Audience Booker - Private Roundtables (Contract)

Semafor•Washington, DC

About The Position

Semafor is seeking an experienced Contract Audience Booker to lead audience curation, recruitment, and booking for a portfolio of invitation-only executive roundtables. The role combines editorial judgment, audience development expertise, and operational discipline. The successful candidate will assemble high-quality, relevant groups of senior executives aligned with each roundtable’s editorial theme and underwriting partner objectives. The Audience Booker independently owns the booking process, coordinates closely with internal teams, and delivers a carefully curated audience against defined participation targets. The position is ideally based in New York, NY, Washington, DC, or fully remote.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience in senior-level audience recruitment, executive event booking, or high-touch invitation-only events.
Strong research skills and sound judgment in identifying relevant executives and organizations.
Excellent written communication and professional outreach skills.
Ability to independently manage multiple booking pipelines and deadlines.
Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience working across editorial, commercial, and events teams.
Exceptional attention to detail and the ability to maintain tight operational processes.
Comfort engaging with senior executives and their offices.

Responsibilities

Develop targeted invitation lists for private executive roundtables based on editorial themes, audience briefs, and partner objectives.
Identify and prioritize relevant senior executives, decision-makers, and industry leaders.
Work with internal stakeholders to ensure proposed audiences meet editorial standards and partner expectations.
Maintain a balanced, high-quality audience mix that supports meaningful discussion and engagement.
Own the invitation and booking process from initial outreach through confirmed attendance.
Draft and execute personalized invitations and follow-up communications.
Track outreach, responses, confirmed attendees, and declines, maintaining accurate booking records.
Manage recruitment pipelines proactively to meet audience targets and address representation gaps.
Manage substitutions, cancellations, and last-minute changes.
Serve as a key audience contact for internal editorial, events, and partner management teams.
Work with Partner Management Leads to understand partner priorities, provide booking updates, and manage expectations.
Communicate booking progress, audience composition, and potential challenges clearly and promptly.
Ensure stakeholders have accurate, up-to-date information ahead of each event.
Prepare and finalize attendee lists, briefing documents, and relevant participant information.
Coordinate with event operations teams on check-in, seating, and attendee management requirements.
Provide a clear and accurate handoff to on-site teams, including last-minute updates and special considerations.
Support final attendance reconciliation and post-event reporting.