Senior Meetings Manager

American College of Surgeons; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation, personal, and holidays

Medical coverage

Dental and Vision

403(b) Matching

Pension Plan

Job summary

The American College of Surgeons seeks a Senior Meetings Manager to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for ACS meetings and events, including the headquarters hotel operations for the annual meeting with ~10,000 attendees.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, 10+ years in meeting planning, and 3+ years of people management. The position is based in Chicago with a hybrid schedule and a salary range of $120,000–$135,000.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality, communications, business, or related field is required.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible meeting planning experience.
• 3+ years of direct people management experience required.
• Experience with hotel logistics, contracts, vendor management, budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for ACS meetings and events.
• Oversee headquarters hotel operations for the ACS annual meeting (~10,000 attendees).
• Negotiate contracts, manage budgets, and coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Lead attendee experience, sustainability, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
• Develop staffing models, training, and SOPs for on-site teams.

Skills

Senior meetings management

Strategic leadership

Budget oversight

Microsoft Office

Event technology platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, communications, business, or related field

CMP/CAE/CEM/DES designation preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Event technology platforms

Job description

About the American College of Surgeons

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) is a professional and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and improve the quality of care for surgical patients. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 90,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.

Our Mission

The American College of Surgeons is dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient and safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment.

Our Vision

To create a healthcare landscape where surgeons thrive and every patient has access to and benefits from the highest standards of surgical care, driven by innovation, education, leadership, and trust.

Summary

The Senior Meetings Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for a portfolio of ACS meetings and events, including the headquarters hotel operations for the ACS annual meeting of approximately 10,000 attendees. The role guides planning, delivery, and continuous improvement across meetings of varying size and complexity.

This role is accountable for executing enterprise-scale growth and attendee acquisition strategies, including maximizing revenue, negotiating and managing costs, advancing the overall meeting experience and design, and optimizing technical, financial, and staff efficiencies.

This position provides senior-level oversight for event staff, vendors, and cross-functional partners, serving as the primary operational and strategic owner of assigned meeting programs. The role partners with ACS leaders and internal stakeholders as a leader in long‑term planning and execution in a highly collaborative, cross‑functional environment.

This exempt position will report to the Associate Vice President, Event Strategyin the Department of Convention and Meetings. It is based in our Chicago office and is a hybrid role: 3 days per week in the office/2 days per week remote.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $120,000 - $135,000 (commensurate with related experience).

Key Responsibilities

Meeting Leadership & Operational Oversight

• Serve as the senior operational authority for all assigned events
• Oversee Chicago-based Conference Center Operations.
• Establish and execute short- and long-term strategic planning for assigned programs in alignment with ACS priorities.
• Own specific performance outcomes set up by Convention & Meetings, business development and client objectives.
• Experience quality, risk management, and innovation.
• Provide senior-level guidance on meeting strategy and operational execution across multidisciplinary stakeholder groups.
• Set, manage, and achieve financial budget, reports goals for assigned programs.
• Create a well-rounded team that drives every facet of the events including testing and capability of registration systems, apps, websites, integrations, exhibits and ancillary event processes.

Contracting, Vendor Strategy & Site Selection Authority

• Serve as primary contact for all planning specifications including space assignments, floor plans, signage, special events, keynote programming, meeting offices, off-site events, transportation and educational sessions for assigned meetings.
• Negotiate contracts.
• Create and maintain executive-level relationships with senior hotel sales leadership.
• Update and renegotiate existing hotel agreements based on pacing, pickup history, and meeting evolution.
• Assist in creating future destination RFPs and participate in the site-selection process.
• Review and adjust citywide hotel blocks and room night strategies as required.
• Monitor hotel industry trends and contract clauses; work with Legal to update agreements accordingly.
• Oversee all headquarters hotel operations for the ACS annual meeting of approximately 10,000 attendees, including meeting space, functions, guest room and VIP coordination, staffing, service delivery, and onsite issue resolution.
• Serve as the senior ACS contact for headquarters hotel leadership and key vendors; establish escalation paths, oversee performance against agreements, and coordinate timely corrective action.
• Improve headquarters hotel workflows, documentation, handoffs, and communication across ACS teams, the hotel, housing partners, and vendors; evaluate results after the meeting and implement changes for future years.

Staff Leadership, Delegated Authority & Operational Management

• Provide direct supervision, leadership, guidance, education, and accountability for assigned staff.
• Supervise all consultants and staff supporting event operations.
• Establish staffing models and workflow structures for assigned events.
• Develop and conduct training sessions and SOPs for floor supervisors and on-site teams.
• Support change management for new processes, technology, staffing models, and meeting assignments; communicate the reason for changes, train staff, address concerns, and monitor adoption.

Financial Management, Budgeting & Business Performance

• Assist in developing, monitoring, and updating event budgets.
• Oversee invoices including food & beverage, room charges, transportation, and audiovisual.
• Analyze data and prepare financial and operational performance reports as requested.
• Research and implement new technologies and tools that enhance efficiency and revenue opportunity.

Engagement Strategy, Experiential Design & Program Execution

• Lead best practices for attendee experience, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion across assigned ACS meetings.
• Lead sustainability initiatives across assigned programs.
• Manage end-to-end logistical requirements for assigned courses including RFPs, contracting, planning, and on-site execution.
• Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners to deliver high-impact attendee experiences.

Industry Leadership & External Relations

• Develop and maintain strong executive relationships with suppliers and professional peers.
• Represent ACS through participation in industry events and professional development forums.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Required Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, communications, business, or related field is required.
• One or more professional designations (CMP, CAE, CEM, DES) is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible meeting planning experience.
• Minimum of three (3) years of direct people management experience, including supervision, coaching, performance management, and staff development is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in hotel logistics, contract negotiation, specifications management, vendor management, staffing, and budget oversight.
• Large-show convention experience and association experience is preferred.
• Proven virtual, hybrid, and live-stream production experience is preferred

Essential Skills

• Ability to function as the senior operational authority for multiple concurrent national programs.
• Executive judgment, autonomy, and decision-making authority required.
• Advanced knowledge of the convention and meetings industry.
• Creative, strategic, and innovative professional with strong business acumen.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, negotiation, diplomacy, and project management skills.
• Strong technical aptitude including Microsoft Office and event technology platforms.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Frequent travel and weekend work required.

Comprehensive Benefits

• Vacation, personal, and sick hours including 13 paid holidays per year
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical-comprehensive coverage through BlueCross BlueShield
• Dental, Vision, and Prescription drug program
• 403(b) Matching Program
• Pension Plan
• Flexible Spending Medical/Dependent Care
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short Term/Long Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Domestic Partner Coverage

The American College of Surgeons is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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.