Program Development Associate (PDA) – Venue Acquisition & Partnerships

Role Overview

The Program Development Associate (PDA) focuses on sourcing, negotiating, and locking in venue partnerships for events and experiences. You will own the full venue acquisition pipeline—from scouting locations and pitching venue managers to negotiating commercial terms and closing legally binding agreements.

Key Responsibilities

Venue Scouting & Pipeline Management

Research, map, and identify potential venue partners (cafes, co-working hubs, performance lounges, microbreweries, studios, and outdoor spaces).

Build and maintain a structured pipeline of active venue leads, tracking outreach, site visits, and negotiation stages.

Outreach & Pitching

Initiate contact with General Managers, venue owners, and event heads via phone, email, WhatsApp, and in-person visits.

Deliver compelling partnership pitches showcasing footfall potential, high-margin F&B generation, and cross-promotional value.

On-Ground Site Inspections (Recces)

Conduct thorough venue recces to evaluate capacity, technical feasibility (A/V, acoustics, lighting, power backup), accessibility, and overall suitability.

Identify potential operational bottlenecks and establish on-ground entry/exit flows.

Commercial Negotiation & Deal Closing

Negotiate favorable commercial structures, including revenue-share splits, minimum spend/cover charge agreements, and hybrid rental models.

Drive deals through to contract execution, ensuring clear terms around cancellations, damages, sound curfews, and payment schedules.

Relationship Management & Handover

Maintain relationships with venue partners to secure priority bookings, repeat deals, and favorable recurring terms.

Create smooth operational handovers to the Event Operations team with detailed venue specs and agreement terms.