Events Specialist

F5 Networks, Inc.; Tower (MN); On-site; USD 93,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

F5 Networks, Inc. is seeking an Events Specialist to lead the planning, production, and end-to-end execution of high-impact marketing events, conferences, and trade shows—emphasizing AI-centric experiences.

You will drive cross-functional collaboration, manage program finances, and deliver world-class events for global audiences. The role requires deep operational discipline, strong problem-solving, and experience with Salesforce, Marketo, and Uptempo.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Hospitality, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in event planning and project management, preferably in enterprise B2B tech or SaaS.
• Hands-on experience with Salesforce, Marketo, Uptempo, and enterprise event platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of large-scale marketing events, trade shows, and customer experiences from inception through post-event wrap-up.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, critical-path schedules, and milestone trackers.
• Manage comprehensive program budgets in Uptempo, tracking spend, POs, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Collaborate with Product Marketing, Field Marketing, Demand Gen, Creative Services, and Sales to develop event themes, content, promotions, and target attendee plans.
• Source, negotiate, and manage third-party vendors and agencies for exhibits, AV/staging, venues, catering, and transport.
• Oversee booth properties, demo setups, partner deliverables, and on-site brand installations.
• Establish on-site lead qualification protocols and coordinate with Sales Enablement for SLA handoffs.
• Analyze attendee feedback, session attendance, and pipeline influence to drive ROI and improvements.
• Perform other related duties and special event assignments as required.

Skills

Event planning

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Hospitality, or equivalent practical experience

Tools

Salesforce

Marketo

Uptempo

Job description

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.

This position is located in Seattle, WA or San Jose, CA and requires in-office attendance

Position Summary

The Events Specialist is an integral member of the F5 Global Events team, responsible for leading the planning, production, and end-to-end execution of high-impact marketing events, conferences, and major industry trade shows, with a key focus on AI-centric events. This role translates marketing strategy and business goals into memorable live, digital, and hybrid event experiences that increase brand visibility, drive audience engagement, and accelerate the sales pipeline. As a self-driven, detail-oriented event leader, you will orchestrate complex cross-functional workstreams, manage robust program financials, and make sound, pragmatic decisions in fast-evolving environments. We are seeking a professional who brings creative ideas and best practices from prior experiences to innovate our event strategy. The ideal candidate will possess a holistic view of the event landscape, from core programming to ancillary activities, and demonstrate the leadership to guide stakeholders and make decisive, well-reasoned judgments. You bring deep operational discipline, creative problem-solving skills, and fluency across modern marketing technologies to deliver seamless, world-class experiences for global audiences.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and execution of large-scale marketing events, trade shows, and customer experiences from inception through post-event wrap-up, ensuring alignment with brand standards and strategic business objectives.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, critical-path workback schedules, and milestone trackers.
• Manage comprehensive program budgets in Uptempo, tracking spend, purchase orders, accruals, and final reconciliations to maintain strict fiscal governance.
• Collaborate closely with Product Marketing, Field Marketing, Demand Generation, Creative Services, and Sales teams to develop compelling event themes, content programming, targeted promotions, and account-based attendee acquisition plans.
• Source, negotiate, and manage third-party vendors and agencies—including exhibit production houses, audio-visual/staging teams, venue contacts, caterers, and transportation providers—ensuring high service delivery and cost efficiency.
• Oversee booth properties, demo station technical setups, turn‑key partner deliverables, and on‑site brand installations to maximize attendee flow, engagement, and brand impact.
• Establish on‑site lead qualification protocols and partner with Sales Enablement to ensure timely SLA handoffs.
• Consistently analyze attendee feedback, session attendance, and pipeline influence to evaluate ROI and drive continuous improvement.
• Perform other related duties and special event assignments as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Technical Acumen

• Deep understanding of the enterprise event marketing ecosystem.
• Strong working knowledge of marketing automation (Marketo), CRM (Salesforce), financial/budget management tools (Uptempo), and modern event registration and mobile app technologies.

Project Management & Organization

• Exceptional project governance and multitasking abilities; demonstrated capability to steer multiple competing workstreams simultaneously without sacrificing quality or missing milestones.

Critical Reasoning & Problem Solving

• Strong analytical skills and pragmatic judgment. Able to assess ambiguous situations, anticipate risks, formulate contingency plans, and make sound operational decisions under pressure.

Partnership & Stakeholder Influence

• Exceptional relationship‑building skills across matrixed, cross‑functional, and global teams. Confident engaging and aligning with senior leadership, account executives, and key external partners.

Communication Excellence

• Outstanding written, verbal, and presentation skills; able to convey complex event logistics, program briefs, and metrics clearly and concisely to diverse internal and external audiences.

Initiative & Adaptability

• Highly proactive, curious, and resilient. Embraces evolving business priorities and implements creative solutions to enhance processes and event experiences.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, Hospitality, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience

• 5+ years of progressive experience in event planning and project management, preferably within an enterprise B2B technology or SaaS organization.

Platform Proficiency

• Demonstrated hands‑on experience utilizing Salesforce, Marketo, and Uptempo, alongside enterprise event registration, badge scanning, and attendee mobile app platforms.

Track Record

• Proven success leading complex, multi‑day marketing events, large trade show booth presences, and cross‑functional campaigns from strategy to execution.

Vendor Negotiation

• Demonstrated experience managing RFP processes, negotiating master services agreements, and directing agency and production teams.

Travel Flexibility

• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20% to 30% domestically and internationally for venue site inspections, vendor meetings, and on‑site event execution.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands and Work Environment Duties are typically performed in a professional office or home‑office environment utilizing standard computer and telecommunication systems. Must be able to communicate effectively across multiple time zones and regions. Requires the ability to travel via airplane, train, or automobile (20%–30%). Event production periods will require active physical movement (e.g., extensive walking across convention center floors, standing for extended periods, and light lifting of promotional/collateral items up to 25 lbs). Requires flexibility to periodically work non‑standard hours, including evenings and weekends, during live event builds and program executions.

#LI-EM1 #LI-Hybrid

The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.

The annual base pay for this position is: $93,300.00 - $139,900.00 F5 maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, geographic locations, and market conditions, as well as to reflect F5’s differing products, industries, and lines of business. The pay range referenced is as of the time of the job posting and is subject to change. You may also be offered incentive compensation, bonus, restricted stock units, and benefits. More details about F5’s benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.f5.com/company/careers/benefits. F5 reserves the right to change or terminate any benefit plan without notice. Please note that F5 only contacts candidates through F5 email address (ending with @f5.com) or auto email notification from Workday (ending with f5.com or @myworkday.com).

Equal Employment Opportunity It is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Requesting an accommodation is completely voluntary. F5 will assess the need for accommodations in the application process separately from those that may be needed to perform the job. Request by contacting [e-mail].

Hybrid

Hybrid: Employees within 30 commutable miles of an F5 office are required to work from the office a minimum of 30 business days per quarter. Remote: Primarily work from designated home location but can come into an F5 office to work or travel to an offsite location as needed.

Together, we’re building a better digital world. Founded in 1996, F5 is a global leader in application delivery and security. Our premier platform helps customers secure and deliver every app, API, and piece of infrastructure across all environments. Backed by over three decades of expertise and 553 patents, our solutions protect against threats while ensuring fast, reliable digital experiences. With over 6,400 employees, we serve more than 23,000 customers in over 170 countries. To continue this work, we need people like you—the best minds in the industry. We’re committed to a unique, human‑first culture that encourages authenticity, prioritizes diversity and inclusion, and fosters the growth and success of our employees.