Event Program Manager / Event Project Manager / Event Program Lead

Socket.dev; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 118,000 - 153,000; Full time

Job summary

ELP is seeking a Program Manager to lead complex event programs, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery and exceptional client experiences. You will manage budgets, risk, and cross-functional teams, fostering growth and delivering high-quality events across live, virtual, and hybrid formats.

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in event production or program management, strong leadership and communication skills, and experience navigating multi-stakeholder projects.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in event production, program management, experiential events, client services, or related environment.
• Proven experience leading delivery of complex client programs or events with accountability for execution outcomes.
• Experience managing program budgets, financial performance, scope, and reconciliation.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams through complex program planning and execution.
• Strong experience managing client relationships throughout the program lifecycle.
• Experience identifying and managing operational, financial, vendor, and program risks.
• Experience coaching and developing team members including performance feedback.
• Experience with structured delivery processes, playbooks, and established standards.
• Experience managing vendors, freelancers, and external partners in complex programs.
• Post-secondary education in related disciplines is an asset.
• Professional certifications in project/program management are an asset.
• Bilingual French/English capabilities are an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex event programs from planning through execution and close, with accountability for overall plan, objectives, timelines, and delivery.
• Build trusted client relationships, manage communication, expectations, decisions, feedback, and evolving program needs.
• Lead cross-functional program teams, defining responsibilities, priorities, milestones, dependencies, and next steps.
• Maintain visibility across all program workstreams, identify gaps, risks, and decisions to keep delivery moving.
• Own program budgets, scope, financial performance, and reconciliation while protecting budgets and margins.
• Identify and manage risks across operations, finances, vendors, contracts, safety, and attendees.
• Lead program readiness with teams, vendors, docs, contingency plans for successful execution.
• Provide direct people leadership to Producers and Coordinators with coaching and development support.
• Support growth of team members through development plans and increasing ownership.
• Partner with Experience leadership to staff programs based on requirements and capacity.
• Reinforce processes, playbooks, tools, and delivery standards for continuous improvement.
• Lead post-program reviews and translate client feedback into stronger future programs.

Skills

Program leadership

Client relationship management

People leadership

Budget management

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Decision making under pressure

Communication

Delivery lifecycle ownership

Process improvement

Education

Post-secondary education in Event Management/ Hospitality/ Business/ Project Management

PMP or equivalent certification (asset)

Bilingual French/English (asset)

Job description

Are you Ready to Produce Greatness?

Event Program Manager / Event Project Manager / Event Program Lead

At E.L. Productions Ltd. (ELP), we have partnered with major Canadian Brands to produce greatness for over 30 years. Canada’s premier event producers, we work with industry leaders and innovators to imagine, develop, and deliver exceptional experiences both virtual, live and beyond. We build experiences that make connections, shift thinking and inspire action.

We are currently looking for a Program Manager to join our expanding team.

Does this sound like you?

About The Role

The Program Manager leads the successful delivery of complex event programs, creating the structure, alignment, and leadership that enable teams to deliver exceptional experiences for our clients and attendees.

With accountability for the overall program plan, client relationship, budget, team, and risk, this role connects every workstream and keeps the full picture moving forward. From establishing the path to delivery and maintaining client confidence to navigating changing priorities and making critical decisions, the Program Manager ensures programs are delivered on time, within budget, and to the high standard expected of ELP.

As a people manager within the Experience team, you’ll also play an important role in creating the conditions for others to do their best work. Through clear expectations, thoughtful coaching, regular feedback, and meaningful development, you’ll build capability and support the growth of the Producers and Coordinators you lead.

As a Program Manager, you will:

• Lead complex event programs from planning through execution and close, maintaining accountability for the overall program plan, objectives, timelines, and delivery
• Build trusted client relationships, proactively managing communication, expectations, decisions, feedback, and evolving program needs
• Lead cross-functional program teams, creating clarity across responsibilities, priorities, milestones, dependencies, and next steps
• Maintain visibility across all program workstreams, identifying gaps, risks, competing priorities, and decisions required to keep delivery moving
• Own assigned program budgets, scope, financial performance, and reconciliation while protecting approved budgets and company-defined margin targets
• Identify and manage operational, financial, vendor, contractual, safety, client, and attendee risks throughout the program lifecycle
• Lead program readiness, ensuring teams, vendors, documentation, contingency plans, and program elements are prepared for successful execution
• Provide direct people leadership to Producers and Coordinators, setting clear expectations and providing regular coaching, feedback, and development support
• Support the growth of team members through development plans, skills progression, stretch opportunities, and increasing levels of ownership
• Partner with Experience leadership and resourcing teams to ensure programs are staffed appropriately based on requirements, capacity, capability, and development opportunities
• Reinforce ELP’s processes, playbooks, tools, and delivery standards while identifying opportunities to continuously improve how we work
• Lead post-program reviews and translate client feedback, program learnings, and delivery challenges into stronger future programs

Are you the one we are looking for?

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

Skills/Strengths

• Strong program leadership with the ability to connect multiple workstreams, maintain the big picture, and drive complex programs forward
• Exceptional client relationship skills with the confidence to manage expectations, navigate difficult conversations, and build lasting trust
• Strong people leadership and coaching skills with a genuine interest in helping others grow and perform at their best
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to manage budgets, control scope, monitor costs, and protect program profitability
• Exceptional organization and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple programs, timelines, priorities, and stakeholders
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate risk, make timely decisions, and know when to elevate
• Clear and confident communication across clients, team members, leadership, vendors, and partners
• Calm and adaptable under pressure, maintaining perspective and leadership through changing priorities and live program challenges
• Collaborative leadership style that creates accountability while bringing different people and disciplines together around a shared goal
• Process-driven mindset with a commitment to quality, consistency, continuous improvement, and exceptional delivery

Education/Experience

• 7+ years of progressive experience in event production, program management, experiential events, client services, or a related environment
• Proven experience leading the delivery of complex client programs or events with accountability for execution outcomes
• Demonstrated experience managing program budgets, financial performance, scope, and reconciliation
• Experience leading cross-functional teams through complex program planning and execution
• Strong experience managing client relationships throughout the program lifecycle
• Demonstrated experience identifying and managing operational, financial, vendor, and program risks
• Experience directly managing and developing team members, including coaching, performance feedback, and development planning
• Experience working within structured delivery processes, operational playbooks, and established standards
• Experience managing vendors, freelancers, and external partners within complex program environments
• Post-secondary education in Event Management, Hospitality, Business, Project Management, or a related discipline is an asset
• Professional certifications in project or program management, such as PMP or equivalent, are an asset
• Bilingual French/English capabilities are an asset

What is it like to work at ELP?

Our Core Values

Our company’s success stems from our unwavering commitment to the core values shared by every member of our incredibly talented team.

To be successful in our organization, you will foster trust, grow your knowledge, be thoughtfulin your actions and words,and
communicate with clarity in a fun and rewarding position.

Visionary

We think bigger about how to produce greatness – from strategy and process to production and innovation. We believe experiences ignite brands and people.

Relatable

We are real people working to do extraordinary things. Our friendly, relatable, empathetic, and inspiring people build the relationships that help everyone succeed.

Imaginative

We break barriers, expand ideas, and use innovative brainstorming tactics to create original approaches and experiences designed to move audiences and resonate with them at an emotional level.

Meticulous

We execute what we imagine, bringing every detail to life.

Additional Information:

• Generative AI is used to help confirm that applicants meet minimum requirements through screening questions; all qualified resumes are reviewed by a Human Resources professional.
• This role offers a starting salary range of $85,000-$110,000 annually. The base pay offered may vary depending on factors such as relevant qualifications, skills, previous experience, and internal equity.
• Hybrid role with requirements to attend company events/in-office meetings, travel onsite to events, and meetings at client offices
• 1 full‑time position available