Event Specialist

A little about us

CKE is a growing boutique event management and planning agency. We intentionally craft end-to-end experiences for any event, large or small, and manage various global events, including conferences, trade shows, sponsorship activations, corporate meetings, and more. CKE is the detail-driven force behind the best in digital marketing, SaaS, payroll and HR, and mental health, with an ever-expanding portfolio in many industries. We don’t just plan events, we curate events that make an impact. 

What you'll be doing

We’re looking for a creative, proactive, and detail-oriented Event Specialist to join our team! In this role, you’ll execute world-class events, ensure seamless logistics, and deliver high-impact experiences.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, can juggle multiple projects effortlessly, and is a strong problem solver. You’ll co-lead events with our founder for the first 3-4 events and collaborate closely with our event team to bring innovative ideas to life while executing them with precision.

We’re seeking someone with confident communication and organizational skills, the ability to prioritize effectively, and a knack for working independently within our tight-knit, five-person team. If you’re passionate about events and love turning ideas into unforgettable experiences, we’d love to hear from you!

Some of your responsibilities include:

• Project ownership: Take ownership of your projects and be proactive in tracking key milestones, developing project plans, and executing at a high level. 
• Event goals and strategy: Deeply understand event goals and objectives to support the overall event and make thoughtful recommendations to meet them. 
• Creative ideation and contribution: Contribute to developing event themes, activations, and attendee experiences.
• Logistics management: Co-lead the planning and execution of events with founder Charlene, ensuring all aspects are meticulously managed.
• Timeline coordination: Coordinate logistics, timelines, and production schedules to maintain efficiency.
• Budget management: Develop and manage event budgets, tracking expenses to align with financial goals.
• Vendor management: Identify and negotiate with vendors for venues, catering, AV, and other event services.
• Swag and collateral: Plan, order, and oversee the distribution of event-related materials, including swag, signage, and promotional assets.
• Industry trends and insights: Stay informed about industry trends and innovative event strategies.
• Event operations: Offer insights on ways to improve event operations and enhance engagement.
• Client relations: Serve as a primary point of contact for clients and key stakeholders, ensuring their event goals and expectations are met.
• Stakeholder engagement: Foster relationships with sponsors, speakers, and vendors to create a seamless experience.
• Client check-ins: Conduct regular check-ins with clients to provide updates and manage expectations.
• Site visits and execution: Travel regularly for site visits, venue walkthroughs, and on-site event execution.
• Onsite support: Oversee event setup, registration, vendor coordination, and day-of logistics.
• Post-event evaluation: Oversee post-event evaluations, including feedback collection and reporting.
• Data analysis: Assist in analyzing event data to identify areas for future improvement.
• Financial reconciliation: Manage reconciliation of invoices, contracts, and budget tracking post-event.

Who you are

• Experience: Preferably have 5 years of experience in B2B event and project management.
• High standards. You always strive for excellence and a 10 out of 10 experience satisfaction, but realize there is no such thing as perfect. You are fearless in trying new things and innovating in ways other events agencies wouldn't dare to do.
• Detail-oriented: You have a strong eye for the details that make an event exceptional.
• Problem solver. You anticipate problems, are humble enough to know when to escalate, understand what tradeoffs should happen, and achieve a balanced, valuable experience for the client and attendees.
• A true team player. Strong teamwork is necessary to manage multiple priorities and build excellent rapport with the internal team. You'll work with team members from diverse backgrounds and need to lean on their expertise, listen, and take in feedback.
• Exceptional time management skills. You'll bring a sense of urgency and ownership to complete tasks to their deadlines and know ahead of time when items are falling behind. You'll be able to triage tasks and prioritize deadlines.
• Technically savvy. You don’t shy away from opportunities for process optimization or learning new-to-you technology quickly. We currently use ClickUp, Google Docs, Slack, and Quickbooks Online. Our team uses Apple products and must be well-versed in iOS.
• Flexible & adaptable: Able to pivot when needed and easily handle last-minute changes
• Self-motivated: Takes ownership of tasks, meets deadlines, and continuously seeks improvement.
• Thoughtful. You are proactive in understanding the end-to-end event experience and the impact on the work we do. Even if it’s out of scope, our team is dedicated to going the extra mile to help our clients meet their goals with highly impactful, thoughtful experiences.
• Passionate. You are passionate about creating impactful experiences through events. 
• [Bonus] Industry Enthusiast: Passionate about delivering top-tier event experiences and staying ahead of industry trends.

Expectations

• Role: Full-time employment
• Compensation: $65,000 to $72,000 based on experience
• Location: AZ, CO, FL, or DC preferred
• Work hours and time zone: Expected working hours are from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM PT
• Manager: Reports directly to the Founder, Charlene Ditch
• Travel: Must be willing to travel domestically and internationally for site visits and events.
• Benefits: Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage; professional development opportunities and continued learning; flexible PTO and paid holidays; wellness, fitness, and office stipends; and more.

How to apply

Please email Charlene at careers@workwithcke.com with the following:

1. Subject line: “Qualified Event Specialist - [Your Name]”
2. Your resume in PDF
3. Instead of a cover letter, please answer the following questions in a PDF format:

• What motivates you to apply for the Event Specialist position?
• How would your colleagues describe you?
• One event you’ve managed, including details of the event type, audience size, audience industry/demographic, successful event elements, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• What are your salary expectations?