Conference Manager, Exhibit Operations

About the role: We are seeking a passionate, collaborative, and effective manager with experience in conferences, events or trade shows to join the Exhibit Operations team. This manager will direct a team of associates to deliver exhibits and sponsorships across Gartner’s B2B conference portfolio. Key performance measures for the role include exhibit and sponsorship retention, exhibit and sponsorship revenue growth and associate retention and satisfaction. This role will be responsible for the development and management of global exhibitor products across multiple B2B conferences.

Biggest areas of impact include:

• Exhibit/Sponsorship product delivery & inventory management
• Develop strategies for engagement between conference attendees and exhibitors
• Collaborate on strategic projects and identify key initiatives with leadership
• Enhance financial forecasting for scalability and profit margin growth
• Establish positive relationships with internal and external partners

What you will do:

• Oversee all aspects of sponsorship delivery and conference planning process of Gartner’s C-level portfolio of conferences to include our flagship conference, Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo.
• Lead and inspire a rapidly expanding and diverse global team, with a focus on continuous feedback and coaching.
• Liaise and collaborate with key partners and team members (both internal and external) to ensure successful execution; build and maintain good relationships by establishing trust.
• Create and execute strategies for attendee and exhibitor engagement by generating valuable interactions for both exhibitors and attendees.
• Create KPIs and analyze data to evaluate success of implemented strategies.
• Effectively lead supplier management and contract negotiations for select vendors that support conference delivery focusing on reducing expenses to improve margins.
• Consistently innovate conference delivery processes and procedures to create efficiencies and improve output.
• Manage product inventory and projection modeling for various exhibit and sponsorship products.
• Create and maintain product strategies to drive maximum revenue.
• Develop and present risk assessments for various components of exhibitor products based on shifts in market demand or capacity.
• Partner with Exhibit Operations leadership team on projects by providing feedback and maximize output to scale the business.
• Analyze data to develop metrics-driven exhibitor retention and attendee engagement strategy to determine best course of action on various conference elements.
• Attend conferences as the onsite lead for in-person delivery including managing the production schedule, conference staff and liaising with agency partners and vendors.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of Gartner’s business including the value proposition for attendees and exhibitors.
• Become an expert on Gartner’s exhibitor products, pricing strategy and conference financials.
• Achieve operational excellence and execute conferences on time, within budget and with great attention to detail.
• Become a respected leader and mentor across Gartner and build a strong personal brand reputation.

What you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 5-7 Years Experiential Marketing, Event Management, Event Marketing and/or Tradeshow Management
• Track record of creating or fulfilling revenue driving sponsorship products in complex live-event environments
• Project management experience on detailed programs with multiple variables and dependencies
• Proven ability to improve business processes resulting in increased efficiency and productivity
• Proven management of teams and talent development
• Effective people management and leadership skills with a passion for a collaborative work environment
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills especially with senior level professionals, cross-functionally and with agency partners
• Creative, innovative and strategic thinker with a strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to adapt, implement, manage change and strive for continuous improvement
• Strong oral & written communication skills with experience presenting to audiences with the purpose of motivating or persuading
• Excel in finance and budget management
• Motivated team player with desire to learn and grow
• Ability to thrive in high pressure situations and meet deadlines
• Comfortable traveling 20% of the time both regional and international

What makes Gartner a great place to work? Our sustained success creates limitless opportunities for you to grow professionally and flourish personally. We have a vast, virtually untapped market potential ahead of us, providing you with an exciting trajectory long into the future. How far you go is driven by your passion and performance. We hire remarkable people who collaborate and win as a team. Together, our singular, unifying goal is to deliver results for our clients. Our teams are inclusive and composed of individuals from different geographies, cultures, religions, ethnicities, races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and generations. We invest in great leaders who bring out the best in you and the company, enabling us to multiply our impact and results. This is why, year after year, we are recognized worldwide as a great place to work.

What do we offer? Gartner offers world-class benefits, highly competitive compensation and disproportionate rewards for top performers. In our hybrid work environment, we provide the flexibility and support for you to thrive — working virtually when it is productive to do so and getting together with colleagues in a vibrant community that is purposeful, engaging and inspiring.