Associate Project Manager (Corporate Event Planner)

FIRST; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k)

Flexible spending

Employee assistance

Life & disability

Wellness stipend

Headspace access

Aura protection

Discretionary bonus

Global opportunities

Job summary

FIRST is seeking an Associate Project Manager in New York to represent the brand within a Financial Services client engagement. The role covers virtual, in-person and hybrid events, delivering end-to-end management across budgets, venues, logistics and speaker coordination.

Ideal candidates have 2-4+ years in event management, strong MS Office skills, and proven ability to lead projects while adapting to evolving client needs. Hybrid work with travel required; on-site duties may expand to 5 days.

Qualifications

• 2-4+ years’ event management experience, preferably in corporate or financial environments.
• Proficient with MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel).
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines under pressure.
• Experience with virtual, in-person and hybrid events (Webex/Zoom).
• Strong vendor negotiation and contract management skills.

Responsibilities

• Full lifecycle planning and execution of multiple events in virtual, in-person and hybrid formats.
• Financial management including budgets, expenses, invoicing and final reporting.
• Site and venue sourcing, contract management and supplier coordination.
• Handle registration, catering, transportation, hotel, AV, webcasts, staging and speaker selection.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Production, Event Tech, Data, Legal and Compliance teams.
• Plan and manage virtual platforms, timelines, invitations and attendee communications.
• Ensure compliance with client standards and risk guidelines.
• Travel for site inspections and on-site event management as required.
• Post-event wrap-up: attendance, budget reconciliation and debriefs.

Skills

Event management

Project management

Budgeting

Vendor management

Client service

Leadership

Communication

Tools

Cvent

Webex

Zoom

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency providing Content, Creative, Digital Technology, Management & Delivery, and Data & Insights services. For 30 years, we have utilized three flexible delivery models: Embedded teams, Corporate Campus operations, and a Full-Service Agency. Managing over 37,000 events & projects annually across 110 countries, FIRST serves 130+ brands, specializing in Fortune 500 companies within the Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, Media, and Professional Services sectors. FIRST is part of the broader Encore family of companies. Encore is a global leader in event production and technology. Consistently recognized for excellence, recent honors include 2026 Chief Marketer Agency of the Year, the Ad Net Zero Award for sustainability, and more.

Location: New York. This is a hybrid role, must live in the NY tri state area and be able to go into office 3 days a week, subject to change to 5 days at any time.

In this capacity, the ideal candidate would represent the FIRST brand embedded within a Solutions account for a Financial Services company. FIRST Solutions is the proprietary strategic meetings management model offered by FIRST, which embeds specialist talent into organizations to provide Content, Creative, Digital Technology, Management & Delivery, and Data & Insights. The Associate Project Manager will consistently deliver exceptional service to our high-touch clients through excellent project management and creative solutions. This position will support virtual, in-person and hybrid events which include but are not limited to; internal programs, client-facing events including conferences, hospitality, thought leadership, sporting, and cultural programs. There is a requirement for onsite events to travel domestically or abroad as required.

There is a requirement for onsite events to travel domestically or abroad as required.

Your Contributions

• Full life-cycle planning and execution of multiple key events in a virtual, in-person and hybrid capacity
• Financial management, including: budget development and management, expense management and invoice processing, timely post-meeting reconciliation and final financial reporting
• Sourcing, negotiating and managing site selections, contract management for venues and suppliers
• Coordinate registration, food and beverage, transportation, hotel accommodations, entertainment, gift selection, audio/visual needs, webcasts, staging and speaker selection for all programs; strong focus on vendor management
• Work seamlessly with key internal partners on event deliverables (i.e. Marketing for print and digital design and collateral elements, Production on Audio Visual, Event Technology team on web builds, data team on attendee management, Legal and Compliance as required, etc.)
• Virtual event planning and project management including confirming appropriate virtual platform, creation of timelines, invitation process, thorough and regular communications to attendees, suppliers and stakeholders (required)
• Ensure adherence to the client’s standards of operation and policies and that compliance and risk guidelines are followed
• Travel when applicable for site inspections and on-site management of live events to ensure full coordination of logistics and on-site teams for in-person events
• Post event wrap up including final attendees, budget reconciliation, observations, as well as client debriefs for year over year improvements
• Track time spent to projects to accurately reflect the work being done
• Co-plan with colleagues and the client on larger scale programs; strong team player
• Share knowledge of best practices, new suppliers, services and venues
• IBD client-facing dinners, events, experiences, and ticketed events.

What We Are Looking For

• 2-4+ years’ event management experience, preferably in a corporate or financial environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications such as PowerPoint and Excel
• Motivated, self-starter, ability to work independently and project plan; ability to think innovatively
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; proven ability to work well under pressure to meet established deadlines
• Virtual event experience preferred – Webex and Zoom experience
• Leadership/influencing/negotiation and decision-making skills
• Resourceful individual with the ability to take direction and work independently; be proactive with ideas and creative solutions
• Customer focus, approachable; ability to adjust to client needs and style and deepen relationships in support of their programs; adapt to ever changing demands and different client work styles
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ambitious, proactive and highly organized
• Willing to travel to various locations for site-visits and on-site management of events
• Experience working with large and complex databases preferred, Cvent experience preferred
• Knowledge of venues and suppliers in key US cities

At FIRST, we believe that our success is driven by the passion, creativity, and commitment of our teams. That's why we offer a range of benefits and perks to support your personal and professional growth

• Medical, Dental & Vision, which includes the option of a high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA)
• 401 (k)
• Five Flexible Spending Accounts Options
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life, Disability & Pet Coverages
• Wellness Stipend
• Complimentary access to Headspace, Teladoc, Maven, Rocket Lawyer, Mobilo & more
• Aura Identity Theft Protection
• Discretionary Bonus Structure
• Global Opportunities: With a presence in 7 countries worldwide, including headquarters in London, New York, and Singapore, you may have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different locations.

United States Residents:

The base pay for this position ranges from $63,143.00 - $72,614.00 . This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

Please note that the national salary range listed in the job posting reflects the new hire salary range across various U.S. locations that would be applicable to the position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If any candidate feels that they are unable to meet the requirements of the role, please get in touch to discuss adjustments or other suitable roles.