Event Program Manager / Event Project Manager / Event Program Lead

E.L. Productions Ltd. (ELP); Mississauga; Hybrid; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

E.L. Productions Ltd. (ELP) in Canada is seeking a Program Manager to lead complex event programs from planning through delivery. You will manage client relationships, budgets, and cross-functional teams, ensuring on-time, on-budget outcomes with high-quality execution.

You will coach Producers and Coordinators, drive continuous improvement, and partner with Experience leadership to staff programs and align with company priorities. This hybrid role requires travel to events and client offices.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering complex client programs or events.
• Experience managing program budgets, scope, and reconciliation.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams through planning and execution.
• Experience developing and coaching team members.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex event programs from planning through execution and close, maintaining accountability for objectives and milestones.
• Build trusted client relationships, managing communication, expectations, feedback, and evolving needs.
• Lead cross-functional program teams with clarity across responsibilities and priorities.
• Maintain visibility across all workstreams, identify gaps and risks to keep delivery moving.
• Own program budgets, scope, financial performance, and reconciliations while protecting margins.
• Identify and manage risks across operational, financial, vendor, and client dimensions.
• Lead program readiness with documentation, contingency plans, and prepared elements.
• Provide direct leadership to Producers and Coordinators with coaching and development support.
• Support growth of team members through development plans and stretch opportunities.
• Partner with leadership to ensure appropriate staffing based on requirements and capacity.
• Reinforce processes and delivery standards while seeking improvements.
• Lead post-program reviews and translate learnings into stronger future programs.

Skills

Program leadership

Client relationship

People leadership

Financial acumen

Organization & PM

Judgment & problem solving

Communication

Calm under pressure

Collaborative leadership

Process-driven

Education

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

PMP or equivalent certification

Bilingual French/English capabilities

Job description

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?

• I see the big picture while keeping a close eye on the details, connecting people, priorities, timelines, budgets, and decisions to keep complex programs moving forward.
• I build trusted client relationships through clear communication, sound judgment, and consistent follow-through.
• I know how to lead a team, creating clarity and accountability while giving people the support, feedback, and opportunities they need to grow.
• I’m financially disciplined and understand how everyday program decisions impact scope, budget, margin, and overall success.
• I anticipate risks, solve problems early, and stay calm and decisive when plans change or the pressure is on.

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 lifecycleDemonstrated 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 thoughtful in 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.
• Hybrid role with requirements to attend company events/in-office meetings, travel onsite to events, and meetings at client offices