Senior Global Events Operations Lead

The Fountain Group; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 44,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The Fountain Group is hiring a Senior Global Events Operations Lead to plan, coordinate, and execute large-scale corporate conferences and global events in a hybrid Chicago environment. Collaborate with the Head of Global Event Strategy and the COE to deliver high-impact experiences for 1,000+ attendees.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, hands-on, and capable of managing budgets, sponsorships, contracts, and cross-functional teamwork from planning through post-event activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing large-scale corporate conferences with 1,000+ attendees.
• Experience planning and executing complex corporate events from start to finish.
• Strong background in event operations, logistics, venue sourcing, and vendor management.
• Experience negotiating contracts and managing MSAs.
• Proven experience managing large event budgets while maintaining quality and controlling costs.
• Experience working with event production teams and managing event registration platforms.
• Knowledge of corporate sponsorship management, including sponsor coordination and contract administration.
• Strong project management, organizational, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence interacting with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Ability to collaborate across departments, cultures, and global teams.
• Proactive, adaptable, hands-on, and able to learn new processes quickly.
• Strong understanding of current corporate event trends and attendee engagement strategies.
• Ability to work onsite in Chicago at least 3 days per week and travel ~25%.

Responsibilities

• Execute established global event strategies by developing actionable timelines, tracking milestones, and coordinating event deliverables.
• Support the end-to-end planning and execution of large-scale corporate conferences and events with 1,000+ attendees.
• Manage day-to-day event operations, coordinating logistics, vendors, registration, production, and onsite activities.
• Represent the Global Events team in planning meetings, communicating updates to stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Take operational ownership of assigned corporate events, including venue sourcing, registration platforms, production coordination, and post-event follow-up.
• Oversee sponsorship operations, including sponsor coordination, contract management, and related event deliverables.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop engaging event content aligned with corporate messaging and business objectives.
• Manage large-scale event budgets, track expenses, identify cost-saving opportunities, and maintain attendee experiences.
• Coordinate procurement activities, MSAs, vendor contracts, and venue negotiations.
• Collaborate with production teams, external vendors, and internal departments to ensure seamless event execution.
• Support onsite event operations and travel as needed for global events.
• Identify opportunities to improve event processes, operational efficiency, and attendee experience.

Skills

Project management

Event operations

Budget management

Vendor management

Sponsorship management

Contract negotiation

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

The Fountain Group is hiring for a prominent client in the enterprise technology and industrial automation industry.

Position Details:

• Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid – Minimum 3 days onsite per week)

• Pay Rate: $32.00–$34.00 per hour

• Contract Duration: 14 months, with potential for extension and/or conversion

• Travel: Approximately 25% domestic and international business travel

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Global Events Operations Lead to support the planning, coordination, and execution of large-scale corporate conferences and global events. This individual will work closely with the Head of Global Event Strategy and the Global Events Center of Excellence (COE) to deliver high-impact corporate experiences that align with organizational objectives.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, hands‑on event professional with experience managing conferences of 1,000+ attendees, overseeing event budgets, coordinating sponsorships, negotiating contracts, and working with cross‑functional teams. This role requires someone who can quickly step in, take ownership of event operations, and ensure successful execution from initial planning through post‑event activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute established global event strategies by developing actionable timelines, tracking milestones, and coordinating event deliverables.

• Support the end‑to‑end planning and execution of large‑scale corporate conferences and events with 1,000+ attendees.

• Manage day‑to‑day event operations, ensuring successful coordination of logistics, vendors, registration, production, and onsite activities.

• Represent the Global Events team in planning meetings, collaborating with stakeholders and senior leadership to communicate updates and drive deliverables.

• Take operational ownership of assigned corporate events, including venue sourcing, registration platforms, production coordination, and post‑event follow‑up.

• Oversee sponsorship operations, including sponsor coordination, contract management, and related event deliverables.

• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop engaging event content that aligns with corporate messaging and business objectives.

• Manage large‑scale event budgets, track expenses, identify cost‑saving opportunities, and maintain high‑quality attendee experiences.

• Coordinate procurement activities, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), vendor contracts, and venue negotiations.

• Collaborate with production teams, external vendors, and internal departments to ensure seamless event execution.

• Support onsite event operations and travel as needed for global corporate events.

• Identify opportunities to improve event processes, operational efficiency, and overall attendee experience.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience managing large‑scale corporate conferences with 1,000+ attendees.

• Demonstrated experience planning and executing complex corporate events from start to finish.

• Strong background in event operations, logistics, venue sourcing, and vendor management.

• Experience negotiating contracts, coordinating procurement processes, and managing Master Service Agreements (MSAs).

• Proven experience managing large event budgets while maintaining quality and controlling costs.

• Experience working with event production teams and managing event registration platforms.

• Knowledge of corporate sponsorship management, including sponsor coordination and contract administration.

• Strong project management, organizational, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage competing priorities.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with confidence interacting with senior leadership and cross‑functional teams.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments, cultures, and global teams.

• Proactive, adaptable, and hands‑on approach with the ability to quickly learn new processes and take ownership of deliverables.

• Strong understanding of current corporate event trends, best practices, and attendee engagement strategies.

• Ability to work onsite in Chicago at least 3 days per week and travel approximately 25% as required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced corporate events professional who enjoys the operational side of event management. They are comfortable managing complex event logistics, coordinating with executive stakeholders, overseeing budgets, and ensuring that large‑scale conferences run smoothly.

This individual should be a resourceful problem‑solver who can work independently, collaborate across global teams, and successfully execute an established event strategy while delivering exceptional attendee experiences.

Additional Information

This is a 14-month contract opportunity with potential for extension and/or conversion, offering the chance to support high‑profile global corporate events within a collaborative, fast‑paced enterprise environment.