Associate Director, Hospitality

Wasserman • New York, NY

2d

About The Position

Wasserman operates at the epicenter of sports, music and entertainment, serving talent, brands and properties on a global scale. Our brands and properties division works with iconic brands and rights holders, supporting business growth through all marketing disciplines. We're a trusted partner to every major league, team and venue, building meaningful connections between brands, properties and fans. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman's presence spans 28 countries and more than 70 cities, including New York, London, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico City, Toronto, Paris and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.teamwass.com. Job Overview: Wasserman is looking for a driven and enthusiastic event associate director to produce and oversee events from strategy through completion and aid in enhancing Wasserman’s visibility in the marketplace. This senior role will be responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of a key retainer client in addition to showcasing outstanding, forward-thinking service and organizing memorable high-touch events that meet quality expectations. What You'll Do: Act as a subject matter expert on corporate event management, B2B hosting, hospitality, and relative industry knowledge Showcase forward-thinking initiative to identify the best strategic opportunities and deliver best-in-class solutions to the client Develop and deliver polished client deliverables and other critical framework materials to support client decision-making Sole oversight of multiple direct reports, providing impactful leadership, motivation, direction and support for client objectives and individual career paths; May also involve freelance support team members and other internal service experts Lead responsibility of annual hospitality strategy laddering up to parent partnership strategy and objectives Ideation, operations, oversight and delivery of numerous hospitality projects, informed by established hospitality strategy Manage large-scale project budgets from initial build through reconciliation Maintain a working relationship with existing partners, vendors, and properties on behalf of the client and Wasserman Oversight of all aspects of the event planning process, including project plans, partner and vendor relationships, event communications, hotel contracts, decor, catering, entertainment, transportation, invitee lists, special guests, gifting and amenities, promotional materials, and more Set, communicate and maintain timelines on every project to remain ahead of client expectations Research, planning, and execution of site visits on behalf of client and projects Manage and oversee event on-site execution, including set-up, staffing, guest logistics, stakeholder communications, vendor organization and problem-solving Core knowledge of all Wasserman service offerings, including proactive identification of when to involve related teams in project-related or independent needs Collaboration with other Wasserman service teams as necessary based on project need Anticipate challenges and proactively handle any arising issues across various entities to ensure flawless execution Deliver quality events that meet (and hopefully exceed) client expectations Provide feedback and periodic reports to stakeholders as necessary Conduct post–event evaluations and recaps to showcase event success and ROI Understand the landscape of our client’s business/sector, as well as the industry contexts for their investments Confidently comprehend the role of hospitality programs as it relates to individual client business objectives and the “big picture” Garner strong client and partner relationships for future events, including possessing a strong working knowledge of Wasserman capabilities to further these opportunities What We're Looking For: Robust experience managing multiple direct reports Proven experience as an event planner or organizer, preferably in the high-end hosting space Impressive portfolio of previously managed events Self-starter who requires little to no supervision to meet and carry out event and service responsibilities Excellent customer service, time management and communication skills Basic sales skills and ability to build productive business/vendor relationships Ability to identify and maximize event opportunities Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects independently Up-to-date and informed knowledge of the sports and entertainment industries High level of initiative and interpersonal skills and ability to work well 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 highly organized Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (extensive expertise in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel) and knowledge of common event management software Understand basics of marketing and promotion techniques Ability to assess a situation and quickly recommend solutions Working knowledge of project management fundamentals Must be able to multi-task and be flexible enough to react under fast-paced, stressful circumstances and tight deadlines Must be flexible and willing to travel (multi-day, weekends and short-notice travel expected)

Requirements

• Robust experience managing multiple direct reports
• Proven experience as an event planner or organizer, preferably in the high-end hosting space
• Impressive portfolio of previously managed events
• Self-starter who requires little to no supervision to meet and carry out event and service responsibilities
• Excellent customer service, time management and communication skills
• Basic sales skills and ability to build productive business/vendor relationships
• Ability to identify and maximize event opportunities
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects independently
• Up-to-date and informed knowledge of the sports and entertainment industries
• High level of initiative and interpersonal skills and ability to work well 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 highly organized
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (extensive expertise in Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel) and knowledge of common event management software
• Understand basics of marketing and promotion techniques
• Ability to assess a situation and quickly recommend solutions
• Working knowledge of project management fundamentals
• Must be able to multi-task and be flexible enough to react under fast-paced, stressful circumstances and tight deadlines
• Must be flexible and willing to travel (multi-day, weekends and short-notice travel expected)
• Minimum 7 years of experience in high-end event management, hospitality, and/or corporate events industry, preferably in sports or entertainment
• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, marketing or related field

Nice To Haves

• Hospitality certification is a plus

Responsibilities

• Act as a subject matter expert on corporate event management, B2B hosting, hospitality, and relative industry knowledge
• Showcase forward-thinking initiative to identify the best strategic opportunities and deliver best-in-class solutions to the client
• Develop and deliver polished client deliverables and other critical framework materials to support client decision-making
• Sole oversight of multiple direct reports, providing impactful leadership, motivation, direction and support for client objectives and individual career paths; May also involve freelance support team members and other internal service experts
• Lead responsibility of annual hospitality strategy laddering up to parent partnership strategy and objectives
• Ideation, operations, oversight and delivery of numerous hospitality projects, informed by established hospitality strategy
• Manage large-scale project budgets from initial build through reconciliation
• Maintain a working relationship with existing partners, vendors, and properties on behalf of the client and Wasserman
• Oversight of all aspects of the event planning process, including project plans, partner and vendor relationships, event communications, hotel contracts, decor, catering, entertainment, transportation, invitee lists, special guests, gifting and amenities, promotional materials, and more
• Set, communicate and maintain timelines on every project to remain ahead of client expectations
• Research, planning, and execution of site visits on behalf of client and projects
• Manage and oversee event on-site execution, including set-up, staffing, guest logistics, stakeholder communications, vendor organization and problem-solving
• Core knowledge of all Wasserman service offerings, including proactive identification of when to involve related teams in project-related or independent needs
• Collaboration with other Wasserman service teams as necessary based on project need
• Anticipate challenges and proactively handle any arising issues across various entities to ensure flawless execution
• Deliver quality events that meet (and hopefully exceed) client expectations
• Provide feedback and periodic reports to stakeholders as necessary
• Conduct post–event evaluations and recaps to showcase event success and ROI
• Understand the landscape of our client’s business/sector, as well as the industry contexts for their investments
• Confidently comprehend the role of hospitality programs as it relates to individual client business objectives and the “big picture”
• Garner strong client and partner relationships for future events, including possessing a strong working knowledge of Wasserman capabilities to further these opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level