Trade Shows and Events Marketing Lead

Elbit America is a leading provider of high-performance products, system solutions, and support services focusing on the defense, homeland security, commercial aviation, and medical instrumentation markets. With facilities throughout the United States, Elbit Systems of America is dedicated to supporting those who contribute daily to the safety and security of the United States.

About the role

We’re looking for a results-driven, hands-on Trade Show and Event Marketing Lead who will serve as a go-to team member for end-to-end trade show and event planning, management, and execution. You'll be accountable for every stage of marketing planning, from aligning objectives and messaging, outlining impactful marketing tactics, orchestrating detailed logistics, managing budgets, and post-event performance analysis. You will develop and execute integrated marketing plans using a multi-channel approach where trade shows and events are critical channels for success.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, integrates, manages, and executes companywide participation in external and internal event activities including trade shows, conferences, symposiums, summits, association membership meetings, board meetings, customer events, employee events, product launches, milestone achievement events, and more.
• Maximizes strategic marketing planning to elevate the impact of trade shows and events, creating demand for our people, products, and services.
• Builds trusted and accountable relationships by effectively collaborating across the organization with the Growth team, operating divisions, business development functions, subsidiaries, and others.
• Leads and drives marketing planning, alignment, review, and approval meetings among stakeholders and participants, ensuring trade shows/events effectively communicate strategic value propositions in alignment with desired business outcomes.
• Manages all aspects of trade shows/events including pre-during-post planning, logistics, execution, space selection/booking, exhibit design and functional layout, exhibit property management (owned or rented), product demonstration assets, attendee management and support, shipping, set-up/tear-down, on-location supervision, and more.
• Plans and executes trade show/event sponsorships along with ancillary events including on-site/off-site micro-events, customer engagements, and specialty meetings to deliver heightened, more personalized customer/employee interactions.
• Conducts after-action reviews and formulates observations/opportunities for enhancing and refining future approaches.
• Leads the development and on-time execution of all integrated trade show/event marketing tactics along with vendor deliverables encompassing projects while continually driving quality, efficiency, and optimizing on-brand activities to reach/exceed business goals.
• Owns budget management/accountability for annual trade shows/events (ranging from $1K to $1M depending on the specific show/event), maintains current budgets, provides monthly/quarterly budget updates, and achieves prescribed percent-to-budget performance goals.
• Leads measurement reporting and analysis, delivering actionable insights to stakeholders while also recommending improvements for future events.
• Serves as an Elbit America Protocol Officer, liaises with Protocol Officers and Embassy staff, DoD, Military, and Legislative Offices as necessary to manage CODELs, STAFFDELs, FMS engagements, and other events where local, national, and foreign dignitaries are present.
• Completes additional responsibilities and projects in support of the business as needed/assigned.

Requirements

• Accredited four (4) year Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Business, Communications, Public Relations, Advertising, or equivalent.
• 5+ years of experience planning/executing multi-faceted trade shows/events with increasing complexity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
• Certified Trade Show Marketer (CTSM).
• Event Management Protocol experience.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute marketing strategies leveraging trade show/event channels, successfully achieving measurable business outcomes.
• Outstanding project management skills with an ability to lead several complex multi-faceted initiatives concurrently in a high-velocity/high-quality execution environment.
• Ability to determine, set, and reflow priorities to ensure commitments and deadlines are met.
• Exemplary interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with an ability to effectively influence across all levels inside and outside of the organization.
• Appreciates and respects the diversity of stakeholder inputs and interactions, easily adapts engagement/communications style accordingly.
• Capable of leveraging customer research, hard data, and metrics to assess the impact of existing and prospective shows/events to create go-forward customer engagement recommendations.
• Experience negotiating with and managing a variety of external suppliers, agencies, and trade show/event venues to facilitate a wide range of professional services, including space, attendee management, security, catering, support staffing (sourcing and management), standard/VIP transportation, and more.
• Strong work ethic and drive for meeting challenges and exceeding expectations.
• Proactively owns informing/updating stakeholders and teammates at regular intervals for each initiative being managed.
• Stays current on industry trends and best practices, incorporating them into marketing strategies to help stay ahead of the competition.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite required; additional software experience preferred including Cvent, Adobe Creative Suite, Project Management, Marketing Automation, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.

Travel/Physical Requirements

• Frequent travel is required, typically 50%+ of the time.
• Ability to lift up to 45 lbs.

Benefits

• Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off.
• Competitive compensation & 401(k) program to plan for your future.
• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts.
• Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available.
• Flexible Vacation & PTO.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• Generous Employee Referral Program.
• Voluntary Benefits Available: Longer Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more.
• Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees.