Senior Conference Planner (Conference Planner III)

Crowned Grace International; San Antonio (TX); Remote; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Crowned Grace International (CGINTL) is seeking a Senior Conference Planner to lead the planning and execution of high-visibility events for federal partners. The role involves advising on formats, budgets, venue choices, and reporting, while mentoring junior staff and ensuring compliance with government policies.

The position is virtual with travel to sites, requiring strong budget, vendor, and stakeholder management skills, and excellent communication abilities to coordinate with facilitators,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality, event management, business, communications, or related field.
• Five+ years of event planning experience, including at least three years leading large, multi-day conferences.
• Active CGMP designation from the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP).
• Demonstrated ability to lead event teams and manage multiple concurrent events.
• Budget development, cost control, and risk and contingency planning.
• Ability to advise management and communicate effectively with senior officials, partners, and vendors.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of large-scale, high-visibility events.
• Develop comprehensive event plans, master schedules, logistics plans, contingency plans, and budgets.
• Advise on event format, venue selection, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with federal conference policies and approvals.
• Prepare venue and vendor requirements and cost comparisons for Government review and coordinates with vendors within parameters approved by the Government.
• Oversee registration, attendee communications, accessibility, and participant services.
• Direct on-site operations, lead event support staff, and resolve escalated issues in real time.
• Coordinate with facilitators, communications staff, and presenters on program content and materials.
• Monitor event budgets and prepares cost reports and reconciliations.
• Lead post-event evaluations and develops templates, checklists, and standard operating procedures to improve future events.
• Direct and mentor Conference Planner I and II staff.

Job description

Senior Conference Planner (Conference Planner III)

Crowned Grace International (CGINTL) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Woman-Owned, and Small Disadvantaged Business headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, with an office in San Antonio, Texas. We serve the Department of Defense, federal civilian agencies, and Fortune 1000 clients in workforce intelligence and transformation, modernization, and staff augmentation. CGINTL is ISO 9001:2015 certified and operates as a marketplace ministry, guided by our purpose: Accelerating Mission-Ready Capabilities.

The Opportunity

Crowned Grace International is seeking a Senior Conference Planner (Conference Planner III) to plan and deliver workshops, meetings, and conferences that bring together Forest Service leaders, scientists, partners, and the public. The position supports the USDA Forest Service and is contingent upon contract award. This senior role is for an experienced professional who works with considerable latitude, advises the Government project lead, and mentors junior staff.

What You Will Do

• Leads planning and execution of large-scale, complex, or high-visibility events, including national and interagency workshops and conferences.
• Develops comprehensive event plans, master schedules, logistics plans, contingency plans, and budgets.
• Advises the project lead on event format, venue selection, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with federal conference policies and approval and reporting requirements.
• Prepares venue and vendor requirements and cost comparisons for Government review and coordinates with vendors within parameters approved by the Government.
• Oversees registration, attendee communications, accessibility, and participant services.
• Directs on-site operations, leads event support staff, and resolves escalated issues in real time.
• Coordinates with facilitators, communications staff, and presenters on program content and materials.
• Monitors event budgets and prepares cost reports and reconciliations.
• Leads post-event evaluations and develops templates, checklists, and standard operating procedures to improve future events.
• Directs and mentors Conference Planner I and II staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality, event management, business, communications, or a related field; or four additional years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of five years of event planning experience, including at least three years leading the planning and execution of large, multi-day conferences.
• Active Certified Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) designation from the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP).
• High degree of familiarity with event planning concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to lead event teams and manage multiple concurrent events.
• Skill in budget development, cost control, and risk and contingency planning.
• Ability to advise management and communicate effectively with senior officials, partners, and vendors.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) credential.
• Experience planning multi-agency federal conferences.
• Experience with wildland fire, natural resource management, or emergency management events.

Work Environment

Virtual position with travel to event sites. Task orders may require assignments outside the Center's normal hours of operation, including weekends, in the accompaniment of Center personnel.

Our Culture

At CGINTL, everyone is a Leader. We hire to, develop toward, and hold one another accountable to seven Core Values: Integrity & Trust; Credibility; Accountability ("No Excuses Here"); Continuous Improvement; Action Orientation; Caring for the Team, the Client, and the Business; and Marketplace Ministry.

• Must be able to pass government background investigation.