Manager of Field Operations - Trade Shows

DERSE INC; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Derse Inc in Milwaukee is seeking a Manager of Field Operations to oversee on-site installations and supervise Traveling Supervisors. You will manage large-scale trade show and experiential projects and lead the Support Desk at shows with a Derse presence.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree, 8+ years in trade show operations, strong financial acumen, and MS Office/ERP proficiency. Travel is extensive and may be for extended periods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Construction Management, or similar.
• 8+ years of relevant trade show operations experience.
• Financial acumen and strong presentation of financial reporting experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the master schedule for Traveling Supervisors.
• Maximize Traveling Supervisor utilization while ensuring high-quality supervision for complex projects.
• Train, mentor, and develop Traveling Supervisors, including SOP refinement.
• Partner with divisional leaders to identify future Traveling Supervisors and minimize travel.
• Select and oversee shows requiring Support Desk coverage and large-show support.
• Review estimates for completeness, labor hours, materials, and other factors.
• Ensure permits, engineering approvals, stamps, and site-specific requirements are included.
• Collaborate with leadership to standardize show execution and drive improvement.
• Identify system breakdowns and implement corrective actions.

Skills

Financial acumen

Leadership

Project management

Scheduling

Training & mentorship

SOP development

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Word

ERP

Project Management software

Job description

Description

Derse is a complete face-to-face marketing agency and exhibit builder. We bring a smarter approach to building client sales while managing their trade show, marketing environments and event programs. Our teams are made up of smart and forward-thinking people who bring experiential marketing solutions to life!

We believe in committing to a long-term investment in your career with a total rewards package including:

• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package
• A bright and energetic culture where your ideas are valued
• 75+ years of financial stability

Derse employs over 600 people in marketing, program management, creative & skilled production, and corporate support. Locations include Milwaukee, Chicago, Las Vegas, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and various communities in Poland & Germany. Visit our website derse.com to learn more!

The Manager of Field Operations is a corporate based role that provides oversight of all field operations, ensuring the successful execution of on-site installations and supervision. In this role, you'll manage the Derse team of Traveling Supervisors, oversee large and complex trade show and experiential marketing projects, as well as direct Support Desk operations at shows with a significant Derse presence. This position is crucial to long term success both for Derse and our clients. Read through and apply if this sounds like the opportunity for you!

Manager of Field Operations Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the master schedule for all Traveling Supervisors, ensuring coverage on key clients / installations
• Maximize Traveling Supervisor utilization and charge-out while ensuring high-quality supervision for complex projects
• Train, mentor, and develop Traveling Supervisors, including the creation and ongoing refinement of SOPs to define expectations
• Partner with divisional leaders to identify future Traveling Supervisors, in tandem with minimizing unnecessary account team travel
• Select and oversee shows requiring Support Desk coverage, taking ownership of large-show support
• Assess current and future show support needs to determine where Support Desk services are required
• Communicate the approved show support list to Divisions and Estimators to ensure all costs are properly captured
• Review estimates for completeness, labor hours, materials, and other factors prior to client submission for large and complex projects
• Ensure permits, engineering approvals, stamps, and site-specific requirements are included in estimates for special installs and structures
• Review large-show projects requiring Support Desk support, ensuring accuracy and completeness
• Act as primary field contact for key I&D partner companies, providing clear feedback based on on-site performance
• Collaborate with Divisional and Corporate leadership to standardize and improve show execution, identify trends, and address challenges
• Work with leadership across Divisions to identify breakdowns in systems, reviews, checklists, and implement corrective action
• Perform value engineering during the estimating and design process to ensure budgets and margin expectations are met on large projects
• Review show service budgetary guidelines to confirm all required materials, labor, and trade services are accurately accounted for
• Promote and reinforce a "show floor back to shop" mindset across divisions to drive continuous improvement

Manager of Field Operations Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Construction Management, or similar required
• 8+ years of relevant trade show operations experience required, combination education and experience may be considered
• Financial acumen and strong presentation of financial reporting experience.
• Proficiency in MS Suite including; Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and related. ERP and Project Management software knowledge preferred.
• Ability to travel and support business climate. Travel is considered extensive and may be for extended periods of time.