Crain Communications is a privately held media company that produces trusted and relevant news across digital platforms, publications, lead generation, research and data products, digital platforms, custom publishing, and events with uncompromising integrity. Reaching 78 million readers globally, the company's portfolio consists of 24 brands. Many of Crain's brands are the most influential media properties in the verticals they serve including Automotive News, Ad Age, Modern Healthcare, Plastics News, and Pensions & Investments.

Headquartered in Detroit, the company has 650+ employees in 11 locations delivering exceptional news content over a variety of platforms to empower the success of its readers and clients. Crain's uncompromising journalists, industry experts and business insiders share one vision: to produce stories, communities, events and platforms that empower our audiences' success.

Job Description:

To create the most innovative, engaging and culturally relevant experiences for our subscribers and audiences - driving brand awareness, driving new engagement, creating brand love and loyalty for Crain and its brands at large, with an immediate focus on Automotive News, Ad Age, Global Polymer Group and more.

The Manager role will support the Senior Director/Director of Events and work closely with our marketing and editorial teams on all events. We are looking for an experiential pro with expertise in all event types, specifically conferences, galas, B-to-B awards shows and programs and trade shows. It's critical that you understand Crain's overall marketing objectives and can translate those into events that will foster thought leadership, drive industry relationships, revenue and infuse the power of the individual brands on-site (and/or virtually). The position requires a curious, self-motivated individual that is passionate about the events experience and has experience in some/all areas of event production, event customer service, general event marketing, event programming and programming operations, event sponsorship support and ideation, that will support and drive the execution of onsite and virtual experiences for Crain Communications.

This position reports to the Senior Director of Events and Conferences and works collaboratively with Sales, Editorial, Digital, Marketing and Creative, Custom Content departments.

Job Responsibilities

• Research venues, vendors, and producers for the event
• Develop and manage conference and event timelines
• Support in the concept and creation of all signage, lighting, event flow, ROS, SOWs for partners, staging, hospitality, activations, premiums, F&B, registration, registrations platforms, programming and agenda management and sponsorship support.
• Build and deliver exceptional brand experiences that are on brand
• Support and manage event budgets, invoices, ROI tracking, schedules of payments and cost savings report.
• Preparation and distribution of detailed pre-event communications and post event reporting
• Research and track all competitive events
• Manage end-to-end logistics for assigned proprietary and third-party events, including budget, contract terms, registration process, food and beverage, venue research, registration support, entertainment, conference booth production, transportation, among others
• Collaborate cross-functionally with appropriate teams to ensure optimization, appropriate subject matter experts are engaged, and that program launches are maximized for the broadest reach and resulting success factors.
• Project management, including the ability to manage multiple projects with varying due dates simultaneously, identify dependencies, and coordinate across other channels, in accordance with established milestones
• Liaise on digital presence, social promotion, and public relations to support events
• Provide follow up reporting related to ROI around the event
• Lead and participate in client and internal meetings, including regular status meetings, pre-program walkthroughs, onsite meetings, and post program debriefs.

Who You Are & What You Will Bring

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty with

consistency.

• Passion for producing events
• Background in event operations, event registration, ticketing and guest management, event sponsorships and/or event agenda management and programming
• Unmistakable evidence of natural curiosity and creativity
• Inbox 0 type personality
• Must be able to thrive in a team-first dynamic
• Audience and guest obsessed to deliver a great brand experience
• Strong project management skills to manage both internal and external vendors and teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work on multiple projects simulate and work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a professional composure
• Ability to travel required
• Ability to work irregular hours in addition to normal business hours
• Self-motivated, able to work autonomously and communicate with remote management for extended periods of time

Preferences

• College degree in hospitality, events related field, marketing preferred
• At least 5+ years of experience in event planning and/or execution
• Certified Meeting Professional certification preferred

If your experience is close but doesn't fulfill all requirements, please apply. We are on a mission to build a special team, we are focused on hiring from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.