Sr. Event Manager

American Express Global Business Travel; United States; On-site; USD 55,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Travel perks

Learning & development access

Inclusion initiatives

Wellbeing resources

Job summary

American Express Global Business Travel is seeking an experienced Event Program Lead to plan and deliver complex corporate programs from kickoff to onsite execution, including multiday executive events with audiences of 500+ and budgets over $1M.

You will partner with producers, manage detailed budgets and calendars, coordinate hotels, venues, transport, and on-site staffing, and mentor junior event managers while ensuring on-time delivery within client procurement rules.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years planning corporate meetings, events, and incentives.
• Managed programs with budgets above $1 million.
• Experience directing onsite teams of ten or more.
• Planning lead beside a producer or senior client event owner.
• Strong hotel and supplier contract skills.
• Proficient with Cvent and enterprise tools.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver assigned complex programs from kickoff through onsite execution and close.
• Lead planning with the producer and manage budgets, forecasts, and change control.
• Coordinate hotels, venues, transportation, food & beverage, and destination partners.
• Oversee onsite logistics, staffing plans, and VIP movements.
• Mentor Event Managers and ensure timely, compliant program delivery.

Skills

Project planning

Budget management

Vendor management

Cvent proficiency

Executive communication

Team leadership

Education

CMP certification

Tools

Cvent

Job description

What You'll Do

Plan and deliver assigned complex programs from kickoff through onsite execution and close, including multiday executive programs, audiences of 500 or more, and budgets above $1 million. Work as the planning lead beside the producer on each program, turning the brief into a plan that can be delivered and telling the producer early when a request will cost time or money. Build and manage each program budget with the producer, from initial estimate through final reconciliation, including forecasts, change control, supplier commitments, and the event by event cost data that feeds account reporting. Build the detailed planning calendar under the producer's master timeline, keep it current in the client's project tools, and hold the team and suppliers to their dates. Manage suppliers day to day once sourcing hands off, including hotels, venues, transportation, food and beverage, and destination partners, from contract terms through rooming lists, banquet orders, and final invoices, within the client's procurement and payment rules. Work with the Attendee Experience Coordinators on registration, housing, and attendee communications in the client's Cvent instance, and check the data and reports before they reach the producer or the client. Run onsite logistics under the producer's lead, including staffing plans, precon meetings, room sets, food and beverage, transportation, and VIP movements, directing onsite teams of ten or more, with the travel and extended program weeks that come with it. Mentor the Event Managers: review their plans and budgets, coach them through difficult programs, and step in to cover peaks across the calendar. Keep planning files, supplier records, and decision notes complete enough that another manager could pick up the program tomorrow, and bring recommendations to the post program debrief. Raise scope, budget, and resourcing risks early to the producer and the Studio Operations Manager, with a recommendation attached.

What We're Looking For

Seven or more years planning corporate meetings, events, and incentives, with full responsibility for programs from kickoff through reconciliation. Management of program budgets above $1 million, with a track record of accurate forecasts and clean reconciliations. A portfolio that includes multiday executive programs and audiences of 500 or more, with experience directing onsite teams of ten or more. Experience as the planning lead beside a producer, creative lead, or senior client event owner, with clarity about which decisions are yours and which are theirs. Strong hotel and supplier contract skills: attrition, cancellation, food and beverage minimums, and holding a supplier to what was signed. Strong command of Cvent and enterprise project and collaboration tools, and comfort working inside a client owned environment. The judgment to run several programs at different stages at once and to say early when one of them is at risk. Composure with senior audiences: able to run a planning meeting, deliver a hard update, and handle a late executive request without losing the plan. Coaching ability: has brought less experienced planners along, gives direct feedback on the work, and will step into another program at peak.

Preferred: CMP; incentive travel experience; time on a dedicated client team or inside a corporate events department; time at a hotel or destination management company that provides the supplier's view of the agency.

Location

United States

Salary range

The US national base salary range for this position is from $55,300.00 - $102,700.00. The national range provided includes the base salary that Amex GBT expects to pay for the role. Actual base salary will be based on factors including the scope and complexity of the role and the successful candidate’s relevant experience, skills, knowledge, and work location.

Benefits at a glance

• Flexible benefits are tailored to each country and start the day you do.
• These include health and welfare insurance plans, retirement programs, parental leave, adoption assistance, and wellbeing resources to support you and your immediate family.
• Travel perks: get a choice of deals each week from major travel providers on everything from flights to hotels to cruises and car rentals.
• Develop the skills you want when the time is right for you, with access to over 20,000 courses on our learning platform, leadership courses, and new job openings available to internal candidates first.
• We strive to champion Inclusion in every aspect of our business at Amex GBT.
• You can connect with colleagues through our global INclusion Groups, centered around common identities or initiatives, to discuss challenges, obstacles, achievements, and drive company awareness and action.
• And much more!

Equal opportunity

All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, gender (and characteristics related to sex and gender), pregnancy (and related medical conditions), race, color, citizenship, religion, disability, or any other class or characteristic protected by law.

Furthermore, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the hiring process.

For details regarding how we protect your data, please consult the Amex GBT Recruitment Privacy Statement.

What if I don't meet every requirement?

If you're passionate about our mission and believe you'd be a phenomenal addition to our team, don't worry about "checking every box;" please apply anyway. You may be exactly the person we’re looking for!