Director, Operations - Strategic Meetings Management (SMM)

maritz; East Hanover (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Maritz in East Hanover, NJ is seeking a Director of Operations (SMM) to lead staffing, resourcing, and data-driven decisions across programs, elevating sourcing and event design.

You will align customer experience, employee engagement, and operational efficiency with cross-functional teams, shaping scalable program strategies and client partnerships to drive long-term value for the business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience required.
• 5–7 years of experience in Meeting, Events and/or Incentive Travel pre-sale and/or post-sale activities.
• At least 3–5 years of supervisory and/or leadership experience.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget governance, forecasting, cost modeling, and data-driven decision-making.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with experience partnering closely with clients, Sales, and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated expertise in workforce planning, staffing optimization, and building high-performing teams.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business objectives into scalable operational frameworks and long-term initiatives.

Responsibilities

• 25% Team Leadership, Staffing & Workforce Optimization: Set the vision for workforce planning and team capability development.
• 25% Financial & Operational Oversight: Provide strategic oversight of program economics, GAAP reviews, budget governance, and cost structure analysis.
• 25% Strategic Planning, Program Design & Operational Excellence: Lead development of operational frameworks, forecasting models, and delivery methodologies.
• 25% Cross-Functional Alignment, Client Partnership & Business Growth: Partner with Sales, Client Services, and operations to drive renewal costings and growth.

Skills

Leadership

Financial acumen

Strategic thinking

Communication

Workforce planning

Education

Bachelor degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Where Human Connection Fuels Possibility

At Maritz, decades of innovation and perseverance have built more than just a strong reputation - they've shaped a culture where human connection and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do.

Joining Maritz means becoming part of a workplace grounded in a critical truth; people and their potential is our greatest resource.

Maritz helps companies achieve their business goals by inspiring people to perform their best. We design experiences, incentives, and recognition programs that spark action and deliver measurable impact.

And we've brought this human-first design inward - intentionally building teams that care for each other and collaborate powerfully. In our most recent employee survey, nearly 90% of respondents said that their managers care about their concerns and 82% said they feel genuinely appreciated. We know that when employees feel seen, supported, and celebrated for who they are, they thrive and so does our business.

That's why we've created a flexible, environment that empowers you to do your best work without sacrificing what matters most to you. In fact, in that same survey, nearly 90% of respondents said they have the flexibility they need to balance work and personal life and nearly 80% said Maritz does a great job prioritizing employee well being.

We have a passion for excellence and genuine care for the people making it possible.

The Director of Operations (SMM) is a transformational leader who shapes the strategic direction of staffing, resourcing, and data-enabled decision-making to elevate sourcing and event programming. Serving as the central catalyst for operational innovation, this role aligns customer experience, employee engagement, and organizational efficiency to drive long-term value. By forging deep client partnerships and unifying cross-functional teams, the director creates scalable, future-ready program strategies that strengthen organizational impact and sustain industry leadership.

What You'll Be Doing

• 25% Team Leadership, Staffing & Workforce Optimization

  Sets the vision for workforce planning and team capability development across the operation. Champions a culture of performance, continuous learning, and operational discipline through targeted coaching, competency-building, and leadership development. Establishes scalable staffing models, ensuring the right talent is deployed at the right time. Oversees workforce planning, variable labor strategies, and productivity metrics that directly influence organizational agility and client success.

• 25% Financial & Operational Oversight

  Provides strategic oversight of program economics, shaping financial decision-making through GAAP reviews, budget governance, and analysis of cost structures. Drives enterprise profitability by aligning resourcing, labor forecasting, and funding management with organizational objectives. Leads financial strategy discussions, translating complex data into insights that inform senior-level decision-making, long-range planning, and operational optimization.

• 25% Strategic Planning, Program Design & Operational Excellence

  Leads the development and enhancement of operational frameworks, forecasting models, and delivery methodologies that drive program excellence. Shapes program strategy by translating client needs and organizational goals into scalable solutions. Partners in proposal development, program design, and long-term strategic initiatives that advance enterprise capabilities. Drives the evolution of MSAs, SOWs, and operational standards to support sustainable growth.

• 25% Cross-Functional Alignment, Client Partnership & Business Growth

  Acts as a senior strategic partner to Sales, Client Services, and operational support teams, ensuring unified execution and future-ready program design. Cultivates high-trust client relationships through insights, collaboration, and operational leadership. Drives growth by leading renewal costings, proposal strategy, and operational readiness for new business. Facilitates strategic alignment across departments, strengths communication channels, and ensures organizational priorities translate into client and business value.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor degree or equivalent experience required.
• Minimum 5 - 7 years of experience in Meeting, Events and/or Incentive Travel pre-sale and/or post-sale activities required.
• At least 3 - 5 years of proven supervisory and/or leadership experience required.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget governance, forecasting, cost modeling, and data-driven decision-making.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with experience partnering closely with clients, Sales, and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated expertise in workforce planning, staffing optimization, and building high-performing teams.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business objectives into scalable operational frameworks and long-term initiatives.
• High degree o