Corporate Conferences & Events - Event Specialist

metroConnections; Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory (MN); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comp Time

Overnight Travel Bonus

PTO

Paid Holidays

Summer Fridays

ESOP

401(k) Match

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Disability Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life/AD&D Insurance

Bereavement Leave

Uniform Allowance

Cell Phone Reimbursement

Job summary

metroConnections is hiring an Event Specialist to lead programs with enhanced offerings such as décor and teambuilding. The role blends independent remote work, team office duties in Burnsville, MN, and on-site events across the Twin Cities and beyond, with occasional overnight travel.

Minimum four years of experience, strong communication, and tech literacy are essential. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and salary of $70,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Four or more years of industry experience.
• Self-sufficient with workload management.
• Ability to work independently and solve problems.
• Strong written and verbal English communication.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Serve as lead event representative for assigned programs to clients and vendors.
• Coordinate with Sales Manager and Operations Team during hand-offs.
• Mentor Event Coordinators and contribute to team growth.
• Lead or support on-site event management and logistics.
• Manage post-event debriefs and financial details with Accounting.

Skills

Customer service

Written and verbal communication

Multi-tasking

Problem solving

Technology literacy

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

An Event Specialist typically assumes a lead position for all programs assigned after the sale. An Event Specialist primarily services programs with enhanced event offerings such as décor, interactive elements, entertainment, and teambuilding. The goal is always to provide exceptional service and to ensure customer satisfaction. An Event Specialist can accomplish this goal by implementing the metroConnections Brand Pillars in everyday work functions with internal colleagues and external clients and partners: Connection, Innovation, Adaptability, Partnership, Dependability, Execution.

This is a full-time, salary, bonus-eligible, hybrid position. Work locations will include independent remote/work from home, team office work in Burnsville, MN, and on-site event work (within the Twin Cities, domestically, and internationally, including overnight travel).

An Event Specialist typically assumes a lead position for all programs assigned after the sale. An Event Specialist primarily services programs with enhanced event offerings such as décor, interactive elements, entertainment, and teambuilding. The goal is always to provide exceptional service and to ensure customer satisfaction. An Event Specialist can accomplish this goal by implementing the metroConnections Brand Pillars in everyday work functions with internal colleagues and external clients and partners: Connection, Innovation, Adaptability, Partnership, Dependability, Execution.

This is a full-time, salary, bonus-eligible, hybrid position. Work locations will include independent remote/work from home, team office work in Burnsville, MN, and on-site event work (within the Twin Cities, domestically, and internationally, including overnight travel).

Position Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Work collaboratively with all service teams within metroConnections.
• Participate in all aspects of metroConnections where appropriate/when assigned.
• Serve as lead event representative for assigned programs to clients, vendors, the Sales Manager, and other service teams. Support positions may also be assigned based on project requirements.
• Provide mentorship to Event Coordinators and Senior Event Coordinators, related to established team expectations and goals.
• Actively contribute to team meetings to encourage collaboration and continued growth.
• Lead sessions that cultivate learning for the team.
• Lead or support the project hand-off phase from the Event Sales Team: schedule meetings with Sales Manager, communicate with Operations Team.
• Lead or support the coordination phase for assigned projects: participate in creative brainstorming to develop solutions, design and draft event layouts, communicate and coordinate with internal teams and external partners while keeping information about the event centrally organized.
• Finalize details and logistics with venues and clients, coordinate financial details with Accounting team, create and share program documents, arrange and lead site visits and meetings, research and manage travel arrangements for staff, shop for/order event supplies, pull and sort event supplies for delivery/shipping, etc.
• On-site management or support during the on-site execution phase of assigned projects: serve as lead or support contact for client, internal team members, vendors, venue; assist with setting up and tearing down of décor and other inventory items, trouble-shoot through on-site execution.
• Support or lead the post-event follow-up phase of assigned projects: manage inventory, compile and share debrief notes, communicate learning experiences to internal teams, finalize financial details with Accounting team.
• On-site responsibilities are held both within the metro area and outside of Minnesota. The candidate must have experience traveling domestically and must be willing and able to travel.

Minimum Qualifications include:

• Four or more years of industry experience.
• Skill level: self sufficient, effectively manages workload.
• Work independently to come up with viable solutions.
• Technology literate with a passion for learning new things.
• Excel in written and verbal communication (English is the primary language).
• Exhibit strong computer skills: proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Provide excellent customer service via email, on the phone and in-person.
• Multi-task efficiently while maintaining big-picture thinking.
• Manage stress successfully: adapt to change, trouble-shoot, and make decisions while maintaining a calm demeanor.
• Maintain a presentable appearance as many work functions are performed in or adjacent to a corporate atmosphere.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• The employee must be able to lift up to 40 pounds.
• The employee may exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push or otherwise move objects.
• This is a sedentary position that requires the employee to sit for extended periods of time without being able to leave the work area.
• The employee will experience repetitive motion, substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• The employee will type or otherwise work primarily with fingers.
• The employee will be required to stand or walk for long periods of time.
• Regularly required to talk/hear.

Preferred Qualifications include:

• Corporate Conference/Event Planning Experience
• Third-Party Planning Experience

Benefits Package Highlights:

• Comp Time for on-site program hours worked over 40
• Overnight Program Travel Bonuses – $50.00 per night for overnight program travel
• Paid Time Off – Starting with 15 PTO Days
• Paid Holidays – 9.5 Days Annually, including Employee-Owner Appreciation Day (first Friday of March)
• Summer Fridays – Reduced Business Hours on Fridays during Summer Months
• Employee-Owned – Employee Stock Ownership Plan – Retirement Plan 100% funded by the company
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match
• Medical and Dental Insurance – 50% company paid
• Options for Voluntary Disability Insurance, Voluntary Vision Insurance, Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
• Bereavement – Up to 5 Days Paid per occurrence
• Annual Uniform Allowance
• Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursement

Compensation:

• $70,000 annually

AI for screening candidates has its limitations and potential biases and should not replace human decision-making in hiring. The find the best candidates for our organization, metroConnections does not utilize AI for candidate screening.

metroConnections is proudly employee owned and operated. An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) is an employee benefit plan that gives workers ownership interest in the company.

Equal Opportunity is metroConnections, Inc.’s policy. We are committed to policies of non-discrimination to promote diversity in employment regardless of race, sex, parental or marital status, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability or any other criteria not specifically related to relevant aptitudes, potential, skills, and abilities.

We value the diversity in society and the diversity amongst our employees, and we believe that by successfully managing this diversity, we can gain from it and become a more effective business. If you are excited about this opportunity but your past experience does not align perfectly with the qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. This or another opportunity may end up being a great fit for you!

metroConnections is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact metroConnections’ Human Resources team at 612.333.8687.