At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global event strategy and experiential marketing to drive commercial growth.
- Company: Join Smartly, a leading AI-powered advertising technology company.
- Benefits: Enjoy five weeks PTO, generous healthcare, 401K matching, and wellness benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team dedicated to inclusivity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with global reach.
- Qualifications: 8-12+ years in B2B SaaS event marketing and team leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 140000 - 200000 £ per year.
Smartly is seeking a strategic, commercially-minded Senior Director of Events & Experiential to lead our global event strategy and experiential marketing engine. Moving beyond traditional event coordination, this role is a core commercial growth driver and brand steward. Reporting directly to marketing executive leadership, the Senior Director will lead a global team across New York and London to design, execute, and scale tier-1 industry summits, Customer Advisory Boards (CAB), and regional executive activations. The Director of Events & Experiential will also be responsible for overseeing Employer Brand Experiences and Workplace Events.
What You Will Do
- Commercial Growth & Pipeline Acceleration
- Drive Event-Influenced Revenue: Own global commercial event strategy to expand event-influenced sales pipeline.
- GTM Anchor Campaigns: Position flagship event activations (e.g., Cannes Lions, regional executive forums) as primary forcing functions that compel product, sales, and marketing teams to rally around unified market narratives and GTM launches.
- Pipeline Attribution & Sales Enablement: Partner closely with Marketing Operations (MOPs) and Revenue Operations (RevOps) to leverage automated 4-, 8-, and 12-week post-event pipeline reporting. Equip Sales and Customer Success teams with actionable post-event attendee insights via follow-up assets from PMM & Enablement.
- Brand Reputation, Experiential Strategy & Agency Governance
- Experiential Storytelling & Tier-1 Summits: Conceptualize and direct high-visibility experiential activations that solidify Smartly’s market leadership, thought leadership, and employer brand advocacy.
- Agency Ideation & Vendor Management: Direct external creative agencies for experiential ideation and event production, maintaining internal team focus strictly on operational governance, fiscal management, and execution SLAs.
- Executive & Analyst Integration: Align high-touch executive programs with PR, corporate communications, and industry analyst touchpoints (targeting an increase in 3rd-party market validations).
- Retaining & Growing Existing Business
- Customer Retention Target: Structure customer-facing event tracks, certification workshops, and executive immersions to retain and grow existing business.
- Customer Advisory Board (CAB) Leadership: Lead the strategic agenda, content curation, and operational execution for the global Customer Advisory Board to deepen executive client partnerships.
- Product Adoption & CS Alignment: Collaborate with Customer Success to embed product education, alpha/beta invitations, and customer case study opportunities directly into event programming.
- Scope Control & Process Governance
- Fiscal & Budget Discipline: Direct multi-million dollar annual event operating budgets, daily invoice tracking, and vendor negotiations to ensure agile capital allocation.
- Lead Window Enforcement: Require cross-functional partners (Partnerships, Product Marketing) to adhere to strict 12-week lead times and standardized briefs for joint co-marketing activations.
We’re looking for someone who...
- Experience: Has 8–12+ years of progressive B2B SaaS event marketing leadership, with a proven track record of managing multi-million-dollar global event budgets and driving quantifiable sales pipeline (SALs, SQLs).
- Team Leadership: Experience managing direct reports across international hubs (specifically US and EMEA) and governing tier-1 experiential agency partners.
- Commercial Acumen: Strong fluency in CRM/Marketo data flows, pipeline attribution models, and sales enablement workflows (partnering directly with RevOps).
- Process Governance: Demonstrated ability to enforce planning lead times, brief hygiene, and cross-functional SLA boundaries under fast-paced conditions.
What We Offer You...
- Five weeks paid time off (PTO), 11 company paid holidays, unlimited sick days.
- Generous healthcare packages & mental health benefits.
- 401K plus matching & equity grants for all new Smartlies.
- Wellness benefit & learning reimbursement opportunities.
- Volunteer time off days & company donation matching opportunities.
- And so much more...
About Smartly
Smartly is the AI-powered advertising technology company transforming ad experiences for brands and their consumers. Our comprehensive advertising platform seamlessly integrates the capabilities of media, creative, and intelligence to power more than 800 billion impressions and generate more than 300 billion creatives annually, delivering tangible business outcomes for brands and advertisers. Smartly is the only company in the industry recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Creative Advertising Technologies with PwC validating the results it delivers for brands. We manage creative and media for 700+ brands worldwide and $6B in ad spend across the largest media platforms, including Facebook, Google, Instagram, Pinterest, Snap, and TikTok. Our end‑to‑end technology, unmatched access to media platforms and exceptional customer service help Fortune 500 brands to reach and engage consumers and learn what performs best. Smartly is a multinational and diverse team of 750+ Smartlies from 60+ nationalities, working in 13 countries. Together, we want to create and maintain an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and heard. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion approach is at the heart of it.
Sr. Director of Events & Experiential employer: Smartly.io
Smartly is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive global culture, where over 750 team members from more than 60 nationalities collaborate to drive innovation in the digital advertising industry. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, comprehensive rewards, and ample opportunities for career development, Smartly empowers its employees to thrive in a flexible hybrid work environment, making it an ideal place for growth-minded individuals looking to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sr. Director of Events & Experiential
✨Show Your Creative Side
In marketing communications, standing out is key. Get creative with your application! Consider designing a mini-campaign or pitch that highlights your skills and understanding of the brand. Tailor it for Smartly.io and show them what you can bring to the table.
✨Engage in Marketing Communities
Get involved in local or online marketing communications groups. Check out platforms like Meetup for events and workshops. Networking here can lead to hidden job openings and valuable insights into the industry trends—this is where we often discover what companies like Smartly.io are looking for.
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to showcase your passion for marketing communications. Share insights, articles, and your own content that resonates with the industry. Tagging or interacting with Smartly.io on these platforms can catch the eye of recruiters and show you're genuinely interested in them.
✨Attend Industry Events
Keep an eye out for marketing conferences and workshops. These are great places to meet potential employers face-to-face and make connections that could land you a full-time role at Smartly.io. Bring your business cards and be prepared to chat about how you can contribute!
We think you need these skills to ace Sr. Director of Events & Experiential
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft an Impactful Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Focus on your passion for marketing communications and how your previous experiences can benefit Smartly.io. Make sure to mention specific campaigns or projects you’ve worked on that showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.
Showcase Your Writing Skills:As you're diving into a marketing communications role, your writing ability is crucial. Include samples of your work, like blog posts, press releases, or social media campaigns in your application. This lets us see your style and how you engage with different audiences.
Tailor Your CV to Marketing:Your CV should highlight relevant marketing skills and experiences! Include specific tools or platforms you’ve used, like Google Analytics or social media management software. Mention any certifications or workshops related to marketing that you've completed – they can give you an edge!
Demonstrate Your Understanding of Smartly.io:Show us that you’ve done your homework! In your application, briefly mention what you admire about Smartly.io’s marketing approach or any recent campaigns that caught your attention. This can reveal your enthusiasm for the role and your genuine interest in joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Smartly.io
✨Showcase Your Creative Campaigns
Get ready to flaunt your portfolio! Include examples of previous marketing campaigns you've worked on, especially those that showcase your creativity and strategy. Recruiters at Smartly.io will be keen to see how you conceptualise and execute campaigns, so highlight any measurable outcomes to back up your claims.
✨Know Your Digital Tools Inside Out
If you’re heading into a marketing-communications role, make sure you're comfortable discussing key digital marketing tools like Google Analytics, HubSpot, or Hootsuite. Expect some technical questions about how you've used these tools in the past, as they'll want to gauge your hands-on experience and how you analyse data to drive marketing decisions.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
At Smartly.io, they may throw some scenario-based questions your way, aimed at testing your problem-solving skills in real-life marketing situations. Think through potential challenges you’ve faced, how you navigated them, and be prepared to discuss your thought process and outcome.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Marketing
As you’re applying for a full-time position, show that you're not just looking for a job, but a career in marketing. Talk about the latest trends in marketing communications, your favourite campaigns, and why they inspire you. Your enthusiasm can really make you stand out and demonstrate that you’re committed to growing within the field.
