Director, Event Experience (Event Programming)

1800 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA

Req #769

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate, and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces.  With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally.

SUMMARY

The Director, Event Experience (Event Programming), is a key member of SHRM’s Event Strategy and Experience team which is ultimately responsible for the innovation, programming, planning, and execution of SHRM’s Annual Conference and specialty conference portfolio serving 1,000 to 25,000+ attendees. With a keen understanding of adult learners in conference settings, the Director leads the programmatic strategy and implementation at SHRM events. A creative problem-solver, the Director is an avid partner to SHRM colleagues to deliver unforgettable, catalytic experiences for our event attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and staff.

As a senior member of SHRM’s events strategy and experience team, the Director is key in supporting SHRM’s business goals through powerfully memorable learning experiences via both in-person and/or virtual experiences. They will lead and manage a team of event professionals – including full-time employees as well as contractors and/or vendors – to deliver high quality thought leaders/speakers and life-changing learning moments at our events. This leadership role works cross-functionally across the organization to further elevate SHRM’s event business.

Responsibilities:

· Leads overall event programming strategy including speaker recruitment, topic/content selection, learning tracks, speaker training and development, session types and lengths, schedule, facilitated networking, non-traditional learning experiences, etc.

· Develops strategy for added revenue streams, partners with exhibit and sponsorship colleagues on expansion and fulfillment of our sponsored session offerings.

· Establishes and oversees deployment of programmatic timelines and communicates deadlines to internal and external partners.

· Manages budget.

· Develops strategic framework and oversees implementation of programming committees of subject matter experts.

· Leads programming team’s prioritization and finds efficiencies within workloads.

· Builds and maintains relationships with speakers, agents, speakers’ bureaus, publishers, etc.

· Negotiates terms of speaker contracts effectively, including speaker terms, fees, travel, book signings, meet and greets, etc. and partners effectively with SHRM Legal throughout the process.

· Collaborates with other leaders on events team in leadership of staff and partners to deliver a seamless experience at SHRM events for our speakers, and thus, our attendees, ranging from event production, logistics, technology, and more.

· Collaborates with marketing and communications team on speaker announcements.

· Develops a best-in-class speaker database as well as speaker pipeline and lead generation plan with marketing colleagues.

· Understands AV and partners with other colleagues to maximize production resources.

· Proactively brings new ideas and communicates these ideas effectively across a matrixed organization.

· Leads event programming team and partners on-site at SHRM events.

· Understands and stays abreast of adult learner education trends, particularly in conference settings.

· Consumes wide variety of news media to stay in-the-know on hot topics and headline news.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, HR, Education, Marketing Communications, Hospitality, Public Relations, or equivalent relevant work experience/training.

• At least 10 (ten) years of experience with diverse range of events – corporate, association, private, etc. – with in-person, hybrid, and virtual events.

• Marketing/PR/event agency experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Proven success in sourcing speakers through calls for presentation, academia, professional development instructors, authors, and more.

• Strong project management skills: attention to detail, organization, prioritization, and analytic skills with a proven ability to multi-task and manage complexity.

• Effective team leader with proven success as a coach and mentor.

• Ability to work collaboratively across the entire SHRM organization, with an inclination to achieve the “best possible” result for our members and customers.

• Excellent communication skills, including public speaking expertise and concise written communication abilities.

• Self-starter attitude, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to move quickly in a fast-paced environment both individually and as a team lead.

• Proven negotiation skills and strong business acumen.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to diffuse challenging situations.

• Calmly manages complex and fast-changing program elements and staffing assignments always prioritizing effectively.

• Entrepreneurial spirit, track record of initiative, and ownership of work.

• Experience with key software packages, including budgeting and financial management, data analysis and reporting, etc.

Additional Notes

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily with reasonable accommodations.

• Work is generally done sitting, talking, hearing and typing. Visual acuity to use a keyboard, prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

• Lifting up to approximately 20 lbs.

Work environment

• Work is regularly performed in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment.

• Expected travel is 20-30% of the time.

#LI-Hybrid

The hiring range for this position is $105,000 to $130,000 per year. This range is an estimate and the actual salary may vary based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications. SHRM offers a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The benefits for this position include professional growth and development, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, open leave, and annual discretionary bonus and incentives.

Our employment practices are in accordance with the laws that prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, marital status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.

SHRM is an equal opportunity employer (Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran).

We do not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Other details

• Job Family Meetings and Events

• Job Function SHRM Products & Services

• Pay Type Salary

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• 1800 Duke St, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA