Senior Manager, Event Operations

Division Overview

The mission of ACS is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The Department of Meetings and Events is to serve learners and educators by building communities and supporting innovative, relevant, and effective chemistry education and professional development. The strategic objectives of the Department of Meetings and Events reflect the responsiveness of the Division in fulfilling the vision, mission, and values of ACS and meeting the needs of the changing chemistry enterprise.

Position Summary
This position reports to the Senior Director, Meeting Exposition Services and is responsible for the efficient and effective meeting planning for two annual meetings of 15,000+ attendees. 

The Senior Manager will manage event operations and services, budgets, develop SOPs and metrics, improve processes and efficiencies, implement strategies, and manage short-term and long-term planning of meetings. The Senior Manager manages vendors, contracts, RFPs, event services, and provides staff support as deemed necessary. The incumbent has experience in project management, event operations and logistics AV management, expositions, sponsorships, event planning technology, and is well-versed in union and labor requirements. The incumbent is an excellent negotiator and can identify top-tier vendor partners.  The incumbent will bring an expansive set of industry knowledge and demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills with team leads, staff, volunteers, vendors, and stakeholders.

Position Accountabilities

• Successful execution and planning for the Society’s annual meetings in support of its mission, paying attention to ensuring a positive experience for all meeting attendees and organizers.
• Supports the development of business plans to assist with determining new directions or new opportunities for events.
• Supports the implementation of new strategic initiatives.  Monitors initiatives, metrics, and outcomes.
• Develop meeting budgets, financial forecasts, and the management of expense containment to ensure that meetings meet budgetary goals. 
• Create and manage, timelines for meetings 
• Work on multiple meetings simultaneously; including future year planning 
• Manage vendors, systems, request for proposals for the meetings, execute contract negotiations, and monitor the performance of such resources.
• Manage the successful implementation of meeting services such as expos and sponsorships, production, security, a/v, food beverage, meetings specs, and all other meeting logistics.
• Manage pre-planning meetings with staff and vendors, including overseeing SOW (Scope of Work) for vendors  
• Provide onsite operational logistical management and oversight, including onsite management of ACS and vendor staff, including creation of the schedules 
• Conduct post-conference evaluations to improve future meetings.
• Delegate work assignment, allocate resources, and provide leadership to ensure that priorities and objectives are met.
• Manage staff, conduct regular performance reviews, and provide professional development opportunities for team members.
• Manage historical data, reports, and information
• Communicate and network with all levels of ACS governance Serve as a representative of ACS to both inside and outside parties, such as consultants, other professional societies, site visits, conferences.
• Understands market and competitive trends and makes recommendations to address any changes in the environment.
• Provide timely, outstanding customer service for internal and external clients and respond to problems and inquiries promptly.  
• Assist with other events as assigned

Education/Experience/Technological Knowledge

• College degree or equivalent experience; may have an advanced degree or equivalent experience;
• CMP, CMM, CEM, DES or other Meeting Industry certifications preferred
• 7+ years    of demonstrated meetings experience managing and producing large scale event
• Extensive knowledge of hospitality industry, specific to conference planning and execution
• Excellent knowledge of industry best practices, procedures, and principles.
• Solid working knowledge of conference and event management platforms and technology. 
• Superior organizational skills with ability to multi-task and flawless attention to detail.
• Excellent leadership, consensus-building skills, and talented problem solver.
• Demonstrated program and project management experience required;
• Self-starter, strong work ethic and ability to work in a cross functional team-oriented environment.
• Excels at working in a fast paced, results oriented, community environment.
• Customer service oriented.
• Very proficient with utilization of various technologies and software (Excel, Adobe, Power Point, Word).
• Strong writing and verbal communications skills for interacting with stakeholders; 
• Strategic and creative thinking including experience with new program development;
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with focus on collaboration and consensus building between teams
• Ability to work nights and weekends for successful execution of events. 
• Travel up to 20% of the year
• Perform other duties as assigned by management. 

This position will be primarily based in the Washington D.C. office. ACS employees work a hybrid work schedule, consisting of working onsite, three days per week. ACS employees are in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday with the third in-office day scheduled in consultation with the manager. While always welcome to work in the office, employees may work the other two days of the week from a location of their choice. New employees are immediately eligible for this hybrid work arrangement. ACS offers relocation assistance, if applicable.

EEO/Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran