Good on Paper Books and Stationery

We’re looking for a creative, highly organized Community & Events Lead to take ownership of our in-store events and community programming. This is a hands-on role for someone who loves turning ideas into experiences, communicates exceptionally well, and can manage every detail from the first outreach email through event follow-up.

What You’ll Do

Event Planning & Programming

• Manage and maintain Good on Paper’s event and programming calendar.
• Develop creative event concepts that reflect our customers, neighborhood, books, and brand.
• Plan and execute author events, book clubs, workshops, children’s programming, release parties, seasonal events, community partnerships, and other special programming.
• Develop detailed event timelines, checklists, and run-of-show plans.
• Proactively track deadlines, outstanding items, and follow-ups to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
• Identify programming opportunities that increase store traffic, customer engagement, and community participation.

Authors, Vendors & Community Partners

• Serve as the primary point of contact for authors, publishers, speakers, instructors, vendors, and community partners.
• Communicate professionally and promptly from initial outreach through post-event follow-up.
• Coordinate schedules, agreements, book orders, supplies, hospitality, technical needs, and special requests.
• Build relationships with local organizations and businesses to develop partnerships and collaborative programming.

Ticketing, Technology & Event Administration

• Create and manage event registration and ticketing through Eventbrite and other platforms as needed.
• Monitor registrations, ticket sales, capacity, waitlists, cancellations, and attendee communications.
• Maintain organized event records, calendars, contact information, planning documents, and shared files.
• Use Google Workspace—including Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Forms—to manage event planning and internal communication.
• Create polished event graphics, signage, and promotional materials using Canva.
• Coordinate event communications through email marketing and other digital platforms.
• Learn and confidently use Good on Paper’s existing technology and systems. 

Marketing & Promotion

• Develop a clear promotional plan and timeline for each event.
• Create or coordinate event listings, email communications, social media content, signage, and in-store promotional materials.
• Ensure event information is accurate and consistent across all channels.
• Promote events early and consistently enough to build awareness and attendance.
• Coordinate with store leadership and staff to ensure everyone has the information needed to effectively promote upcoming programming.

Event Execution

• Lead event setup, check-in, author and guest hospitality, customer flow, and breakdown.
• Ensure events feel organized, welcoming, and distinctly Good on Paper.
• Coordinate staff responsibilities for larger events and high-traffic programming.
• Troubleshoot quickly and calmly when plans change. 

Tracking & Improvement

• Track RSVPs, attendance, ticket sales, costs, and other relevant event results.
• Gather feedback and evaluate event performance to improve future programming.
• Monitor event expenses and work within established budgets.
• Help develop programming that balances community engagement with the bookstore's business goals.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience planning and executing events, programs, community engagement, hospitality, or similar work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write polished, professional emails and communicate confidently with authors, publishers, vendors, customers, and community partners.
• Exceptional attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.You track open items, meet deadlines, follow up without prompting, and close the loop.
• Strong technology skills and confidence in learning new platforms and systems.
• Working proficiency with Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Forms), Canva, and Eventbrite or comparable platforms.
• Experience managing online registrations, ticketing, attendee lists, and event communications.
• Strong time-management skills and the ability to manage multiple events, deadlines, and conversations simultaneously.
• Creativity and enthusiasm for developing experiences people genuinely want to attend.
• Sound judgment and the ability to work independently, identify what needs to happen next, and take initiative.
• Comfortable collaborating closely with store leadership and booksellers.
• Availability for evenings and weekends based on the event calendar.
• Ability to work on-site at our Houston Heights bookstore.

About You

You enjoy bringing people together. You’re equally comfortable brainstorming a creative event, writing a professional email to an author’s publicist, building an Eventbrite page, designing a graphic in Canva, creating a Google Sheet, managing a guest list, and moving chairs ten minutes before the doors open.

You are an exceptional communicator and a meticulous organizer. If you say you’ll follow up, you follow up. If there’s an unanswered email, an approaching deadline, a missing detail, or an outstanding task, you notice it and take care of it. Most importantly, you’re a doer. You notice what needs to happen, make a plan, communicate clearly, use the tools available to you, and follow through from idea to execution.

This is a part-time, on-site position based at Good on Paper Books & Stationery in Houston, Texas. Evening and weekend availability is required based on the event calendar.

Good on Paper Books & Stationery is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants who are excited about creating thoughtful, inclusive experiences for Houston’s reading community.

Good on Paper Books & Stationery is an independent neighborhood bookstore in Houston Heights built around great books, thoughtful experiences, and community. From author events and book clubs to children’s programming, workshops, release parties, and seasonal events, programming is an important part of how we connect with our customers and bring people into the store.