Project Manager (Corporate Events)

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Building A Brand Starts With Our Story

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency serving clients in various industries, including financial services, technology, new & traditional media, aerospace, healthcare, and professional services.

Our story started over 25 years ago growing through collaboration, innovation, strong culture, and a focus on people, specifically our people.

Our people inspired, developed, and grew FIRST to the incredible brand experience creator it is today.

A welcoming, creative and ambitious workplace that offers personal and professional growth for all individuals. At FIRST, you'll find :

• A welcoming workplace that fosters diversity and belonging with a focus on team members feeling valued, respected, and supported.
• Creative teams that enjoy challenging work with an ability to make an impact on those around them.
• An experiential organization that cares about the development and career experience of each employee, focusing on excellence and flexibility with the right balance of structure to thrive.

Location : Newport Beach, CA (In Office Requirement)

What You Would Get To Do :

The ideal candidate would represent the FIRST brand embedded within a Solutions account for a financial services company.

The Project Manager will consistently deliver exceptional service to our high-touch clients through excellent project management and creative solutions.

This position will support virtual, in-person and hybrid domestic events which include but are not limited to; internal programs, client-facing events including conferences, hospitality, thought leadership, sporting, and cultural programs.

Your Contributions

• Full life-cycle planning and execution of multiple key events in a digital / virtual capacity, and in-person.
• Event planning and project management including creation of timelines, invitation process, and thorough and regular communications to attendees, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Financial management, including : budget development and management, expense management and invoice processing, timely post-meeting reconciliation and final financial reporting.
• Sourcing, negotiating and managing site selections, contract management for venues and suppliers.
• Coordinate registration, transportation, hotel accommodations, entertainment, gift selection, audio / visual needs, webcasts, staging and speaker selection for all programs.
• Work with the team to ensure adherence to the client's standards of operation and policies; ensure compliance and risk guidelines are followed.
• Travel (when applicable, no more than 20% annually) for site inspections and on-site management of live events.
• Post event wrap up including final attendees, budget reconciliation, observations, as well as client debriefs for year over year improvements.
• Co-plan with colleagues and the client on larger scale programs.
• Create and closely monitor value adds at every opportunity and demonstrate commercial awareness.
• Share knowledge of best practices, new suppliers, services and venues.
• Deepen relations with existing clients and maximize on all opportunities to generate new business.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• 5-7 years Event Management experience required, in a corporate or financial services environment preferred.
• Advanced experience of events, conferences, meeting and production management.
• Extensive experience in working with and managing senior clients.
• Advanced project management skills, including : budget creation, management and reconciliation.
• Motivated, self-starter, ability to work independently and project plan.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proven ability to mentor team members and develop operations, organizational systems and processes.
• Resourceful individual with the ability to take direction and work independently.
• Strong client management skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ambitious, proactive and highly organized.
• Willing to travel to various locations for site-visits and on-site management of events.
• Experience working with large and complex databases, Cvent experience preferred .
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of venues and suppliers in key US cities.
• Management responsibilities, if applicable include :
• Managing vacation schedules for direct reports.
• Oversee workload of the team.
• Management of personal development reviews for direct reports.
• Lead and motivate direct reports.

ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL

• Work intelligently and ensure that the Operations Manager is aware of problems or issues which negatively affect productivity.
• Strict and accurate adherence to company's time tracking policies and systems.
• Ensure knowledge is shared within the team through positive communications.
• Flexible and willing to work long hours (evenings, weekends) and travel.
• Work on ad hoc requests from clients as required.
• Assume responsibility for own environment, ensuring adherence to health and safety policies.

United States Residents : The base pay for this position ranges from $70,000 to $100,000. This role is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

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FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind.

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