Senior Event Manager

Smartness; Italia; Remote; EUR 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote working

Competitive salary €40k-€50k€/+ per yr

Job summary

Smartness is seeking a Senior Event Manager to lead events strategy and execution across international markets. You will shape memorable experiences at trade fairs and customer events, translating events into measurable business opportunities. You will manage 30–40 events per year, collaborating with Marketing, Sales and partners with a focus on Italy and the DACH region.

Fluency in Italian and English is required; German is a plus. Remote work is available with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience managing corporate events, trade fairs, conferences, or B2B events.
• Strategic and creative thinking to develop compelling event concepts.
• Strong project management with the ability to manage multiple events and deadlines.
• Budget ownership with negotiation experience with suppliers.
• Data-driven mindset to measure performance and drive improvements.
• Effective stakeholder coordination with internal and external partners.
• Ownership and problem-solving from start to finish.
• Fluent in Italian and English; German a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute an events strategy aligned with marketing and business objectives.
• Lead end-to-end management of major trade fairs and customer events.
• Develop creative concepts for booths, branding, and attendee experience.
• Manage budgets, allocate resources, and negotiate with suppliers.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, and partners.
• Oversee participation in international events, especially in DACH markets.
• Lead own events (e.g., Momentum) including speaker engagement and sponsorships.
• Track KPIs and ROI to optimize future events.

Skills

Event management

Strategic thinking

Project management

Budget management

Data-driven

Stakeholder management

Travel readiness

Italian & English

Job description

About The Company

At Smartness, we are building the future of hospitality tech. Our SaaS helps lodging providers boost revenues by 30%+ and get more direct bookings. We are the fastest-growing B2B SaaS in the industry, trusted by 4,000+ clients across 40+ countries, with billions of euros in bookings processed. Backed by top international investors and named one of Italy's Top 10 LinkedIn Startups, we are on a mission to scale globally.

Want to grow with us? Let's go!

About The Role

What Will You Do?

We're looking for a Senior Event Manager to take ownership of our events strategy and execution, helping Smartness strengthen its brand presence, build meaningful relationships with customers and prospects, and generate new business opportunities across international markets.

From major international trade fairs to exclusive customer events, you'll be responsible for bringing our brand to life through memorable experiences.

This isn't just about organizing events. We want someone who can think strategically, bring creative ideas to the table, and turn every event into a measurable business opportunity.

You’ll manage approximately 30/40 events per year, working closely with Marketing, Sales, and external partners, with a particular focus on Italy and the DACH region.

Your Main Responsibilities Will Include

• Event strategy & planning: define and execute an events strategy aligned with Smartness' marketing and business objectives, identifying the right opportunities to increase brand awareness, customer engagement, and lead generation.
• End-to-end event management: take full ownership of trade fairs, industry conferences, customer events, and smaller initiatives with industry associations, from initial planning and logistics to on-site execution and post-event follow-up.
• Creative concept development: go beyond traditional event management by developing original, engaging concepts that make Smartness stand out. From booth design and branding to staff experience, presentations, and event activities, you'll make sure every detail reflects our identity.
• Budget & supplier management: manage event budgets of varying sizes, from smaller initiatives to major international trade fairs, ensuring efficient resource allocation, negotiating with suppliers, and delivering high-quality experiences within budget.
• Cross-functional coordination: work closely with Marketing, Sales, speakers, sponsors, and external partners to ensure everyone is aligned, prepared, and working towards the same objectives.
• International trade fairs & events: coordinate Smartness' participation in major industry events, including TTG, BIT, and international trade fairs, particularly in Germany and Austria. You'll also attend selected events to oversee execution and identify opportunities to improve our presence.
• Owned events & special projects: lead the organization of Smartness' own events, such as Momentum, contributing to the creative concept, speaker engagement, sponsorship coordination, and overall attendee experience.
• Performance analysis & ROI: track event KPIs, evaluate results, and continuously optimize our approach. You'll help ensure our events generate measurable business impact, including a target of at least 2× ROI on trade fair investments.

What are we looking for?

• Experience in event management: You have at least 7 years of experience managing corporate events, trade fairs, conferences, or B2B events, ideally within a SaaS company.
• Strategic & creative thinking: You're not just an excellent organizer. You know how to develop compelling event concepts, challenge traditional approaches, and create experiences that make a brand memorable.
• Strong project management skills: You're highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple events, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Budget ownership: You're comfortable managing significant budgets, negotiating with suppliers, and making decisions that balance creativity, quality, and financial efficiency.
• Data-driven mindset: You understand that successful events aren't just about attendance or aesthetics. You know how to measure performance, analyze results, and translate insights into improvements.
• Stakeholder management: You can effectively coordinate internal teams, external agencies, suppliers, speakers, and business partners, keeping everyone aligned even in complex situations.
• Ownership & problem-solving: You take responsibility from start to finish, anticipate challenges, and find practical solutions when things don't go according to plan.
• Language skills: You're fluent in Italian and English. Knowledge of German is a significant plus, given our presence in the DACH market.
• Willingness to travel: You're available to attend events and trade fairs in Italy and abroad, particularly in Germany and Austria. You understand that events sometimes require flexibility, including occasional evenings and weekends.

A background in B2B SaaS is particularly relevant to us. Previous experience in hospitality or travel tech is welcome, but not required.

What Do We Offer?

• Work in a small and top-performing team that moves extremely fast where you are extremely important.
• Work without having to deal with jerks and ego-maniacs.
• The opportunity to join one of the best travel-tech sales teams in Europe.
• A place where your talent can blossom.
• An environment where mistakes are allowed – we make bold choices to achieve ambitious goals, learn from mistakes, and move forward.
• A place where your voice matters – meetings provide space for new ideas and projects, regardless of your role or seniority.
• Continuous growth – we challenge the status quo, renewing our sales processes and approaches to meet challenging goals.
• We have fun while working! We are easygoing people.
• Work with the best software out there to automate repetitive tasks and let you focus on customers and targets.
• Remote working.
• A gross annual salary between €40,000 and €50,000, depending on experience.

Before you apply

• We're highly driven and set our goals higher than most, pushing boundaries others may deem impossible.
• We work much harder than most companies out there.
• Every day, we step out of our comfort zones, fueling rapid growth and learning, even though it might come with its stress.
• We hold ourselves and our team to the highest standards of excellence and culture.
• Should we feel that this role isn't the right match for you, for the benefit of both parties, we may need to part ways.

We hope this sheds light on whether this could be your next adventure.