The OpportunityWe are seeking a Senior Manager, Events Operations. This position will be based in our New York office (hybrid). The Senior Manager, Events Operations is responsible for leading the strategy, evaluation, and management of the Firm's event technology ecosystem, identifying and implementing solutions based on business needs and event objectives. This role partners with IT, Marketing Technology (Martech), and other stakeholders to ensure event platforms effectively support the events function and integrate with the Firm's broader technology infrastructure.
- Serve as the Firm's subject-matter expert on event technology - owning the evaluation, selection, implementation, and ongoing optimization of all platforms and tools within the events tech stack
- Assess current and emerging business needs across the events function and determine the most effective technology solutions to meet them, applying a tool-agnostic approach that prioritizes fit, scalability, and integration over familiarity with any single platform
- Design and manage the events technology ecosystem and data architecture - ensuring platforms are properly integrated, data flows are clean and well-governed, and event data connects meaningfully to firm-wide systems including CRM, marketing automation, and finance platforms
- Build and continuously improve the processes, governance frameworks, and standards that guide how technology is selected, deployed, and retired within the events function - creating structure that scales with the organization and reduces redundancy across the portfolio
- Own the full data strategy for the events function: defining what data is captured, how it flows between systems, how it is stored and reported, and how it surfaces insights that inform event strategy, attendee experience, and business development outcomes
- Partner with IT and Martech teams as the events function's representative - bringing clearly defined requirements, advocating for event-side priorities, and ensuring the events tech ecosystem aligns with enterprise architecture standards, security requirements, data governance policies, and integration roadmaps
- Lead technology vendor relationships - including contract and licensing negotiations, roadmap reviews, escalations, and ongoing performance assessment - ensuring the Firm receives maximum value from its technology investments
- Evaluate and pilot new and emerging event technologies on an ongoing basis, providing leadership with informed recommendations on adoption, consolidation, or replacement based on business case and strategic fit
- Manage the RFP and selection process for new event technology platforms, leading cross-functional evaluations that include stakeholders from Events, IT, Martech, Finance, Legal, and relevant business units
- Oversee the implementation and configuration of event technology platforms, coordinating with internal teams and vendor partners to ensure deployments are on time, on budget, and meet defined business requirements
- Develop and maintain event technology training programs, documentation, and resources that enable planners and other stakeholders to leverage the tech stack effectively and consistently
- Define and track key performance indicators for the events technology ecosystem, including platform adoption, data quality, integration health, and the technology's contribution to event ROI and attendee experience
- Serve as an internal consultant to event planners and leadership on technology-enabled solutions for event registration, attendee engagement, virtual and hybrid delivery, content management, and post-event analytics
- Partner with Data & Analytics and Business Development teams to ensure event data is structured, captured, and accessible in ways that support client relationship management, pipeline reporting, and firm-wide business intelligence
- Maintain awareness of the competitive landscape and industry trends in event technology, bringing a forward-thinking perspective to the Firm's technology roadmap and strategic planning
Qualifications- Proven ability to partner effectively with IT and Martech teams from the events function's perspective - translating event business needs into technical requirements and representing the events team in cross-functional technology discussions
- Strong project management skills with experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder technology implementations
- Ability to translate technical concepts clearly for non-technical stakeholders, and business requirements clearly for technical teams
- Strong analytical mindset with experience defining and reporting on technology performance metrics and event data KPIs
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable advising and presenting to senior leadership
- Familiarity with webcasting and virtual event platforms including Brandlive, ON24, or equivalent (preferred)
- Knowledge of enterprise integration frameworks and API-based connectivity between SaaS platforms (preferred)
Education and Experience- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in event technology or a closely related field, with direct responsibility for platform strategy, implementation, and ongoing management in support of an events function
- Demonstrated experience evaluating business requirements and identifying technology solutions - with a track record of working backward from the problem, not forward from a preferred tool
- Hands-on experience with enterprise event management platforms, such as Cvent, and a working knowledge of the broader event technology market
- Experience designing or managing data architecture and integrations across multiple platforms, with a strong understanding of data governance and quality principles
- Experience managing technology vendor relationships, including contract negotiations, roadmap engagement, and performance management
- Experience with CRM platforms in a client-relationship-intensive environment, including InterAction or Microsoft Dynamics 365 / Foundation 365 (preferred)
- Experience working within a professional services, financial services, legal, or similarly regulated firm (preferred)
- CMP (Certified Meeting Professional), Cvent certification, or relevant technology or project management credential (preferred)
- Experience building or scaling an event technology function, including developing governance frameworks, training programs, and standard operating procedures (preferred)
BenefitsThe overall well-being of our team is important to us. We offer generous benefits to help you achieve wellness in all areas of your life.
- Competitive salaries and year-end discretionary bonuses.
- Comprehensive health care (medical, dental, vision), savings plan/401(k) and voluntary benefits.
- Generous paid time off.
- Paid leave options, including parental.
- In-classroom, remote, and on-demand learning and professional development opportunities.
- Robust well-being classes and programs.
- Opportunities to give back and make an impact in local communities.
For further details, please visit: https://www.skadden.com/careers/staff/employee-benefits
The starting base salary for this position is expected to be within the range listed under Salary Details. Actual salary will be determined based on skills, experience (to the extent relevant) and other-job related factors, consistent with applicable law.
Salary Details$200,000 - $230,000
