Director, Trade Shows

Collectibles Group; Sarasota (FL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision Insurance

Dental Insurance

PTO & Paid Holidays

Job summary

Collectibles Group in Sarasota, FL is seeking a Director of Trade Shows to lead their global events and trade show portfolio. This full-time role involves developing a comprehensive trade show strategy, managing 60–80 trade shows annually, and executing logistical excellence across all events. The ideal candidate will have 8-10+ years of experience in trade show management, a proven track record with large event portfolios, and strong leadership abilities. Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 8–10+ years of experience in trade show management or event leadership.
• Proven success managing large-scale, high-volume events.
• Strong strategic thinking and translation of vision into execution.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Expertise in vendor negotiation and logistics operations.
• Exceptional communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Highly organized and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global trade show strategy aligned with organizational objectives.
• Oversee 60–80+ trade shows annually, prioritizing based on business impact.
• Lead planning cycles, budget forecasting, and resource allocation.
• Establish systems for high-quality event execution across all shows.
• Ensure seamless booth operations and effective customer engagement strategies.

Skills

Trade show management

Experiential marketing

Event leadership

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Vendor negotiation

Logistics operations

Communication

Analytical skills

Job description

Sarasota, FL, Hybrid (commutable distance from HQ), full-time, Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend travel required.

Position Summary

The Certified Collectibles Group is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Director of Trade Shows to lead our global events and trade show portfolio across all of its affiliated companies. This role is responsible for defining and executing a best-in-class Trade Show strategy that enhances customer experience and engagement, strengthens brand presence, and drives measurable business growth.

The Director of Trade Shows will oversee a high-volume domestic and international trade show portfolio, lead a cross-functional team, and ensure operational excellence across all phases of event execution – from planning and logistics to performance analytics and ROI optimization.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global trade show and experiential marketing strategy aligned with organizational and brand objectives.
• Oversee a portfolio of 60–80+ trade shows annually, prioritizing investments based on business impact, audience reach, and ROI.
• Lead annual and multi-year planning cycles, including budget forecasting, resource allocation, and performance benchmarks.
• Identify new opportunities for market expansion and partnerships.

Operational Excellence & Execution

• Establish scalable systems and processes to ensure consistent, high-quality event execution across all shows.
• Oversee end-to-end event lifecycle: pre-show planning, on-site operations, and post-show reporting and analysis.
• Direct all logistics, including travel (airfare, accommodations, transportation), shipment of materials, and asset management.
• Ensure seamless booth operations, including design, staffing models, and customer engagement strategies.
• Act as executive escalation point for on-site issues, ensuring rapid problem resolution and brand integrity.
• Own and manage the trade show budget, ensuring cost discipline and maximizing ROI.
• Lead vendor sourcing, contract negotiation, and relationship management with show organizers, venues, and suppliers.
• Oversee financial processes, including purchase orders, invoice approvals, and third-party payments.
• Continuously evaluate cost structures and negotiate efficiencies at scale.
• Lead, coach, and scale a team of trade show managers, coordinators, and representatives.
• Establish clear performance goals, training programs, and career development pathways.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop staffing models to support increasing event complexity and global expansion.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing to integrate trade shows into broader campaign strategies, including pre-event outreach, on-site activation, and post-event follow-up.
• Align closely with Sales and Business Verticals to ensure events support revenue generation growth.
• Collaborate with Brand and Creative teams to evolve booth design, messaging, and customer experience.

Analytics, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Define and track KPIs, including customer engagement, operational efficiency, and financial return.
• Build reporting frameworks to provide actionable insights and executive-level visibility into event performance.
• Leverage data to continuously refine trade show strategy.

What will help you succeed in this role

• 8–10+ years of experience in trade show management, experiential marketing, or event leadership.
• Proven success managing large-scale, high-volume event portfolios with significant budget responsibility.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into scalable execution.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Expertise in vendor negotiation, contract management, and logistics operations.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Highly organized, process-oriented, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience measuring and optimizing ROI.
• Willingness to travel frequently (domestic and limited international).

ABOUT US

The Certified Collectibles Group is a global leader in the fast-growing collectibles market. Its companies – NGC, PMG, CGC, JSA, and ASG – provide third-party authentication and grading services that protect the integrity of the hobby and empower confident buying and selling decisions. Since 1987, more than 110 million coins, banknotes, comic books, magazines, trading cards, sports cards, video games, stamps, and autographs have been certified. Trusted by collectors and dealers worldwide, the Certified Collectibles Group has locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, United Arab Emirates, and China.

• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits including Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance.
• PTO & Paid Holidays.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diversity strengthens our team and drives innovation, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

*Subject to terms and conditions. Ask for details.