Events Manager

M Financial Group is a community of leaders comprising the best and brightest minds in our industry. By combining individuals’ expertise and skill, M Financial Group has become a powerful force committed to advancing the interests of our industry, communities, and clients for over 40 years.  M’s solutions are rooted in the diverse expertise of our team, our collaborative approach to innovation and our comprehensive support.

We embrace a progressive, dynamic mindset for every role.  M Financial Group provides a professional community that actively supports individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives who come together to build and support best-in-class solutions.

The Events Manager is a key individual contributor position within the Marketing & Practice Consulting department on the Corporate Events team at M Financial Group reporting to the Director of Events. Responsibilities include end-to-end project management and the successful planning and production of M Financial internal and external meetings, conferences, events, webinars, and other select events.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Daily responsibility for key workstreams, event logistics planning and production include management of destination/venue/vendor research and proposal, registration, housing and room block, meeting and event space, food & beverage, transportation or other travel services, activities or excursions, special events theming, signage and collateral (print or digital) design and production, entertainment, décor, security services, giveaways and promotions, audio visual services, labor and staffing coordination 
• Extensive project management, cross-team and -department planning and collaboration 
• Develop and manage budgets, create budget templates and formats, responsible for ongoing expense management including forecast and actuals tracking, manage expense approval cycles, budget reconciliation and analytical reporting summary 
• Skilled contract negotiations, ability to obtain best-rates and terms, review and modify contract language and inclusions, limit or mitigate M Financial legal, financial, or other liability and exposure, summarize findings and propose options 
• Strategic sourcing and management of third-party vendors and services, to include developing RFPs, track distribution and response summary cycles, analytical evaluation of pricing and service terms, validation that goods or services will meet or exceed requirements 
• Communications campaign planning and copywriting, ability to define purpose and target audience, participate in review and approval cycles 
• Coordinate detailed site inspections and extended team and vendor planning meetings 
• Speaker and content management, creatively research and source viable guest speakers, negotiate fees and service terms, main contact for speakers or bureaus, coordinate and support all speaker preparation meetings and logistics, facilitate rehearsal and technical testing 
• Create proposals to include detailed creative briefs and project plans  
• Develop and manage comprehensive timelines, track action items and deliverables 
• Data analytics and reporting summary, includes survey and polling 
• Sponsor and exhibit management, develop sponsorship packages or opportunities, manage fulfillment for virtual or in-person sponsorship participation 
• Prepare comprehensive and detailed program specifications, production schedules, run of show, program guides, and event playbooks as required 
• Travel and on-site staffing, participate in site visits, planning meetings, and program execution 
• Shipping and receiving management, as required domestic or international, research and manage shipping brokers if required 
• Other duties as required or assigned 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing or equivalent 
• Minimum of ten years progressively responsible experience in meeting and event planning, management, marketing and/or production required; international experience a plus 
• Must have proven experience executing in-person, hybrid, and virtual events 
• Certified Meetings Professional (CMP) preferred 
• Experience planning and producing all variety of events, of varying size and format, including large-scale conferences, sales and marketing conferences, incentive programs, executive, company meetings and events, and vendor showcase or exhibitions (exhibit halls) 
• Superior organizational and project management skills; ability to coordinate and manage multiple simultaneous, complex projects in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines 
• Excellent client service and relationship building skills with the demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with internal stakeholders and external partners and vendors 
• Well-developed computer skills including use of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), CRM and/or AMS platforms, variety of virtual event-hosting software platforms, registration systems; Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Concur, and/or Wrike experience a plus 
• Skilled budget development management and contract negotiation 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills 
• High energy, positive, professional attitude, take pride in work product 

JOB CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT:

• Normal office environment/desk assignment 
• Extensive use of PC’s, computer terminal, display, keyboard, and mouse 
• Extensive hands-on work with documents, spreadsheets and other written documents 
• Local candidates preferred  
• Moderate travel (estimated 25%) 

This position description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with this position. While this description is intended to accurately reflect the position’s activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary.

M Financial is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.