Senior Manager, Conferences Exhibit Operations
About the role
We are seeking a passionate, collaborative, and effective leader with experience in conferences, events or trade shows to join the Exhibit Operations team. This leader will direct a team of associates to deliver exhibits and sponsorships across Gartner’s B2B conference portfolio, with a focus on strategic direction, people leadership and successful conference delivery across NA/LATAM portfolios.
Responsibilities
Exhibit/Sponsorship product delivery & inventory management
Develop strategies for engagement between conference attendees and exhibitors
Collaborate on strategic projects and identify key initiatives with leadership
Enhance financial forecasting for scalability and profit margin growth
Establish positive relationships with internal and external partners
Oversee all aspects of sponsorship delivery and conference planning for Gartner’s destination Senior Leaders portfolio of 11+ conferences in NA and LATAM, including project management of operational strategy, new venue launches and co-located events
Lead and inspire a rapidly expanding and diverse team focusing on ongoing development through continuous feedback, coaching and training
Liaise and collaborate with key partners and team members (both internal and external) to ensure successful execution; build and maintain good relationships by establishing trust
Develop and execute attendee-to-exhibitor engagement strategies, establish KPIs and analyze data to evaluate performance and mitigate delivery risks
Effectively lead supplier management and contract negotiations, collaborating with vendors, agencies and internal teams to support conference delivery and reduce expenses to improve margins
Consistently innovate conference delivery processes and procedures to create efficiencies and improve output
Manage product inventory and projection modeling for various exhibit and sponsorship products
Create and maintain product strategies to drive maximum revenue
Develop and present risk assessments for various components of exhibitor products based on shifts in market demand or capacity
Partner with Exhibit Operations leadership team on projects by providing feedback and maximize output to scale the business
Analyze data to develop metrics-driven exhibitor retention and attendee engagement strategy to determine best course of action on various conference elements
Attend conferences as the onsite lead for in-person delivery including managing the production schedule, conference staff and liaising with agency partners and vendors
Develop a comprehensive understanding of Gartner’s business including the value proposition for attendees and exhibitors
Become an expert on Gartner’s exhibitor products, pricing strategy and conference financials
Achieve operational excellence and execute conferences on time, within budget and with great attention to detail
Become a respected leader and mentor across Gartner and build a strong personal brand reputation
Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree preferred
8+ Years Experiential Marketing, Event Management, Event Marketing and/or Tradeshow Management
Track record of creating or fulfilling revenue driving sponsorship products in complex live-event environments
Project management experience on detailed programs with multiple variables and dependencies
Proven ability to improve business processes resulting in increased efficiency and productivity
Proven management of teams and talent development
Effective people management and leadership skills with a passion for a collaborative work environment
Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills with senior professionals, agency partners, vendors and internal teams
Creative, innovative and strategic thinker with a strong attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to adapt, implement, manage change and strive for continuous improvement
Strong oral & written communication skills with experience motivating or persuading
Excel in finance and budget management
Motivated team player with desire to learn and grow
Ability to thrive in high pressure situations and meet deadlines