DescriptionVAST Data is looking for a Senior Events Manager to join our growing Global Events team!As Senior Events Manager, reporting to the Head of Events, you will play a key role in the strategy, planning, and execution of VAST Data's global events portfolio, including industry trade shows, conferences, third-party sponsorships, and Forward, VAST Data's flagship user conference. You will partner cross-functionally with sales, marketing, product, customer advocacy, and other key stakeholders to deliver high-impact experiences that align with business priorities, engage customers and target accounts, and drive measurable results. This role will support all aspects of event development and execution, including content, speakers, sponsorships, production, registration, logistics, attendee engagement, and onsite operations.
This role requires a strategic thinker who can move seamlessly between long-term event strategy and hands-on execution, while managing multiple stakeholders, vendors, budgets, and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop and execute event strategy across VAST Data's trade show, conference, and Forward portfolio, aligning programs to business priorities, sales plays, target accounts, and customer engagement goals.
- Own end-to-end event execution, from strategic planning and budgeting through content, speakers, sponsorships, vendors, production, logistics, registration, onsite operations, and post-event follow-up.
- Support Forward planning and execution as a key member of the event team, partnering cross-functionally to shape the conference experience, agenda, content, speaker program, customer engagement, networking, and overall attendee journey.
- Drive trade show performance and impact by managing the event calendar, sponsorship strategy, booth programs, event experiences, and sales engagement while establishing measurable goals and tracking results.
- Lead cross-functional collaboration with sales, marketing, product, customer advocacy, demand generation, PR, executive leadership, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment, accountability, and a cohesive event experience.
- Manage external partners and resources, including agencies, venues, production and A/V teams, fabrication partners, registration providers, and other vendors, ensuring quality, efficiency, and adherence to timelines and budgets.
- Establish and manage event plans, budgets, timelines, and success metrics, using post-event insights and stakeholder feedback to continuously improve programs and scale successful initiatives.
- Drive operational excellence and innovation by developing scalable event processes, improving efficiencies, and elevating the quality and consistency of VAST Data's event experiences.
- Help evolve Forward's event methodology, processes, and operational framework as the conference grows.
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL LEADERSHIP:
- Build strong partnerships across sales, marketing, product marketing, customer advocacy, demand generation, PR, executive leadership, and other key stakeholders.
- Serve as a strategic events partner, bringing structure, accountability, and creative thinking to complex event initiatives.
- Communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring alignment on objectives, responsibilities, timelines, and decisions.
- Lead pre- and post-event meetings and ensure learnings are translated into actionable improvements.
- Balance strategic planning with hands-on execution and confidently navigate changing priorities and tight timelines.
SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE:
Success in this role means delivering high-impact trade show programs that help sales engage priority accounts and generate measurable business results, while building Forward into a world-class VAST Data customer experience.
The ideal candidate is equally comfortable discussing event strategy with senior leadership, building a detailed production timeline, negotiating with a vendor, preparing an executive speaker, and being onsite solving problems in real time.
Requirements- 10+ years of event marketing or corporate event management experience, including significant experience with trade shows, conferences, and complex proprietary events.
- Demonstrated experience managing large-scale, multi-day events with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong experience managing trade show programs, sponsorships, booth programs, vendors, and onsite operations.
- Experience planning and executing user conferences, customer events, executive programs, or similar flagship corporate events.
- Proven experience managing diverse vendors and partners, including production, A/V, venues, agencies, fabrication, registration, and other event suppliers.
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining accountability to deadlines, budgets, and business objectives.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions and levels of an organization.
- Creative problem-solver who can adapt quickly, identify opportunities, and find practical solutions in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated and comfortable working independently while keeping remote and geographically dispersed teams aligned.
- Strong business acumen and ability to connect event strategy and execution to measurable business outcomes.
- Experience working in a high-growth technology environment preferred.
- Willingness to travel up to 40%, including occasional international travel.
