Executive Event Lead: Multiday Programs, 500+ Attendees

American Express Global Business Travel; Frankfort (KY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

American Express Global Business Travel is seeking a Senior Event Manager to plan and deliver highly complex programs for a dedicated Experience Studio team, handling multinational conferences with 500+ attendees and budgets above $1 million.

You will lead planning with the producer, manage budgets and suppliers, coordinate registration, and drive onsite execution across multi-day programs while mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years planning corporate meetings, events, and incentives with full responsibility from kickoff to reconciliation.
• Minimum program budgets above $1 million with accurate forecasts and clean reconciliations.
• Portfolio includes multiday executive programs and audiences of 500+, with onsite teams of ten+.
• Experience as planning lead beside a producer, with clear decision ownership.
• Strong hotel and supplier contract skills (attrition, cancellations, F&B minimums, signed terms).
• Proficiency with enterprise project tools and client-owned environments (Cvent and related systems).
• Ability to manage multiple programs at different stages and flag risks early.
• Calm, professional presence when dealing with senior audiences and executives.
• Coaching ability to develop less experienced planners and cover peaks when needed.
• Preferred: CMP; incentive travel experience; time on dedicated client team or hotel/DMC with supplier perspective.

Responsibilities

• Work as the planning lead beside the producer, translating briefs into actionable plans and flagging cost/time impacts early.
• Build and manage program budgets from initial estimates through reconciliation, including forecasts and supplier commitments.
• Develop a detailed planning calendar and ensure team/suppliers meet dates within client tools.
• Oversee day-to-day supplier management (hotels, venues, transport, F&B, destination partners).
• Coordinate Attendee Experience with registration, housing, and communications in the client's Cvent instance.
• Run onsite logistics under the producer's leadership, directing teams of ten+ during travel and extended weeks.
• Mentor Event Managers by reviewing plans, providing feedback, and stepping in during peak periods.
• Maintain comprehensive planning files and decision notes for easy handover and post-program debriefs.
• Raise scope/budget/resourcing risks with recommendations to the producer and Studio Operations Manager.

Skills

Event planning

Budget management

Onsite leadership

Vendor management

Cvent proficiency

Project tools

Coaching

Strategic planning

Client-facing

CMP (preferred)

Education

CMP certification

Tools

Cvent

Job description

American Express Global Business Travel is seeking a Senior Event Manager to plan and deliver highly complex programs for a dedicated Experience Studio team, handling multinational conferences with 500+ attendees and budgets above $1 million.

You will lead planning with the producer, manage budgets and suppliers, coordinate registration, and drive onsite execution across multi-day programs while mentoring junior staff.