Role:Project Manager (Trade Show)
Priority Location:South Africa
Working Hours: US Eastern Time
Type of contract: Independent Contractor
The final offer is at the client's discretion and will depend on the candidate's interview result, skills, and experience.
About the Role: The Project Manager is responsible for managing the complete lifecycle of the company's trade shows, expos, and consumer events -from identifying opportunities and coordinating logistics to staffing, inventory management, vendor sourcing, and post-event reporting. This role requires a proactive, highly organized professional who can independently manage multiple moving pieces, anticipate challenges before they arise, and ensure every event is fully prepared for successful execution. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, takes ownership of complex projects, and consistently delivers high-quality operational outcomes with minimal supervision.
Event Planning & Selection
- Research, evaluate, and recommend trade shows, expos, and consumer events aligned with company objectives
- Assess each event and develop execution plans based on event goals
- Coordinate event timelines and ensure all milestones are completed well in advance
Vendor & Logistics Management
- Coordinate booth layouts, displays, signage, furniture, shipping, and event logistics
- Source vendors, obtain competitive quotes, negotiate pricing, and manage vendor relationships
- Ensure all event materials and equipment arrive on time and are ready for setup
- Maintain backup vendor options and resolve logistics issues proactively
Event Staffing & Coordination
- Recruit, schedule, and coordinate temporary event staff
- Maintain an updated roster of event personnel, including availability and performance records
- Confirm staffing schedules and develop contingency plans for unexpected absences
Inventory & Product Management
- Coordinate product selection and inventory allocation for each event
- Track inventory shipped to and returned from events
- Reconcile inventory counts and identify discrepancies following each event
Reporting & Operational Support
- Collect event performance data from on-site teams
- Prepare post-event reports covering sales, staffing, inventory, expenses, and recommendations
- Maintain organized documentation for event budgets, vendors, and operational workflows
Qualifications & Skills
Hard Skills
- 3+ years of experience coordinating trade shows, expos, conferences, or live events
- Experience managing vendors, logistics, event production, and inventory coordination
- Experience recruiting and managing temporary event staff
- Strong project management, budgeting, and organizational skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and spreadsheets for inventory and cost tracking
- Excellent written and verbal English communication skills
Nice to Have
- Experience supporting beauty, consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, or promotional events
- Experience negotiating vendor contracts and managing event budgets
- Familiarity with event management software or project management platforms
Soft Skills
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Proactive, resourceful, and able to work independently
- Excellent multitasking and deadline management skills
- Strong ownership mindset with consistent follow-through
- Comfortable traveling and working on-site during event setup, event days, and teardown
Success in This Role
A successful Project Coordinator will:
- Deliver fully prepared, well-executed events with minimal operational issues
- Ensure staffing, logistics, inventory, and vendor coordination are completed ahead of schedule
- Maintain accurate reporting, inventory reconciliation, and event documentation
- Proactively resolve issues before they require leadership involvement
- Build reliable operational processes that support efficient and scalable event execution