Manager, Event Tech

PROFESSIONAL CONVENTION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

PROFESSIONAL CONVENTION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (PCMA) in Chicago, IL, seeks a Manager, Event Technology to own RainFocus and Swapcard platforms across PCMA’s global event portfolio. You will configure registrations, build mobile apps, and develop SOPs while coordinating with vendors and internal stakeholders.

This hands-on role requires strong technical skills, cross-functional collaboration, and travel to North American events to ensure seamless attendee experiences across live and digital

Qualifications

• 5+ years in event technology or related field with hands-on admin of registration or mobile apps.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience with RainFocus and/or Swapcard preferred.
• Strong problem-solving and fast-paced live events.
• Ability to travel to North American events.

Responsibilities

• Serve as PCMA’s key internal point person and subject matter expert for RainFocus and Swapcard across PCMA’s global event portfolio.
• Lead end-to-end technical build of RainFocus registration sites and Swapcard mobile apps for each event.
• Develop and maintain detailed specification documents for each event build.
• Create and maintain SOPs for platform administration and troubleshooting.
• Provide hands-on troubleshooting and issue resolution for RainFocus and Swapcard.
• Liaise with RainFocus, Swapcard, and other vendors and translate requirements into configurations.
• Cross-train team members on RainFocus/Swapcard functionality.

Skills

RainFocus

Swapcard

Event technology

Registration systems

Technical documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Chicago, IL 60601, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 Salary/year, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%

POSITION SUMMARY

The PCMA Events team is made up of passionate business event professionals who embrace change and are agile and diverse. We are responsible for designing, driving, executing, and measuring live and digital events that target members, customers, partners, and prospects with the goal of delivering business results. We are an integral, highly valued, highly visible part of PCMA’s team.

The Manager, Event Technology will serve as PCMA’s key internal point person for the organization’s core event technology platforms, including RainFocus (registration) and Swapcard (mobile event app), supporting PCMA’s full global event portfolio. Reporting to the Vice President, Events & Experiences, this role is instrumental in ensuring these platforms are configured, maintained, and supported to deliver a seamless experience for attendees, exhibitors, and staff. This position is based at PCMA’s headquarters office in Chicago, Illinois.

The Manager, Event Technology’s primary focus is on the end-to-end administration of RainFocus and Swapcard for every event in PCMA’s portfolio, including creating specification documents and SOPs, building out each event’s registration site and mobile app, and providing hands-on troubleshooting and support before, during, and after each event. Collaboration is key as you serve as the liaison with both platform vendors and work closely with internal stakeholders to translate each event’s requirements into technical builds.

In addition to platform administration, the Manager, Event Technology contributes to a collaborative and inclusive team environment by cross-training other Events team members on RainFocus and Swapcard functionality, building shared knowledge and redundancy across the team. This role’s energy and initiative will help drive efficiency and innovation in how PCMA’s event technology supports our portfolio.

The Manager, Event Technology is a hands-on technical professional who excels at platform administration, troubleshooting, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration, with the ability to translate event requirements into flawless technical execution — essential in supporting the success of PCMA’s global event portfolio. This role travels on-site to all PCMA events within the North American portfolio to provide live platform support.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as PCMA’s key internal point person and subject matter expert for the organization’s event technology platforms, including RainFocus (registration) and Swapcard (mobile event app), supporting all events across PCMA’s global event portfolio.
• Lead the end-to-end technical build of RainFocus registration sites and Swapcard mobile apps for each event, configuring registration workflows, forms, session data, sponsor/exhibitor listings, and attendee-facing features to align with each event’s specific requirements.
• Develop and maintain detailed specification documents for each event build, translating event and stakeholder requirements into clear, accurate platform configurations.
• Create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for platform administration, event builds, and troubleshooting, standardizing processes and supporting business continuity across the team.
• Provide hands-on troubleshooting and issue resolution for RainFocus and Swapcard, minimizing disruption to registration, the attendee experience, and event operations.
• Serve as the primary liaison with RainFocus, Swapcard, and other event technology vendors, managing the day-to-day relationship, escalating and resolving issues, and advocating for platform enhancements that benefit PCMA’s events.
• Crosstrain and support other members of the Events team on RainFocus and Swapcard functionality, building team-wide capability, knowledge-sharing, and redundancy.
• Partner with the Events & Experiences team, Marketing, and other internal stakeholders to ensure registration and mobile app builds align with each event’s goals, timelines, and brand standards.
• Monitor platform performance and data integrity throughout the registration and event lifecycle, proactively identifying and resolving issues and recommending process improvements.
• Stay current on RainFocus and Swapcard product updates, new features, and industry event technology trends, recommending improvements to PCMA’s event technology stack.
• Travel on-site to all PCMA events within the North American portfolio to provide live, hands-on platform support and troubleshooting.

Qualifications: MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience in event technology, event operations, or a related field, including hands-on experience administering event registration and/or mobile event app platforms; direct experience with RainFocus and/or Swapcard strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree, or similar experience.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a subject matter expert or platform administrator for an event registration system and/or mobile event app.
• Strong technical aptitude, with the ability to translate event and stakeholder requirements into platform configurations and specification documents.
• Experience creating SOPs, process documentation, or training materials.
• Excellent troubleshooting skills, with the ability to problem-solve calmly and effectively in fast-paced, live-event environments.
• Experience utilizing AI tools to create efficiencies in project management.
• Excellent at collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders of all levels, both internal and external to PCMA, to accomplish event/meeting objectives.
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex, technical topics with simplicity.
• Ability to work with a sense of urgency and deliver under tight deadlines/time frames; prioritize workload.
• Data-driven mindset focused on setting and measuring KPIs and platform performance metrics.
• Flexible, agile with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.
• Experience working in both digital and in-person event environments, with in-depth knowledge of registration and mobile app platform administration.
• Comfortable dealing with ambiguity, with the ability to drive clarity for the team.
• Trustworthy and credible; high-level of integrity and excellent sense of judgment.
• Strong relationship builder, influencer, and acts as a liaison between PCMA and its technology vendors.
• Ability to travel as business needs require. Position requires on-site travel to all PCMA events within the North American portfolio.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

• Ability to perform work utilizing a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to pull or push objects of varyingweights in performing the work.
• Ability to grasp objects utilizing fingers (fine motor manipulation).
• Ability to travel by air or ground transportation as required in performing the work.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.