At Gardner, we believe commercial construction should feel as welcoming as it is professional. That’s why we don’t just build and remodel —we build relationships, rooted in hospitality. Our mission is to set the platinum standard for our clients, partners, and team members by delivering exceptional results while embodying our core values: passion, humility, excellence, empathy, and nimbleness. We bring a hospitality-driven approach to every project, ensuring that every interaction is thoughtful, responsive, and human-centered.
Who You Are
You’re a thoughtful, creative, and detail-oriented professional who thrives on creating experiences that make people feel seen, celebrated, and connected. You love making things happen behind the scenes—whether it’s planning an unforgettable company event, curating a meaningful recognition moment, or designing branded swag that people love. You believe in the power of culture and hospitality to bring people together and elevate the everyday. You’re collaborative, proactive, and deeply invested in building a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
How You’ll Contribute
Event Management
- Plan and execute large-scale company events, including holiday parties, Vision Meetings, team-building outings, and other initiatives.
- Manage event logistics including venue/vendor coordination, supply sourcing, budget tracking, and day-of execution.
- Craft internal communications to promote events and drive engagement.
- Collect and evaluate post-event feedback to continually improve the experience.
Culture & Engagement Initiatives
- Support and implement initiatives that bring our culture to life across the organization.
- Lead the internal culture committee to brainstorm and deliver employee-focused activities (e.g., happy hours, jobsite lunches, baby showers, etc.).
- Support cross-functional events, such as jobsite tours and hospitality activations, to strengthen team relationships.
- Administer employee engagement surveys and gather feedback to improve experiences.
- Collaborate with leadership and the Employee Engagement team to enhance key moments across the employee lifecycle.
Apparel Program & Branded Items
- Source and distribute company apparel, uniforms, swag, and branded items.
- Partner with marketing on brand-aligned designs and sourcing.
- Develop and administer a branded employee store, ensuring access and availability across locations.
Employee Recognition & Milestones
- Coordinate and evolve recognition programs to celebrate individuals and teams.
- Manage tools, budgets, and custom gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, onboarding, promotions, retirements, and more.
- Design and deliver meaningful recognition moments with a high level of hospitality.
- Share stories of celebration and impact through internal communications.
Employee Engagement & Hospitality Support
- Support onboarding hospitality touchpoints, such as welcome gifts and team welcome events.
- Serve as backup to the Hospitality Coordinator (front desk) and support additional engagement initiatives as needed.
What You’ll Bring
- 3+ years of experience in event planning or employee engagement, preferably in a corporate setting.
- Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Communications, Marketing, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
- Experience managing large-scale events, including budgeting, logistics, and vendor management.
- Deep passion for hospitality and creating best-in-class experiences.
- Strong grasp of employee engagement principles, including how recognition and culture impact retention and morale.
- Service-oriented and empathetic, with the ability to personalize experiences that make individuals feel valued.
- Creative and inclusive mindset for designing recognition programs and culture-building initiatives
- Proven project management and organizational skills; able to juggle multiple priorities and logistics with precision.
- Excellent communicator and collaborator with strong interpersonal skills and experience in cross-functional coordination.
- Calm and solutions-focused under pressure, with flexibility to support events outside of standard work hours on occasion.
What Will Set You Apart
- Experience managing apparel programs.
- Familiarity with recognition platforms and internal communication tools.
Why Join Gardner Builders?
We are proud to be recognized as:
- 7-Time “Best Places to Work” by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
- 6-Time “Top 150 Workplaces” by Minneapolis Star Tribune
- #1 Top Workplace in Construction by Star Tribune (2023)
- 4-Time “Best Workplace” by Inc Magazine
- “Best Places to Work” by Milwaukee Business Journal
Our culture-first approach encourages personal and professional growth, an EOS-led structure, and a commitment to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, challenged and loves coming to work.
Compensation & Benefits
- Annual Salary:
$60,000 - $75,000 (paid weekly) + discretionary bonus.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, HSA with employer contribution, and 401(k) plan with employer contribution
- Ancillary Benefits:
Company paid basic life & AD&D insurance, company paid long-term disability, company paid employee assistance program, accident insurance, and critical illness insurance
- Perks: Paid parking or public transportation costs, company-provided phone and laptop.
- Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sabbatical leave, paid bereavement leave, paid parental leave, free onsite fitness facility, and regular company and team outings.
Interview Process
Our process typically includes three conversations (phone and in-person) to ensure a mutual fit.
Pre-Employment Screening
Drug screen and background check required.
Other Items to Note
- Gardner reserves the right to hire any individual without legal or financial obligation on unwanted solicitations. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations are accepted without a valid agreement.
- Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TN, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
- We are only considering local candidates at this time. We are unable to provide relocation assistance at this time.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
- This is a full-time, in-person role located in downtown Minneapolis. Remote work is available as needed but is not intended to be standard operating procedure.
- This role requires some flexibility to work outside standard office hours as needed for event planning and execution. Events are typically planned well in advance and with flexibility to accommodate personal and family needs.
- This role is performed in a standard office setting with standard office equipment.
- This position requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer, with frequent use of typing, writing, and handling documents.
- Occasional light lifting (up to 20 pounds) may be required, such as moving office supplies, preparing event supplies, or moving small equipment.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions of the role.