Senior Event Planner

Join a financial services firm where your contributions are valued. Edward Jones is a Fortune 500 company where people come first. With over 9 million clients and 20,000 financial advisors across the U.S. and Canada, we’re proud to be privately-owned, placing the focus on our clients rather than shareholder returns. Behind everything we do is our purpose: We partner for positive impact to improve the lives of our clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society.

About the Team

Travel and Event Management enables the firm's growth by delivering end-to-end strategic travel and event management that reduces complexity, safeguards resources, and elevates the experience for participants across more than 1,300 events annually and the Travel Award Program. Our team creates value by leveraging expertise in event design, contract negotiation, preferred suppliers, technology, and financial stewardship to guide strategic, informed decision-making in partnership with key stakeholders across the firm.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted advisor for business owners, building strong partnerships, gathering requirements, providing guidance on event policies and processes, and driving annual event planning efforts.
• Lead the planning and execution of a diverse portfolio of events, including large-scale meetings, leadership events, training programs, and hybrid experiences, ensuring exceptional attendee experiences and successful business outcomes.
• Develop and manage event strategies, project plans, timelines, budgets, and operational requirements while balancing business objectives, risk considerations, and firm cost expectations.
• Partner with internal teams, business stakeholders, vendors, and venues to coordinate event logistics, communicate expectations, resolve issues, and ensure seamless execution from planning through post-event evaluation.
• Negotiate contracts and manage vendor relationships to secure optimal services, mitigate risk, control costs, and protect the firm's interests while delivering high-quality event experiences.
• Establish and continuously improve event best practices, operational processes, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Written Supervisory Procedures (WSPs), identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and scalability.
• Apply strategic thinking, sound judgment, and problem-solving skills to address complex challenges, manage escalated situations, influence decision-making, and recommend solutions that align with long-term business goals.
• Coach and mentor team members, foster cross-functional collaboration, share industry trends and expertise, and contribute to departmental strategy, continuous improvement initiatives, and organizational success.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent work experience
• 5 years of event planning experience required
• Intermediate computer skills, including effective use of Microsoft Office applications and web browsers
• Cvent experience

Candidates that live within a commutable distance from our Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO home office locations are expected to work in the office four days per week.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription drug coverage
• Dental and vision coverage
• Voluntary benefits (such as accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness)
• Short- and long-term disability, basic life, and basic AD&D coverage (provided at no cost to associates)
• 401k retirement plan
• Tax-advantaged accounts: health savings account and flexible spending account
• 10 paid holidays
• 15 days of vacation for new associates beginning on January 1 of each year
• Sick time, personal days, and a paid day for volunteerism
• Eligibility for bonuses and profit sharing
• Employee Assistance Program