Senior Manager of Experiential Marketing & Events

Role Overview

The IEDC Senior Manager of Experiential Marketing & Events leads the planning and execution of strategic events and brand experiences that support business development, deepen stakeholder engagement, elevate brand perception and drive measurable outcomes. This role manages high-visibility conferences, trade missions, site visits, executive-level engagements and industry activations that bring the state’s brand to life across all stakeholder groups. The position blends creative vision with operational excellence to ensure events are strategically aligned, operationally sound and professionally executed.

Salary

Salary: The salary range for this position is $71,802 – $76,000, commensurate with education and work experience.

A Day in the Life

• Assist with the development of an experiential marketing strategy aligned with the organizational brand, marketing and business objectives.
• Build standardized processes and event playbooks.
• Translate brand narratives into compelling interactive experiences across physical, digital and hybrid formats.
• Identify emerging experiential trends, technologies and best practices to continuously evolve programming.
• Plan, manage, and execute a portfolio of events including public meetings, conferences, trade shows, sponsorship activations and VIP experiences.
• Execute event and event marketing components of sports, paid media and sponsorship agreements, ensuring deliverables are met and utilized to their highest capacity.
• Oversee all aspects of event production, including timelines, budgets, logistics, vendors, run-of-show, and on-site execution.
• Manage effective event registration methods and guest participation goals, brand store and branded items, gifting, and other logistical functions.
• Serve in strategic partnership as the Marketing and Communications (MarComms) department liaison role for internal initiatives including READI, Board of Directors meetings, Indiana Defense meetings, SBDC/Entrepreneurship and numerous other events as directed.
• Support business development efforts through site visit logistics coordination and execution.
• Collaborate within MarComms to extend experiential efforts through earned media, social content and storytelling.
• Act as the primary point of accountability for experiential initiatives from concept through execution.
• Maintain experiential, marketing and events, and promotional items budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and maximum impact.
• Manage contracts, vendor negotiations, and compliance with procurement and risk requirements.
• Prepare executive briefing materials and run-of-show documentation.
• Affirmative action plan and equal employment opportunity statement.

What You’ll Need for Success

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, hospitality, communications, or related field.
• Experience: 5+ years of large-scale event management experience.
• Experience managing budgets and contract terms with outside vendors.
• Demonstrated experience supporting executive-level or public-sector events.
• CMP certification desirable and proficiency in MS Office Suite.
• Experience working in economic development, government or with business attraction teams.
• Ability To: Proven ability to execute multiple projects simultaneously at a high level with multiple stakeholders and within tight deadlines.
• Up to 25% travel required – combination of in state, out of state, and possible international.

Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana

• Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans.
• Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards.
• Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution.
• Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match.
• Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options.
• A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to: 160 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers.
• Up to 16 hours of paid community service leave.
• Combined 192 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off.
• 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years.
• Education Reimbursement Program.
• Group life insurance.
• Free Parking for most positions.
• Free LinkedIn Learning access.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role.