Event Director

acbjcareers; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

American City Business Journals seeks an Events Director to own planning and execution of in-person and virtual events.

You will manage budgets, vendor selection, timelines, staff roles, speaker coordination, and post‑event analysis to ensure programs meet client needs and brand standards.

Requires 3–5 years in events and proficiency with Office 365 and virtual platforms such as Zoom, TEAMS, and WebEx.

Qualifications

• College degree or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years preferred.
• Experience coordinating events in-person and virtual.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed budgets and forecasts of event attendance, income and expenses.
• Gather, compare & present price quotes for all event related expenses.
• Select site, caterer, accessories, and other vendors.
• Negotiate and sign contracts for services rendered.
• Develop detailed timelines for each event.
• Determine and communicate staff and client responsibilities.
• Choreograph and manage event day.
• Coordinate speaker/presenter and sponsor program participants.
• Script sponsor presentations and main program.
• Manage ticket sales through online registration and attendance lists.
• Develop relationships with outside vendors to ensure high quality with controlled costs.
• Prepare pre and post event promotions and proofreading of promotional material.

Skills

Office 365

Virtual event platforms

Education

College degree or comparable work experience

Job description

Event Ownership, Planning & Management:

• Events can be In-Person or Virtual and ability to manage the below items in either environment is a key skill and capability
• Prepare detailed budgets and forecasts of event attendance, income and expenses.
• Gather, compare & present price quotes for all event related expenses.
• Select site, caterer, accessories, and other vendors.
• Negotiate and sign contracts for services rendered.
• Develop detailed timelines for each event.
• Determine and communicate staff and client responsibilities.
• Individual is responsible for choregraphing and managing event day.
• In partnership with market publisher select and schedule event speaker/presentation and sponsor program participants.
• Script sponsor presentations and main program.
• Manage ticket sales through the online registration process and oversee attendance lists.
• Develop relationships with outside vendors i.e., hotels, restaurants, caterers, audio visual companies, florists etc. Utilize vendor trades whenever possible to assure we produce a high-quality event with the lowest possible cash outlay. Track trade schedules to assure dollar for dollar completion of contract.
• Prepare pre and post event promotions through house ads, direct mail, and broadcast e-mails to attendees. Assist with proofreading of all promotional material, advertising, and event program to maintain integrity and image of PSBJ brand.
• Prepare & present post-event analysis including invoicing approval, spreadsheet summary of expenses, rsvp's, attendance list, and no-shows.

Vendor & Sponsor Management:

• Organize and facilitate sponsor meetings as necessary.
• Gather sponsor bios and company promos for event recognition.
• Ensure sponsor deliverables are addressed throughout the event process.
• Assist advertising team during sales process to ensure potential events are clearly communicated to meet the client's needs.
• Provide creative recommendations for sponsors and on-site event activations.

Professional Development:

The Events Director should participate in all applicable training offered by ACBJ and the business unit. In addition, individual is encouraged participate in at least one external training opportunity each year, as agreed upon with the Publisher.

Other:

All team members should be prepared to assist with any other task requested by the Publisher.

Education:

College degree or comparable work experience

Experience:

3-5 years preferred

Specific Skills:

Office 365 Products (Excel, Word, TEAMS, etc.)

MUST have the ability to function in a virtual environment and lead/conduct virtual meetings and events (Zoom, TEAMS, WebEx, and other virtual meeting platforms)