Tradeshow & Event Manager

Horizontal Talent; Mendota Heights (MN); On-site; USD 71,635,000 - 163,328,000; Full time

Job summary

Horizontal in Mendota Heights, MN, is seeking an experienced Tradeshow & Event Manager to establish a repeatable planning process for a full annual calendar of industry tradeshows. You will build detailed playbooks, timelines, and trackers to help the team manage contacts, costs, deadlines, and logistics across each event.

You will review shows, gather requirements from exhibitor manuals, manage vendor contacts, and create master trackers and annual calendars.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years coordinating or managing tradeshows, exhibits, or events.
• Ability to create clear trackers, calendars, and playbooks.
• Strong communication and vendor management skills.

Responsibilities

• Review annual tradeshow calendar and develop repeatable planning processes.
• Document registration, show management details, and exhibitors.
• Build vendor lists with services and pricing.
• Track major event costs and logistics.
• Create month-by-month timelines and master trackers.
• Assist with registrations, service orders, budget tracking, and on-site support if needed.

Skills

Tradeshow coordination

Excel & Word

Vendor coordination

Attention to detail

Travel willingness

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced Tradeshow & Event Manager to help create a repeatable, organized process for managing a full calendar of industry tradeshows. This role focuses on building detailed playbooks, timelines, and trackers that make it easier for the team to manage contacts, costs, deadlines, and logistics across each event.

Responsibilities

• Review each show on the annual tradeshow calendar and develop a clear, repeatable process for planning and execution.
• Research each event using exhibitor manuals, past records, and show management resources to capture key requirements and contacts.
• Document registration contacts, show management details, and exhibitor service providers for each event.
• Build a vendor list for each show, including services offered and associated pricing when available.
• Track all major event costs such as booth space, electrical, internet, flooring, furnishings, booth materials, graphics, lead retrieval, labor, drayage, and shipping.
• Outline ordering, shipping, and return logistics for booth products and materials.
• Identify deadlines, early-bird opportunities, discount windows, and late-fee risks that affect overall event cost.
• Create a month-by-month timeline for each show, covering submissions, approvals, payments, and post-show follow-up.
• Develop a master Excel tracker, individual show guides, and an annual calendar that helps the team manage overlapping priorities.
• If the engagement expands, assist with registrations, vendor coordination, service orders, budget tracking, and on-site show support as needed.

Skills

• At least 3 years of experience coordinating or managing tradeshows, exhibits, or events.
• Practical knowledge of exhibitor manuals, service orders, convention center processes, drayage, labor, and advance warehouse shipping.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Ability to organize complex information into clear, usable trackers, calendars, and process documents.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines at once.
• Strong communication skills and comfort working directly with show organizers and vendors.
• Ability to work independently, stay organized, and deliver high-quality work by agreed deadlines.
• Willingness to travel if the role expands into hands-on event execution support.

Preferred Skills

• Experience creating step-by-step playbooks or process guides for recurring events.
• Background supporting both planning and execution of tradeshows or similar events.
• Ability to spot cost-saving opportunities and timing dependencies across multiple events.
• Comfort coordinating shipping, setup, and breakdown logistics for event materials.

Horizontal is committed to building inclusive workplaces where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to do their best work. We value diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and we encourage candidates from all communities to apply.

For those that join the team, we offer competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental, vision, and retirement. The pay range for this role is $25 - $57 per hour based on qualifications and experience.