Job Details:
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Events, Sponsorships & Partnerships, the Events Manager is an individual contributor within the Events, Sponsorships & Partnerships team. This role supports multiple high-profile events across CoStar Group and its portfolio of brands, also contributing as an advisor and producer on internal events, brand events, trade shows, and sponsorships. The Events Manager will work in close partnership with the Senior Manager, Events, Sponsorships & Partnerships as well as senior and executive leadership across the organization to set goals, establish timelines, and develop budgets that align with company strategy. This role supports the Senior Manager in driving end-to-end strategy and execution of large-scale conferences, receptions, sales incentive programs, colleague engagement initiatives, and special events on an annual basis. As a valuable member on the team, this position helps to set the standard for event quality, process, and cross-functional collaboration, partnering closely with Sales, Marketing, Communications, and other departments to ensure every event is executed to the highest standards, on budget, and with measurable impact.
This role will be on-site 5 days/week in our Arlington, VA office.
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills:
- Lead the planning, budgeting, and execution of CoStar Group9s events, conferences and tradeshows.
- Manage all aspects of events from conception to completion; venue selection/sourcing, planning calls/meetings along with weekly updates, on-going communications with Sales, gifting, contract negotiation, booking entertainment, AV management, large booth buildouts, marketing promotional materials, data and ROI reporting, attendee registration websites, catering/F&B, de9cor, hotel accommodations, staffing coordination, and on-site event logistics.
- Play an advisory and hands on role as needed in all other CoStar Group events and sponsorships.
- Negotiate contracts with vendors and partners in order to achieve the best product for the best price.
- Serve as a resource and subject matter expert for the Events team, sharing best practices on negotiations, budgeting, vendor management, and event production to elevate the team9s overall capabilities.
- Implement timelines and concepts for event design, on-site installation/set up and event branding.
- Bring a commercially focused mindset to all events, ensuring programming supports business objectives across CoStar Group brands and is strategically tailored to targeted audiences and key stakeholders, including senior and executive leadership.
- Drive event deadlines to guarantee all aspects of events are on time and communicate timelines to other stakeholders and departments to ensure they are set up for success when supporting events.
- Advise on standards for quality, efficiency, and consistency for internal and external processes.
- Act as a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner to the f Senior Manager, Events, Sponsorships & Partnerships and organizational leadership on event strategy, brand activations, and sponsorship decisions.
- Responsible for large event budgets, optimizing resources to create efficiencies to support brand, marketing, and sales goals. Create, track and manage event budgets closely, producing post-event budgets and reports, and manage all invoice reconciliation.
- Manage communications to event attendees, event websites, and/or applications.
- Collaborate across business lines and with senior leadership to communicate, gather input and approvals, and execute on events, including partnership with Marketing, Communications, Sales, Facilities, IT, Legal, Procurement, Accounting, and others as appropriate.
- Maintain exemplary relationships with external vendors, identifying appropriate new business relationships when needed.
- Identify best practices and process improvements.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously with precision and attention to detail while continually finding ways to improve processes to produce higher quality and more effective results.
- Manage new vendor approval process including sourcing RFPs.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor9s degree from an accredited, not-for-profit, in-person University or College
- 5 years planning and executing large scale events, and 7 years of overall event management experience
- Demonstrated expertise in overseeing conferences, executive programs, corporate special events, exposition logistics, sales incentive trips, custom booth builds, and sponsoring external initiatives/ events
- International event management and contracting experience a plus
- Strong communication skills, both written and oral
- Ability to travel for events and any pre-event preparation 30 - 30%
- Highest proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite, notably Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
- CMP certification and experience with Cvent a plus
- Meticulous attention to detail and superior organizational skills
- Ability to expertly articulate ideas, event concepts, and strategic recommendations to senior and executive-level stakeholders across the organization
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks at same time with demonstrated experience in consistently delivering high quality results.
- Collaborative team player who builds strong working relationships across the organization and can seamlessly flex between strategic leadership and hands-on execution as needs evolve.
- Proven ability to adapt to a fast pace and ever-changing environment. Ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure, delivering on last minute requests and remaining detailed oriented.
- Ability to manage complex and fast-changing program elements and prioritize effectively in response.
- Effective negotiation skills.
- Flexibility and ability to push through indecision and ambiguity to deliver results.
- Ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force to move objects/boxes.
- Ability and willingness to work extended hours and varying work schedules for event management, execution, and travel as needed
- Track record of commitment to previous employers
