Hybrid Event Director - International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading bei Smithbucklin
Smithbucklin · Chicago, Vereinigte Staaten Von Amerika · Hybrid
- Senior
- Optionales Büro in Chicago
Event Management Chicago, IL
Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, with primary offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., is seeking an experienced Event Director to lead the ISTAT events team.
Key focus areas and activities for the role include:
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Description
Smithbucklin, a 650-person, employee-owned professional services company with more than 70 years of success serving the association market, with primary offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C., is seeking an experienced Event Director to lead the ISTAT events team.
At Smithbucklin, we embody a culture driven by optimism, ambition, expertise, and thoughtfulness, where every team member is empowered to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional results for our clients. Join us in shaping the future of association management, where our values serve as the cornerstone of our success.
ISTAT, (The International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading), is the premier international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing aviation professionals with forums for increased networking, commerce and educational opportunities. Now in its 43rd year, ISTAT is the fast-growing, market- leading organization representing a worldwide community of members who are involved in operating, manufacturing, maintaining, selling, purchasing, financing, leasing, appraising, insuring or other activities related to the commercial aviation sector.
The Event Director leads a team of meeting professionals responsible for the design, planning and delivery of a robust, global ISTAT meetings portfolio of over 30 Conferences, Global Gatherings, and Foundation fundraising events. ISTAT events are hosted throughout the U.S., EMEA, LATAM, and APAC.
The Event Director leads event strategy and design for the ISTAT event portfolio and is accountable for the delivery of the client’s event outcomes. The Event Director leads cross-functional teams to deliver on strategic event initiatives and objectives through development and implementation of an event strategy and plan while ensuring superior service levels. This role is growth and innovation-oriented, with the team leader accountable and responsible for strategy, design and innovation, team execution, oversight of all aspects of event delivery and financials, and achievement of the client’s growth objectives.
Key focus areas and activities for the role include:
- Event Strategy, Innovation and Growth: The Event Director sets the overall vision and roadmap for client events and is responsible for development and implementation of client event strategies.
- Works with client leaders to define and clarify strategic event portfolio goals and key performance indicators (e.g., event positioning, top and bottom-line financial targets, registration/audience targets, pricing strategies, growth targets, attendee satisfaction etc.).
- Leads event experience design bringing specialized expertise in as needed to deliver memorable and compelling event experiences.
- Works with cross-functional event teams and client stakeholders to identify and introduce innovations that deliver client outcomes, profitability, productivity and impact.
- Leverages data to understand attendee and exhibitor/ sponsor needs, interests and behaviors and to ensure events are relevant, modern, impactful, and financially successful.
- Works with client leaders to determine budgets aligned with desired event outcomes and tracks performance against budget.
- Leads cross-functional teams to develop and implement event strategies that are tailored and relevant to client needs. while ensuring marketing, education, sales and IT teams have strategies and plans to support delivery of event objectives.
- Leads client event planning committees and task forces.
- Event and Team Management: The Event Director is responsible for leading the ISTAT cross-functional teams to deliver on all aspects of event management and financial performance.
- Oversee project plan, defines roles and responsibilities for event team members and ensures regular project team meeting cadence. Partners with, supports and guides the event leads responsible for execution and implementation of strategies.
- Partners with client leaders to determine appropriate engagement of client boards, staff and volunteer committees in events.
- Delivers forecasts, manages and tracks performance against event budget; addresses and resolves issues related to financial performance.
- Develops communications and client management plans and ensures appropriate ongoing event communications regarding event KPI’s, project and budget status, key issues and resolutions.
- Troubleshoots and drives course corrections to event strategies including initiating actions from education, IT, membership/operations, marketing and sales teams.
- Leads post-event wrap-up process to assess event outcomes and debrief learnings with cross-functional event teams and client boards.
- Smithbucklin Event Services Unit Support: The Event Director collaborates with the Event Services Operations Leader, and Unit Leadership Team.
- Raises talent and people development issues and opportunities with Unit Leadership.
- Coaches cross-functional event team staff to ensure strong performance and high staff engagement.
- Works with cross-functional event teams to identify and introduce process improvements.
- Ensures that teams follow event delivery best practices, processes and standards.
- Represents the client and company at event industry, and client industry gatherings, bringing thought leadership and subject matter expertise.
Technical Competencies: Industry and position specific skills
Event Management
- Comprehensive knowledge of meeting planning, tradeshow, sponsorship management and registration processes, as well as industry practices, trends and dynamics
- Knowledge and experience working with venues, facilities, convention centers and convention city packages throughout the US and abroad
- Knowledge to make distinctions and guide decision-making regarding event technology, registration systems, applications that will enhance event performance.
- Knowledge and experience working with Events Industry relations and suppliers (e.g., Convention visitor bureaus, hotel brands, general services contractors, Destination management companies)
- Familiarity with association client environments.
- Knowledge and experience with leading practices in the event management space with an orientation toward adopting new practices and implementing innovation.
- Familiarity and experience designing and planning international events.
- Data and analytics- oriented leadership with experience defining key success metrics and driving toward those metrics as part of the overall Events strategy. Strategic use of event analytics to define or evolve event strategies.
- Develops site selection strategy and recommendations, facilitates site selection decisions, negotiation and finalization of contracts working in partnership with Unit Sourcing Specialists.
- Knowledge and experience with best practices in event sustainability and inclusivity.
Financial and Program Management
- Event client budget development and management, including forecasting and analysis.
- Complex program management experience with the ability to lead large client events and a robust global events portfolio.
- Strong knowledge of event contracts and legal terminology.
- Seeks opportunities to expand event revenue and margin, consistent with client goals.
Basic Qualifications:
- 10+ years of meeting and trade show management experience.
- International event experience (Design and planning)
- Ability to travel up to 20%, both domestic and international, (travel may include weekends).
Where Do You Fit?
Working at Smithbucklin will offer you countless opportunities to develop transferrable skills, acquire meaningful knowledge and gain rich experiences at an accelerated pace. By working collaboratively with smart, ambitious, multi-talented, genuine, and hardworking colleagues, you will build meaningful, deep, and enduring relationships that will serve you well throughout your career, regardless of your chosen path. In addition, as a 100 percent employee-owned company, Smithbucklin offers all of our people – regardless of position or compensation – an equal chance to experience fulfillment and reap the benefits of ownership. As owners, our employees control the destiny of Smithbucklin and are unified in the goal of building a great, enduring company.
Our hybrid environment offers you the option to work from home two days per week. Employees will work a standard 40-hour week, with the possibility of additional hours based on project deadlines.
The salary for this role will be based on the candidate’s skills, qualifications, and relevant experience. Additionally, successful candidates may qualify for a discretionary bonus. The expected pay for this role is: $135,000 to $150,000.
Equal Employment Opportunity
At Smithbucklin, Equal Employment Opportunity is our commitment and goal. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status designated by federal, state, or local law. Applicants are encouraged to confidentially self-identify when applying. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a reference and background investigation based on the position.
Smithbucklin will not sponsor applicants for work visas and as a precondition of employment, you must be authorized to work in the United States permanently.
