Registration & Housing Director

About Us Sparks is a leading global brand experience agency, specializing in the design and execution of award-winning experiences that forge deep connections between brands and audiences. Recognized by Adweek as Experiential Agency of the Year, we bring a unique blend of strategic insight and execution excellence to every brand activation, corporate event, trade show exhibit, and immersive experience. Our commitment to creativity, innovation, and flawless execution drives us to craft impactful experiential marketing solutions that deepen relationships, inspire action, and build trust—all around the world. Summary The Registration & Housing Director is responsible for leading the planning and delivery of registration solutions for a wide range of corporate and consumer events, managing cross-functional teams, vendors, budgets, and project schedules to ensure flawless event execution. Serving as the primary client contact for registration, event technology, and housing, the Director leads end-to-end execution from kickoff through reconciliation while mentoring and managing junior staff. This position will support our Registration team. It is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office and/or show site 2-3 days per week. The ideal candidate will be based out of any of the following locations: Philadelphia, PALos Angeles, CASan Francisco, CAChicago, ILRoyal Oak, MISt. Paul, MNLas Vegas, NVNew York, NYGrand Prairie, TXMilwaukee, WI Essential Duties & Responsibilities Registration & Program Leadership Lead end-to-end execution of event registration programs from kickoff through reconciliation, including registration technology, budgeting, invoicing, housing, contact center, mobile app, reporting, and SAC/LRServe as the primary client and stakeholder contact, ensuring clear communication and alignment on goals, objectives, and delivery expectationsDevelop and manage project timelines/workbooks and deliverables; drive execution across internal teams, clients, and third-party partnersLead client registration discovery calls and present registration technology solutions tailored to client goals, in addition to internal and client kickoffs, weekly status meetings, and post-event debriefs Technology, Housing & Financial Oversight Provide advanced event technology leadership across Cvent, Swoogo, RainFocus, etc.; maintain current certifications on at least two platformsOversee hotel room block management including availability, waitlists, attrition, rooming lists, and hotel partner coordinationCreate and manage project and client budgets; oversee vendor invoicing, expenses, and reconciliation;partnering closely with finance and project leads throughout each program to ensure budget accuracy.Negotiate contracts and agreements with third-party vendorsLead Venue/Hotel Sourcing utilizing departmental templates and proceduresProvide event reporting, analytics,and audits; assess reporting needs and recommend efficient strategiesEnsure attendee registration processes comply with GDPR and other privacy regulations, including consent management and data handling Team Management & Development Manage and mentor Registration/Housing Managers, Senior Managers, and SpecialistsOversee workload assignment, performance evaluations, coaching, and developmentSupport onboarding and ongoing training of team members while fostering a high-performing team culturePartner with the Sparks New Opportunity team on RFPs and manage sold programs through post-event wrap-up Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree preferred, High School Diploma or Equivalent with relevant work experience required10+ years of registration and housing experienceStrong client service and leadership skillsContinuous follow-up and follow-through on project deliverablesStrong written and verbal communication skillsAbility to execute with minimal supervision; mentor junior team membersCurrent certifications in at least 2 platforms: Cvent, RainFocus, Swoogo, or BizzaboMastery of G Suite (Slides, Sheets, Docs), Microsoft Office, Airtable, and all relevant internal and client toolsAdvanced proficiency in PowerPoint to build, format, and maintain polished client-facing presentations for project updates, event recaps, and strategic recommendationsExperience managing programs for 5,000+ attendees Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Travel Requirements Travel up to 25% What We Offer The Freeman Company provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially. These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for. There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions. Medical, Dental, Vision InsuranceTuition ReimbursementPaid Parental LeaveLife, Accident and DisabilityRetirement with Company MatchPaid Time OffSalary range of $100,000-$135,000 based upon experienceEligible for an annual bonus of up to 10% of the base salary Diversity Commitment At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. #TFCSparks