Meeting & Event Manager

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Meeting & Event Manager based in United States. This role offers the opportunity to lead complex meetings, incentives, conventions, and events from initial strategy through final reconciliation. You will serve as a trusted partner to clients while coordinating suppliers, internal teams, venues, transportation providers, and event specialists. The position combines strategic planning, contract negotiation, budget management, and hands-on event execution. You will manage multiple deliverables, maintain strong supplier relationships, and ensure every program meets its objectives, timelines, and financial expectations. The role also provides opportunities to identify additional services, improve event ROI, and develop long-term client relationships. Success requires strong leadership, organization, creativity, and the ability to remain composed in a fast-moving environment. Manage the full lifecycle of large and complex meetings, incentive programs, conventions, and events, from strategic planning and sourcing through execution, reconciliation, and post-event analysis. Administer RFPs through electronic sourcing tools, evaluate proposals, recommend properties and suppliers, negotiate contracts, and monitor contractual deadlines after execution. Negotiate agreements with hotels, venues, destination management companies, transportation providers, audiovisual and internet suppliers, décor companies, entertainment providers, printing companies, and other event partners. Build collaborative supplier relationships by clearly communicating program requirements, expectations, timelines, and deliverables. Partner with air travel teams during site selection and event planning, including developing air feasibility assessments and providing manifests to transportation providers. Develop and maintain detailed project timelines, incorporating contingency planning and ensuring internal teams remain accountable for strategic milestones. Lead structured strategy calls, establish agendas and action items, and coordinate cross-functional teams throughout the program lifecycle. Identify opportunities to expand ancillary meeting and incentive services while maintaining alignment with client objectives and budgets. Research, recommend, and contract with off-site venues, transportation providers, entertainment, décor, team-building organizations, and other event-support suppliers. Oversee online registration website development and attendee-management processes, coordinating with internal planners and coordinators and resolving escalated issues. Conduct site inspections on behalf of or alongside clients and ensure venues and suppliers are positioned to deliver against program requirements. Procure and lead on-site event staff, clearly defining responsibilities and operational requirements before each event. Manage complex event budgets, cost estimates, cash flow, negotiated savings, client invoices, vendor payments, commissions, and final financial reconciliation. Evaluate event performance after completion, measure effectiveness and ROI, and provide recommendations for future programs. Conduct internal program audits to assess profitability and identify opportunities for operational improvement. Lead full-service event operations and delegate responsibilities effectively across internal team members. Maintain strong client relationships through exceptional service, active listening, proactive communication, and effective resolution of challenging situations. Participate in industry events, continuing education programs, and supplier meetings to remain current on trends, technologies, and best practices. Travel up to 25% and work evenings, weekends, or extended hours when required by event schedules. Requirements Bachelor’s degree preferred, or a high school diploma combined with relevant industry experience. At least 5 years