Senior Conference & Meeting Coordinator
Burnsville, Minnesota, United States (hybrid)
Job Type: Full Time
Job Duration: Indefinite
Salary: $62,000.00 - $65,000.00 (Yearly Salary)
Min Experience: 2-3 Years
Min Education: None
Required Travel: 10-25%
Job Function: Meeting/Event Planner
Description
A Senior Conference & Meeting Coordinator assumes a support or lead position for all programs assigned during and after the sale process. Senior Conference & Meeting Coordinator will also help to lead internal tasks/projects as needed for the Program Management team. The goal is always to provide exceptional service and to ensure customer satisfaction. A Senior Conference & Meeting Coordinator can accomplish this goal by implementing the metroConnections Brand Pillars in everyday work functions with internal colleagues and external clients and partners: Connection, Innovation, Adaptability, Partnership, Dependability, Execution.
This is a full-time, salary, bonus-eligible, hybrid position. Work locations will include independent remote/work from home, occasional team office work in Burnsville, MN, and on-site event work (within the Twin Cities, domestically, and internationally, including overnight travel).
Position Responsibilities Include, But Are Not Limited To
- Work collaboratively with all service teams within metroConnections.
- Participate in all aspects of metroConnections where appropriate/when assigned.
- Manage large scale programs, with efficiency and ease.
- Support or lead efforts to enhance and further develop the processes and service offerings at metroConnections.
- Serve as support or lead representative for assigned programs to clients, vendors, the Sales Manager, Director, Program Management and other service teams. Support and/or lead program planning of various types of programs such as: Recognition Trips, National Sales Meetings, User Conferences, Tradeshows, etc.
- PROJECT KICK OFF: Support or lead the Project Hand-Off Phase (once project is assigned by Vice President, Program Management) following established processes, such as:
- Schedule meetings with sales manager to review project.
- Organize and update group folders & documents on local shared drive.
- Confirm and update project entries in inventory system (Flex Rentals).
- Create and manage all Smartsheet, OneDrive and other core planning softwares.
- Partner with support role(s) and lead project work dispersal as applicable.
- PRE-PROGRAM: Support or lead the Coordination Phase for assigned projects, following established processes:
- Communicate, coordinate, resource and idea share and create with internal teams: Operations, Shop, Creative, Technical, Sales, etc.
- Lead, attend, and participate in internal and external meetings, video and voice calls
- Act as Lead or Support on Client Budget management
- Correspond with vendors/venues – checking availability/options, negotiate rates, book services, contracting, etc.
- Correspond with venue/event site contacts – contracting, logistics planning, scheduling, etc.
- Correspond with clients – developing and finalizing project details and logistics during planning process.
- Coordinate financial details with Accounting Team: accounts receivable, accounts payable, etc.
- Create and share on-site schedules, timeline, budgeting and planning documents.
- Research additional client requests as needed, including venues, giveaways, F&B, activities, décor, entertainment, furniture, etc.
- Create, format, and save all project documents in group folders in shared locations throughout planning process.
- Lead, attend, and participate in program site visits as needed (including travel)
- Gather, review, and manage presenter, VIP and client needs.
- Research and manage travel, hotel, and ground transportation arrangements for internal and contracted staff.
- Shop for client, attendee, staff and/or office supplies.
- Pull and sort supplies for truck loads.
- Other duties as assigned.
- DURING PROGRAM: Participate in On-Site Coordination during the On-Site Execution Phase of assigned projects:
- Serve as overall lead or lead support on-site. Including extended travel days onsite for set-up, teardown, venue and client needs.
- Lead and direct the on-site operations of the program.
- Lead or support venue communications.
- Act as main contact and liaison for client, venue and vendors.
- Trouble-shoot throughout on-site execution phase.
- Managing vendors.
- Review set-up details and live functions, checking on rooms/ spaces, meals, entertainment, production space, registration, sleeping rooms, etc. for accuracy from planning specs, venue BEOs, order forms, budget, etc.
- Liaise and support other internal leads on-site and ensure all internal client and internal staff needs are met.
- Other duties as assigned.
- POST PROGRAM: Support or lead the post-program follow up phase of assigned projects:
- Provide client with post program needs and requests in a timely manner: final billing, budgeting, reports, survey results, questions/ concerns, etc.
- Finalize internal and external financial needs with external client and vendors; internal operations, sales and accounting team: accounts receivable, accounts payable, client hotel invoice, other client management invoices, reconciling and closing of profit sheets, etc.
- Lead or assist in adjusting profit sheets as needed after audits.
- Communicate updates and learning experiences to internal teams.
- Compile and share debrief notes.
- Inventory new items for storage/updating existing inventory details.
- Archive program files, reports, etc. as needed.
- Upload, save, and share program photos.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications include:
- 2+ years of related experience.
- Understanding or ability to learn quickly additional softwares such as Smartsheet, Google, etc.
- Ability to manage many details while maintaining big-picture thinking.
- Technology literate with a passion for learning new things.
- Exhibit strong computer and technical skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office including PPT, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Work independently to come up with viable solutions.
- Provide excellent customer service via email, on the phone and in-person.
- Take direction from multiple managers or team members, as well as having a good understanding of with whom to advise/consult in the event of conflicting instruction.
- Multi-task efficiently, learn quickly, and provide detailed work while maintaining big-picture thinking.
- Strong organizational skills, with the ability to stay focused on tasks, as well as a strong attention to detail and organization/documentation.
- Demonstrate common sense, comprehend instructions, interpret documents, and apply abstract principles to a wide range of complex tasks.
- Excellent oral and written communication, including presentation skills (English is the primary language).
- Understand the meanings of words and effectively respond, analyze information, and write reports, and comprehend complex issues and communicate effectively to diverse groups.
- Perform basic arithmetic accurately and compute rates and percentages.
- Ability to work well in a team environment; able to collaborate and compromise, both as a lead and support role.
- Manage stress successfully: adapt to change, trouble-shoot, and make decisions while maintaining a calm and respectful demeanor.
- Work successfully with many different types of personalities.
- Possess strong leadership skills and an outgoing personality.
- Maintain a cheerful and positive attitude.
- Maintain a presentable appearance as many work functions are performed in or adjacent to a corporate atmosphere.
- Ability to handle work-related stress; handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and meet deadlines.
- Ability to please most people and accept feedback and criticism in a constructive manner.
- Ability to follow through with commitments and show concern for the needs of others.
Preferred Qualifications Include
- Conference/event planning experience.
- Third-party planning experience.
Benefits Package Highlights
- Comp Time for on-site program hours worked over 40
- Overnight Program Travel Bonuses - $50.00 per night for overnight program travel
- Paid Time Off - Starting with 15 PTO Days
- Paid Holidays - 9.5 Days Annually, including Employee-Owner Appreciation Day (first Friday of March)
- Summer Fridays - Reduced Business Hours on Fridays during Summer Months
- Employee-Owned - Employee Stock Ownership Plan - Retirement Plan 100% funded by the company
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match
- Medical and Dental Insurance - 50% company paid
- Options for Voluntary Disability Insurance, Voluntary Vision Insurance, Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
- Bereavement - Up to 5 Days Paid per occurrence
- Annual Uniform Allowance
- Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursement
Job ID: 86333724