Senior Event Operations Manager

Questex; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & Holidays

Health & Welfare

401k Matching

Learning Library

Mental Health Resources

Work-life Balance

Job summary

Questex (Forge) is seeking a Senior Event Operations Manager to oversee the operational logistics of high-impact events and remote programs across the US, with preference for East Coast timing.

You will act as the operational backbone, managing venue logistics, vendor relationships, health and safety, sustainability, and financial tracking for events ranging 500–5,000 attendees with budgets up to $2M, leveraging Cvent and Smartsheet for coordination.

Qualifications

• Typically 5+ years managing complex, large-scale live events (500–5,000 attendees).
• Hands-on experience with Cvent for registration, housing and attendee management; Smartsheet for project management and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Act as the operational hub, communicating deadlines and workflow changes across departments.
• Manage venue operations and GSC/GES liaison, including utilities and decor.
• Oversee third-party vendors and sponsorship fulfillment; ensure health, safety and sustainability plans.
• Finalize F&B orders and review Banquet Event Orders (BEOs).
• Oversee hotel housing blocks and invoicing, using Cvent where applicable.

Skills

Event Management

Vendor Management

Cross-functional Communication

Budget Management

Project Coordination

Health & Safety

Logistics

Tools

Cvent

Smartsheet

Job description

An Amazing Career Opportunity for a Senior Event Operations Manager!

This position will work remote in the US. Preference is to work in the East Coast Time Zone.

Who are we?

Forge, the new corporate brand uniting Emerald and Questex LLC, debuted as a leading global B2B events and media company serving customers through live events, digital media, data and year-round communities. Please take a look at the Forge website to learn about this new venture: www.forgelive.com .

At Questex, you can make an impact by helping suppliers and buyers connect more efficiently and effectively. Questex is a leading global events, media, and business information company, yet we are still a place where your voice is heard, and your ideas are appreciated. So, you can make an immediate difference in our success while advancing your career.

Questex drives business forward through a rich engagement platform centered on leading events and surrounded by data insights and digital communities.

Event Operations Manager (Remote) - Questex

Questex, which has recently changed to Forge, is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Operations Manager (Ops Lead) to oversee the operational logistics, vendor relationships, and execution of high-impact events ranging from 500 to 5,000 attendees, with budgets up to $2M.

In this role, you will serve as the operational backbone for our team, ensuring seamless execution across venue logistics, show management, health and safety, sustainability, and financial tracking. You will partner closely with internal teams, show management, and external vendors to bring complex activations and evening events to life while leveraging tools like Cvent and Smartsheet to streamline project management and housing logistics.

As our Event Operations Manager you’ll support Questex’s success by:

Key Responsibilities:

• Event Oversight & Communication: Act as the operational hub by communicating critical deadlines, tracking workflow changes, and relaying show team needs across departments. Maintain comprehensive work order schedules and timelines using Smartsheet for real-time cross-functional tracking.
• Venue & General Service Contractor (GSC/GES) Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for venue operations and decorators. Manage all utility and facility orders, including electric, internet, plumbing, rigging, and overall decorator services.
• Vendor Management & Fulfillment: Oversee non-sponsored fulfillment for activations, Show Management areas, and evening events in close coordination with the Sponsor Fulfillment Manager. Manage third-party vendors including floral, transportation, décor, and security.
• Safety, Security, & Sustainability: Develop and implement comprehensive Health & Safety plans, robust Security plans, and drive sustainability initiatives including tracking and reporting.
• Food & Beverage Management: Finalize F&B orders and conduct meticulous Banquet Event Order (BEO) reviews.
• Housing & Administrative Operations: Manage hotel housing blocks efficiently (utilizing Cvent for registration and housing management where applicable) and oversee invoice processing and operations budget management.
• Signage Management: Oversee the end-to-end production, placement, and management of event signage.

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Experience: Proven track record (typically 5+ years) managing complex, large-scale live events ranging from 500 to 5,000 participants.
• Software Proficiency: Demonstrated hands-on experience using Cvent (for registration, housing, and attendee management) and Smartsheet (for robust project management, operational tracking, and timeline coordination).
• Budget Management: Demonstrated experience successfully managing and reconciling operational budgets of up to $2M.
• Logistical Expertise: Deep familiarity with venue utility ordering, general service contractors (such as GES), rigging, internet/telecom, and health & safety regulations.
• Financial & Administrative Acumen: Strong experience with invoice processing, financial reconciliation, and BEO (Banquet Event Order) reviews.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional cross-functional communication skills, acute attention to detail, and the ability to pivot quickly in high-pressure live event environments.

Who you are as a Team Member:

You proactively seek to adopt and implement diversity into your work, including valuing diverse backgrounds, experiences and thinking. You also embrace creating and nurturing a culture of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.

Additional Notes:

This is a high-intensity, non-traditional role where flexibility and commitment are key. Candidates seeking strictly 9-to-5 schedules may not find this role suitable. Evening and holiday work may occasionally be required due to event schedules.

Why Apply?

Why we are here: Helping people live longer and live better by focusing on the Experience Economy.
What we do: We connect buyers and sellers.
How we do it: Easy to work with. We deliver superior results and provide world-class experiences.
Our DNA: Collaboration, Honesty & Transparency, Curiosity, Growth, Fun, Purpose Driven.

Our Culture:

At Questex, we listen to each other and to our customers. We have fun in a fast-paced, vibrant, and supportive environment. We’re big on ideas--not rigid processes, rules, or org charts. We understand life can be unpredictable, so we’re flexible and adaptable to change.

Your Initiative:

At Questex, you’ll join a fast-growing company of bright, ambitious, and easygoing people from diverse professions, experiences, and backgrounds. We keep it real. Like to take the lead? Go for it! We encourage innovative thinking and action. Whether you like to create, manage, or sell, you can make your mark here.

Our Rewards / What We Offer:

Questex celebrates the contributions of every member of our team by providing a dynamic and caring work environment, competitive benefits package designed to ensure our employees’ physical and mental health are top priority.

The expected salary for this position ranges from $70,000 to $80,000. Salary offers are based on a broad scope of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, licensure or certifications obtained. Market, geographic and organizational factors are also considered.

The following Benefits are available:

• Vacation - 15-20 days depending on years of service
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Health and Welfare Benefits (medical, dental, vision, life, and others)
• FitOn Health ,access to a leading digital wellness platform that offers premium online classes
• Cariloop Membership Program to help support employees with the complexities of caregiving
• Online Educational Learning Library of over 16,000 courses for employees to enhance and develop their skills
• Access to Mental Health Resources-Talkspace, & Employee Assistance Program
• 401k, with Matching Contributions to include educational webinars sponsored by our 401K partner
• Mission-driven culture with an enthusiastic, professional team
• Work-life balance
• Discounts through various partnerships

DEI Mission:

Our mission is to create inclusive experiences and opportunities for all, empowering individuals and communities, ensuring that everyone can see themselves represented in our offices, virtual spaces and our work.

Questex is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Expression/Age/Military or Veteran Status/Citizenship Status, or other protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note: Questex is unable to provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.

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Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.