Event Program Manager / Event Project Manager / Event Program Lead (Maternity Leave Contract: 1[...]

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

Job summary

E.L. Productions Ltd. (ELP) seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead complex event programs from planning through delivery. You will oversee the overall program plan, client relationships, budgets, and risk, ensuring successful experiences for clients and attendees.

You will manage cross-functional teams, coach Producers and Coordinators, and help grow capabilities while maintaining high delivery standards and continuous improvement across the Experience group.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in event production or program management.
• Led complex client programs with accountability for execution outcomes.
• Experience managing program budgets and reconciliation.
• Led cross-functional teams through planning and execution.
• Strong client relationship management throughout lifecycle.
• Identified and managed operational and vendor risks.
• Coached and developed team members with clear feedback.
• Familiarity with structured delivery processes and playbooks.
• Experience managing vendors and external partners.
• Post-secondary education in Event Management or related discipline is an asset.
• PMP or equivalent certification is an asset.
• Bilingual French/English capabilities are an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex event programs from planning through execution and close.
• Build trusted client relationships and manage evolving program needs.
• Lead cross-functional teams with clear responsibilities and milestones.
• Maintain visibility across workstreams and address gaps or risks.
• Own budgets, scope, financial performance, and margin targets.
• Identify and manage operational, vendor, and safety risks.
• Lead readiness activities and contingency planning for events.
• Provide coaching and development support to Producers and Coordinators.
• Support growth through development plans and increasing ownership.
• Partner with leadership to ensure appropriate staffing based on needs.
• Reinforce delivery standards and seek continual process improvements.
• Lead post-program reviews, translating learnings into future improvements.

Skills

Program leadership

Client relationships

People leadership

Financial acumen

Organization & PM

Risk management

Communication

Calm under pressure

Collaborative leadership

Process-driven

Education

Event Management degree

PMP or equivalent asset

Bilingual French/English asset

Job description

Event Program Manager / Event Project Manager / Event Program Lead (18-24 Month Maternity Leave Contract)

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 Experience team on an 18-24 month maternity leave contract.

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 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 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.

If you are ready to Produce Greatness within an expert team that makes the entire production process easy, impactful, and seamless, we encourage you Because together, we deepen connections, shift thinking, and inspire action.

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.
• This is a full-time, 18-24 month maternity leave contract with an anticipated start date of August 31, 2026.