Associate Director, Conferences Logistics

Gartner; Irving (TX); On-site; USD 93,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus plan

Stock purchase plan

Generous PTO

401(k) match up to $7,200 per year

Job summary

Gartner is seeking an Associate Director to lead a team of operations professionals delivering a portfolio of complex conferences. Translate corporate strategy into an operations plan and guide decision-making to ensure end-to-end audience experiences.

You will manage budgets, forecast monthly, and build scalable processes with venue partners while traveling up to 20% domestically and internationally. A 10+ year background in event management is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferred.
• 10+ years Event Management experience.
• Proven event operational skills including food & beverage, production schedules, budget management, and event staffing.
• Project management experience on detailed programs with multiple variables and dependencies.
• Proven experience in managing agency and vendor partners.
• Proven people-management experience.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, especially with senior-level professionals, cross-functional and with agency partners.
• Creative, innovative and strategic thinker with a strong attention to detail.
• Strong financial management skills.
• Ability to travel up to 20%, domestically & internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead operations strategy for the regional conference portfolio in partnership with COEs.
• Lead communication and collaboration across regional portfolio COE leaders.
• Support conference teams to transition from the design and delivery of individual parts to intentionally crafting an end-to-end audience journey.
• Drive consistency and innovation across the regional portfolio.
• Actively participate in key milestone reviews to ensure the team recommendations align with corporate strategy and meet the needs of the customer.
• Recruit, retain and coach a team of agile, customer-focused, operational experts.
• Inspire confidence and provide clear direction.
• Provide subject-matter / functional expertise and guidance.
• Ensure that the team is leading the development of an end-to-end conference experience.
• Drive initiatives which enhance the portfolio, deliver results against priorities and improve processes in planning and execution in partnership with the strategic initiatives leader.
• Build team infrastructure to scale and operate efficiently.
• Develop detailed action plans to achieve growth including optimized space planning, capacity solutions, venue selection and transitions, and growth into new regions.
• Lead strategy for conference growth solutions; direct and guide the team to develop detailed plans for achieving growth and optimizing space.
• Build strong relationships with venues and vendors, ensuring that they meet our expectations and are equipped to scale as our business grows.
• Clearly understand and translate the needs of the audience.
• Champion change and drive creative solutions.
• Collaborate with COE leaders to identify trends and regional impacts.

Skills

Event leadership

Budget management

Project management

Vendor management

People management

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Attention to detail

Negotiation

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

As an Associate Director, you will be responsible for leading a team of highly skilled operations professionals to flawlessly deliver a portfolio of complex, fast‑growing conferences that meet our financial goals. To be successful in this role you must learn and understand our corporate strategy and translate it into an operations strategy that delivers exceptional conference experiences for our customers. Your role is to guide the team's decision‑making, delivering for today while planning for the future.

What You Will Do:

• Lead operations strategy for the regional conference portfolio in partnership with COEs.
  • Lead communication and collaboration across regional portfolio COE leaders.
  • Support conference teams to transition from the design and delivery of individual parts to intentionally crafting an end‑to‑end audience journey.
  • Drive consistency and innovation across the regional portfolio.
  • Actively participate in key milestone reviews to ensure the team recommendations align with corporate strategy and meet the needs of the customer.
• Recruit, retain and coach a team of agile, customer‑focused, operational experts.
  • Inspire confidence and provide clear direction.
  • Provide subject‑matter / functional expertise and guidance.
  • Ensure that the team is leading the development of an end‑to‑end conference experience.
  • Drive initiatives which enhance the portfolio, deliver results against priorities and improve processes in planning and execution in partnership with the strategic initiatives leader.
  • Build team infrastructure to scale and operate efficiently.
• Deliver for today while preparing for the future.
  • Develop detailed action plans to achieve growth including optimized space planning, capacity solutions, venue selection and transitions, and growth into new regions.
  • Lead strategy for conference growth solutions; direct and guide the team to develop detailed plans for achieving growth and optimizing space.
  • Build strong relationships with venues and vendors, ensuring that they meet our expectations and are equipped to scale as our business grows.
  • Clearly understand and translate the needs of the audience.
  • Champion change and drive creative solutions.
• Overall responsibility for the regional portfolio budgets, including preparation, negotiations, accurate and timely monthly forecasts.
  • Collaborate with COE leaders to identify trends and regional impacts.
  • Ensure the team is accountable and responsible for the expenses they manage and understand the financial impact of the decisions they make.
  • Lead the team through the investment process, ensuring recommendations align with the overall strategy for the conference.
  • Lead portfolio forecast reviews and participate in monthly forecast calls.
  • Understand risk and deviations to plan and make recommendations for corrective actions; partner with COEs to mitigate risk.

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferred.
• 10+ years Event Management experience.
• Proven event operational skills including food & beverage, production schedules, budget management, and event staffing.
• Project management experience on detailed programs with multiple variables and dependencies.
• Proven experience in managing agency and vendor partners.
• Proven people‑management experience.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills, especially with senior‑level professionals, cross‑functionally and with agency partners.
• Creative, innovative and strategic thinker with a strong attention to detail.
• Strong financial management skills.
• Motivated team player with a desire to learn and grow.
• Excellent written/oral communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt, implement, and manage change and strive for continuous improvement.
• Ability to thrive in high‑pressure situations.
• Confident decision maker.
• Ability to travel up to 20%, domestically & internationally.

A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is 93,000 USD – 140,000 USD. Employees may participate in an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, or a role‑based, uncapped sales incentive plan. Benefits include generous PTO, a 401(k) match up to $7,200 per year, the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount, and other market‑leading benefit programs.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

The policy of Gartner is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status and to seek to advance the principles of equal employment opportunity.

Gartner is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers opportunities to all job seekers, including job seekers with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation. Contact Human Resources at [phone] or email [e-mail].