Conference & Meeting Manager

Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) seeks a detail-oriented Conference & Meeting Manager to plan and execute a large portfolio of academic conferences, meetings, and professional-development programs. This revenue-generating role requires strong business acumen, project-management expertise, and the ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, and external partners. The manager will supervise one or more logistics specialists and help create value-driven experiences that benefit the University, clients, and participants.

Responsibilities

• Identify program needs in partnership with faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Develop comprehensive budget plans and manage program finances to meet annual revenue targets.
• Negotiate and secure contracts with venues and service providers.
• Define detailed scopes of service for each event.
• Provide on-site support for local and out-of-town programs, including occasional overnight, weekend, early-morning, and late-evening work.
• Supervise program-planning professionals who specialize in logistics and implementation.
• Foster a positive, creative, and inclusive work environment that values teamwork, diversity, and mutual respect.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, or equivalent training/experience in business or hospitality management.
• Extensive experience in conference, meeting, or event planning, preferably in higher education.
• Supervisory experience.
• Exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Experience developing and managing program budgets.
• Proven ability to build rapport with internal and external clients.
• Strong sales skills and documented results.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially Excel), MS Teams, and Zoom.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and work both independently and collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a related field.
• Advanced project-planning and budgeting experience in continuing education.
• Familiarity with Commonwealth of Virginia and/or university policies and procedures.
• Certified Program Planner (CPP) or Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) designation.

Pay

Hiring salary up to $68,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience (Pay Band 5).

Schedule

• Full-time (40+ hours per week), exempt position (not eligible for overtime).
• Occasional travel, overnight stays, and non-standard hours (weekends, early mornings, late evenings) required.

Review date: 8/31/2026. A criminal conviction check will be required for the successful candidate.