Associate Director, Hospitality

Wasserman•Raleigh, NC

1d•$90,000 - $115,000

About The Position

THE·TEAM is seeking a driven and enthusiastic event associate director to produce and oversee events from strategy through completion while helping enhance the company’s visibility in the marketplace. This senior role leads day-to-day operations for a key retainer client, delivers forward-thinking service, and organizes memorable, high-touch events that meet quality expectations. The role leads hospitality strategy and programs aligned with client and partnership objectives, oversees projects and large-scale budgets, and manages the event planning process from initial planning through on-site execution and post-event evaluation. It also provides leadership and support to direct reports, maintains relationships with partners and vendors, collaborates across THE·TEAM’s service teams, and identifies opportunities to strengthen client relationships and business outcomes. Travel, including multi-day, weekend, and short-notice travel, is expected.

Requirements

At least 7 years of experience in high-end event management, hospitality, and/or the corporate events industry; sports or entertainment experience is preferred.
Robust experience managing multiple direct reports.
Proven experience as an event planner or organizer.
Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, marketing, or a related field.
Excellent customer service, time management, and communication skills.
Basic sales skills and the ability to build productive business and vendor relationships.
Ability to identify and maximize event opportunities.
Ability to prioritize and independently manage multiple projects.
Current knowledge of the sports and entertainment industries.
Strong initiative and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently and in a team environment.
Genuine passion for hospitality, events, and hosting.
Negotiation experience.
Self-motivation, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly extensive expertise in PowerPoint and Excel, and knowledge of common event management software.
Understanding of basic marketing and promotion techniques.
Ability to assess situations and quickly recommend solutions.
Working knowledge of project management fundamentals.
Ability to multitask and adapt in fast-paced, stressful circumstances and under tight deadlines.
Flexibility and willingness to travel, including multi-day, weekend, and short-notice travel.

Nice To Haves

Experience in high-end hosting.
Experience in the sports or entertainment industries.
Hospitality certification.

Responsibilities

Serve as a subject matter expert in corporate event management, B2B hosting, hospitality, and related industry knowledge.
Identify strategic opportunities and deliver best-in-class solutions for the client.
Develop polished client deliverables and framework materials to support client decision-making.
Lead, motivate, direct, and support multiple direct reports, including their work toward client objectives and individual career paths; coordinate freelance support and internal service experts as needed.
Lead the annual hospitality strategy, aligning it with the parent partnership strategy and objectives.
Ideate, operate, oversee, and deliver hospitality projects informed by established strategy.
Manage large-scale project budgets from initial build through reconciliation.
Maintain working relationships with existing partners, vendors, and properties on behalf of the client and THE·TEAM.
Oversee all aspects of event planning, including project plans, partner and vendor relationships, event communications, hotel contracts, decor, catering, entertainment, transportation, invitee lists, special guests, gifting and amenities, and promotional materials.
Set, communicate, and maintain project timelines to stay ahead of client expectations.
Research, plan, and execute site visits on behalf of the client and projects.
Manage on-site event execution, including setup, staffing, guest logistics, stakeholder communications, vendor organization, and problem-solving.
Understand THE·TEAM’s service offerings and identify when related teams should be involved; collaborate with those teams as project needs require.
Anticipate challenges and proactively handle issues across involved entities to support flawless execution.
Deliver quality events that meet or exceed client expectations.
Provide feedback and periodic reports to stakeholders as needed.
Conduct post-event evaluations and recaps to demonstrate event success and ROI.
Understand the client’s business and sector, the industry context for its investments, and how hospitality programs support both specific business objectives and broader goals.
Build strong client and partner relationships and use knowledge of THE·TEAM’s capabilities to develop future opportunities.