Event Planning Senior Specialist IMEA

Mercer; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 275,000 - 349,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading professional services firm is seeking a Senior Event Specialist to manage and produce impactful global events. The candidate should have over 10 years of event planning experience and be capable of working in a dynamic environment. Responsibilities include managing event budgets, collaborating with stakeholders, and leading the execution of events in Dubai. This full-time role emphasizes creativity and strategic leadership within a supportive corporate culture, offering extensive employee benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

Comprehensive benefits

Generous vacation plan

Qualifications

• 10+ years of event planning experience, including global events.
• Ability to travel for site visits and event management.
• Strong production experience for large events.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the IMEA event strategy.
• Manage individual meetings and events.
• Develop and manage event budgets.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams to enhance event execution.

Skills

Event planning

Project management

Negotiation

Microsoft Office

Cvent

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Cvent

Job description

Company

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company’s 76,000 colleagues advise clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue over $17 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market‑leading businesses. Marsh advises individual and commercial clients of all sizes on insurance broking and innovative risk management solutions. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities. Mercer delivers advice and technology‑driven solutions that help organizations redefine the world of work, reshape retirement and investment outcomes, and unlock health and wellbeing for a changing workforce. Oliver Wyman serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients.

We are seeking an ambitious, energetic, and enthusiastic Senior Event Specialist to be part of the Marsh McLennan Global Events team.

Role Overview

This person will manage and produce internal and external IMEA and International events from conception through completion while providing outstanding client service in a fast‑paced environment. This person should be a strategic leader and team player who is passionate about events, is detail oriented, and highly creative, with a proven ability to develop and promote processes and efficiencies. This is a full‑time position that will require 3‑4 days in the office based in our Dubai location.

What can you expect?

• Opportunity to work on impactful and rewarding events that make a difference for the company and our industry.
• Challenging work that will provide opportunities to collaborate with thought‑provoking executives and leaders.
• Lead complex meetings, conferences, and events with large budgets.

What is in it for you?

• Culture of internal mobility, collaboration with marketing, digital marketing, design and valued partnership.
• Work for a company committed to being a responsible corporate citizen with great employee benefits and paid time off.
• Organization dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and diverse culture at work, in which every voice is heard.
• Excellent Benefits - Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits and programs including health and welfare, tuition assistance, 401(k), ESPP, employee assistance program, domestic partnership benefits, career mobility, generous vacation plan and so much more.

We will count on you to:

• Lead the development and execution of Marsh IMEA event strategy by evaluating and prioritizing events through a tiered framework focused on strategic impact, complexity, and ROI, ensuring alignment with business objectives, brand consistency, policy compliance, and transparent financial reporting to senior leadership.
• Lead planning of individual meetings and events as assigned, establishing the vision and overseeing the ideation, planning and execution process while in partnership with internal stakeholders and external vendors.
• Identify, research and secure meeting venues, conduct site inspections and contract negotiations for hotels and special event spaces.
• Develop and manage event budgets, track expenses during planning process, review and process vendor invoices and wire transfers, and conduct post‑event budget reconciliation.
• Manage event workflow including venue management, contracting, event timelines, attendee communications/invitations, registration/RSVPs, hotel room block, list management, transportation, food and beverage, décor, function space allocation and room set‑ups, speaker and sponsor coordination, AV/production, design collateral, mobile apps, off‑site activities, branded items, shipping, and on‑site set‑up and supervision.
• Develop ways to optimize and streamline the event planning process, standardize budget tracking and control expenses, leverage event technology, analyze event success, and improve attendee experience.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams to identify opportunities for process improvements and share innovative solutions that enhance event execution and attendee experience on a broader scale.
• Work closely with the Global Events Center of Excellence (CoE) to integrate IMEA insights, strengthen cross‑regional teamwork, and drive the achievement of shared strategic priorities for the upcoming year.
• Implement and promote CoE standardized processes and best practices across the IMEA region and internationally to drive operational efficiencies, consistency, and scalability.

What you need to have:

• Minimum of 10+ years of event planning experience, including demonstrated success in global event planning and strategic execution.
• Ability and commitment to travel to various locations for site visits and on‑site event management, including working evenings, weekends, and extended hours as needed.
• Strong production experience for large events that required a high level of time management and organization skills.
• Experience building and managing event registration websites, attendee tracking, and reporting using Cvent.
• Demonstrated ability to work on multiple projects that includes interfacing with C‑level executives and vendor contract negotiations.
• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Strong Microsoft Office and Cvent experience.

What makes you stand out:

• Supervisory experience.
• Creativity – Ability to think of new ways to impact our events.
• Strong presentation, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Thrives working closely with others while also being able to work independently.
• Positive, can‑do attitude, ready and willing get the job done, and well.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Ambitious self‑starter who has an appetite for proactively learning about the business and is driven to excel and grow and can navigate high stress situations calmly and professionally.

Company Overview

Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC) is the world’s leading professional services firm in the areas of risk, strategy and people. The Company’s 85,000 colleagues advise clients in 130 countries. With annual revenue of over $20 billion, Marsh McLennan helps clients navigate an increasingly dynamic and complex environment through four market‑leading businesses. Marsh advises individual and commercial clients of all sizes on insurance broking and innovative risk management solutions. Guy Carpenter develops advanced risk, reinsurance and capital strategies that help clients grow profitably and pursue emerging opportunities. Mercer delivers advice and technology‑driven solutions that help organizations redefine the world of work, reshape retirement and investment outcomes, and unlock health and wellbeing for a changing workforce. Oliver Wyman serves as a critical strategic, economic and brand advisor to private sector and governmental clients.

EEO Statement

Marsh McLennan is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Marsh McLennan is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh McLennan colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office‑based teams will identify at least one “anchor day” per week on which their full team will be together in person.