Sr. Manager, Client Events and Sponsorships

Goodwin; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Goodwin seeks a Senior Manager, Client Events, to create unique client experiences and drive engagement in their Technology business unit. This role involves leading external event strategies, collaborating with various stakeholders, and optimizing operational processes to enhance brand positioning and effectiveness.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Paid vacation and holidays

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in event or sponsorship management.
• Experience managing a high-functioning team.
• Strong understanding of technologies in event management.

Responsibilities

• Drive vision and strategy for the external events program.
• Transform business goals into innovative event concepts.
• Lead a comprehensive portfolio of events.

Skills

Event management

Project management

Budgeting

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

CRM tools

Job description

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do.

Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting-edge solutions in high-stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world-class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer.

This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers.

We are looking for a seasoned Senior Manager, Client Events to create unique client experiences, enhance brand positioning, and drive engagement through strategic partnerships for our leading-edge Technology business unit (Tech BU). In addition, the individual will drive operational excellence in this area across the Client Development team, leveraging technology and optimizing processes/polices. They will deeply collaborate with Tech partners, other client development leaders, and marketing team to maximize engagement and impact of these events.

Working very closely with the Managing Director and Director in Tech, this position is ideal for a high-performing individual with extensive experience in designing and executing client experiences that align with business strategy and has led transformation efforts to scale these efforts leveraging technology. We are looking for a go-getter who is engaged with Tech ecosystem and is committed to an all-in, high-performance culture, possesses a client-first mentality, and is willing to roll-up their sleeves and deliver positive outcomes.

What You Will Do:

Lead Client Events, Tech BU: Drive the vision and strategy for external events program, ensuring alignment with overall business and brand objectives:

• Partner with internal stakeholders to align event strategy with business priorities and secure buy-in for major initiatives.

• Transform business goals into innovative event concepts that enhance brand perception and drive measurable outcomes.

• Collaborate with partners, Client Development leaders, and Marketing teams to ensure consistent messaging and visual identity across all touch points.

• Lead a comprehensive events portfolio spanning large-scale marquee events, targeted industry activations, and smaller engagement opportunities.

• Build and maintain the events roadmap, balancing long-term strategic initiatives with emerging opportunities.

• Develop and oversee the program budget, with accountability for ROI across all event investments.

• Conduct post-event evaluations to gather feedback, analyze key metrics (e.g., attendance, satisfaction, commercial wins), and identify areas for improvement to shape future events.

Drive Operational Excellence: Collaborate with marketing technology and Client Development team members focused on client events across different businesses with varying levels of seniority to:

• Create and implement governance processes for event requests, evaluations, and approvals; streamline event request and contract approval processes.

• Lead the continuous improvement of event processes based on data-driven insights and industry best practices, including leveraging the collateral for post-event drip campaigns.

• Build a firmwide calendar of events to identify areas of cross-business collaboration engagement with appropriate visibility for relevant stakeholders.

• Establish comprehensive metrics framework to evaluate event effectiveness across brand impact, audience engagement, and business outcomes.

• Optimize and automate processes by leveraging marketing technology, including leveraging CRM tools (Dynamics) to track/manage event registration, track attendee data, and generate reports to share key metrics to senior stakeholders.

• Mentor and develop the client development events team, building capabilities that enhance our overall execution excellence.

Who You Are:

• 8+ years of experience in an event or sponsorship management role tied to client development and strategic campaigns, ideally in a professional services organization. Experience with tech organization and/or tech ecosystem strongly preferred.

• Strong experience building and leading a high-functioning and motivated team.

• Deep understanding of leading technologies in event and sponsorship management, particularly leveraging CRM; experience with Microsoft Dynamics preferred.

• Prior experience leading and transforming an events and sponsorships function, along with deploying new processes and systems to drive growth, efficiency, and effectiveness.

• Strong project management, communication, data, and budgeting skills.

• Exhibits executive presence and market expertise to guide client development and lawyers; ability to operate as a trusted advisor.

• Demonstrated ability to navigate a highly matrixed structure and drive alignment across the different stakeholders to enable actionable forward-movement.

• Presents thoughts, ideas, and data (written and verbal) in an executive-ready format. Adapts communication to fit thepreferences and needsof the audience or situation.

• Demonstrates integrity, sound judgement (particularly with confidential matters), discretion, emotional intelligence, andaccountability.

• Effectively manages and prioritizes multiple projects, staying organized and delegating as needed. Shows initiative and creativity in problem-solving and collaboration at all levels.

• Shapes and reinforces a positive organizational culture, modeling behaviors that reflect the firm’s valuesand vision.

• Proficient in core Microsoft suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint), and stays abreast with new evolving technologies.

• Hybrid office; 3 days in office required.

• Estimated travel: 25-30 percent.

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Benefits and More

At Goodwin, you will discover your next career opportunity with a rewarding compensation package and comprehensive benefits, including:

• Flexible work arrangements and hybrid work schedule

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Life and disability insurance

• Retirement & Savings Plan

• Emergency back-up child and adult care

• Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays

• Professional development and career advancement opportunities

• Employee recognition and reward programs

• Employee wellness and assistance programs

• Employee discounts and perks

Consistent with the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance an arrest and conviction record will not automatically disqualify a qualified applicant from consideration.

Consistent with the SF Fair Chance Ordinance, an arrest and conviction record will not automatically disqualify a qualified applicant from consideration.

G oodwin Procter LLP is an equal opportunity employer. This means that Goodwin Procter LLP considers applicants for employment, and makes employment decisions without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or other legally protected status.

To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process in the US, contact the Benefits Department by email or by phone at 617-570-1800. To request any disability or neurodivergence related accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process in the UK or Germany, please email the Recruiting Department. Any information you provide will be in the strictest confidence, and only used for the purpose of providing the accommodations needed. Requesting accommodations will not adversely affect the outcome of your application.

This position is eligible for overtime: No The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience: $150,000.00 - $215,000.00