself, while building the foundation to grow the function over time.
Innovate on format: bring fresh thinking beyond traditional conference booths (hackathons, build-alongs, intimate technical roundtables, hybrid experiences, unique activations, executive events).

Requirements

3+ years of experience in events, experiential marketing, field marketing, Developer Relations, or developer community roles, with meaningful ownership of strategy and execution.
Experience working with developer, engineering, or technical audiences.
Demonstrated ability to manage event budgets and deliver measurable results.
Experience producing or significantly contributing to a mix of owned events, conference presence, executive/customer dinners, meetups, and field activations.
Excellent project management, vendor management, and stakeholder management skills.
Willingness and ability to travel frequently (often 30%+ depending on the calendar) to attend, oversee, and host events.
Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for events.
Strong communication skills and the ability to represent PlanetScale with polish and authenticity in high-stakes settings.
This job requires you to work from our San Francisco office at least 3 days a week.

Nice to have

Prior experience in developer tools, infrastructure, or databases.
Background in Developer Relations or developer community building.
Experience with hybrid or digital-first formats alongside in-person.
Existing relationships in the developer conference and events ecosystem.
Comfort creating or guiding technical storytelling and working closely with DevRel and Product on content and speakers.

Benefits

An employee’s total compensation consists of base salary + variable comp where appropriate + benefits + equity. A member of our Talent Acquisition team will be happy to answer any further questions when we engage with you to begin the interview process.
Base salary range: $180,000 – $250,000 USD