Event Planning Lead

About Us:

At BCD Meetings & Events (BCD M&E), we provide more than meeting and event planning services: we create connections that inspire, motivate and change behavior for our customers. As the world’s most trusted and innovative meetings and events agency, BCD M&E cultivates a culture of people, passion and purpose to drive business forward. 

Headquartered in Chicago, with locations in 50+ countries across the world, BCD M&E’s team of 1,800+ people are committed to sustainability and driving success for our customers, our business and ourselves. Our values are at the heart of everything we do, and we look for people that want to be a part of something special, can rise to our standards and love to bring their unique perspective to the table.

While we can’t guarantee every day will be the best (who can?), we can promise a community of people who genuinely care and lead with empathy, a flexible workplace with awesome perks and challenging work that means something. 

See what life is about at BCD M&E at bcdme.com/careers

About the role:

The Event Planning Lead is a critical leadership role responsible for managing and supporting a team of event planners. This role will oversee event planning operations, provide mentorship and guidance to the team, and work to optimize and streamline processes to ensure efficient, high-quality event delivery. The Event Planning Lead will act as a key liaison between the planning team and the client, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and client satisfaction.

As an Event Planning Lead, you’re skilled with and passionate about:

1. Leadership and Team Management
   • Manage, mentor, and support a team of Event Planners, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
   • Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, team check-ins, and performance reviews to provide constructive feedback and identify growth opportunities.
   • Serve as the primary point of escalation for planning team challenges, offering solutions and guidance as needed.
2. Operational Oversight
   • Oversee the end-to-end event planning process, ensuring deadlines, budgets, and client expectations are consistently met or exceeded.
   • Implement and refine best practices for planning operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
   • Monitor team workload and resource allocation to ensure balance and productivity.
3. Process Optimization
   • Evaluate existing planning workflows and identify opportunities for improvement.
   • Collaborate on the implementation of tools, technologies, and strategies to streamline planning operations
   • Stay informed of industry trends and innovations to enhance the team’s capabilities.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration
   • Work closely with the Director of Operations to align event planning strategies with organizational objectives.
   • Collaborate with other departments, such as web registration, intake + scheduling, technology, and business insights, to ensure seamless execution of events.
   • Represent the planning team in leadership meetings and provide insights and updates on operational performance.
5. Quality Assurance and Client Satisfaction
   • Ensure all events meet the highest standards of quality and professionalism and that the planning team consistently meets or exceeds SLAs and KPIs.
   • Provide support to Event Planners in resolving client concerns or issues, ensuring a positive client experience.
   • Collect and analyze feedback to drive continuous improvement in service delivery.

You might also have:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Communications, or a related field.
• Experience: 3-5 years in event planning, preferably with mid to high level-complexity events. Proven experience in operations management, preferably within the meetings and events industry.
• Skills: Strong leadership skills with a track record of developing teams and fostering a positive workplace culture. Excellent problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to improving processes. Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Attributes: Highly organized, adaptable, and solution-focused, thriving in a collaborative environment.

You should know:

• This role is in-person, with the primary expectation of being on-site at the client’s headquarters a minimum of 4 days per week
• Our standard working hours are 8:30 AM -5:30 PM, Monday through Friday

THE PERKS

Flexible Working
We believe that a flexible working environment is key to getting the best out of our teams. We will support you to work where you need to and when you need to, depending on how you work best.

Room to Grow
Our line of work and business structure challenge our people in a way that inspires growth, with learning and development built into every role. We give individuals ownership over the direction and speed in which they grow.

Everyone has a voice
We thrive on conversations that spark curiosity and empathy. No matter how big or how small, every voice is heard, considered and respected.

Make your move
The diversity of roles across BCD M&E’s global locations means that our people often find new adventures during their time with us. Join us as a meeting planner role in the UK, stay for a global marketing career — there’s always room to move.

We’ve got you covered
Our extensive benefits include comprehensive healthcare, retirement plans, continued education support, diverse work locations, travel and hotel discounts, volunteer and sustainability opportunities and a successful employee recognition program.

We’re positive. You’ll love it.
It starts from the top. Our leaders lead with positivity, believe in our people and trust us to do the right thing. There will always be support along your journey, in little and big ways.
 

We carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors, including your professional background and experience. The salary range for candidates in applicable jurisdictions in the US for the position of Event Planning Lead  is between $70,000 - $85,000 The actual pay depends on your skills, qualifications, experience, geographical location, and project budget.

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