Event Director CEE (E5244B)

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers•Piscataway, NJ

22d•Hybrid

About The Position

Event Director, CEE is a senior leadership role within IEEE responsible for overseeing the strategic planning, execution, and management of a high-volume and diverse portfolio of events. This individual oversees the full lifecycle planning of assigned programs. The Event Director leads a team of six event professionals, manages vendor and venue contract negotiations, and provides expertise in both domestic and international event planning. This role is a key contributor to CEE organizational culture, operational excellence, and champion of excellence.. The individual elevates events by seamlessly integrating professional partners from across CEE and the enterprise such as programming, multimedia, marketing, etc. and ensures that team members are informed and equipped to deliver excellence. This role serves as both an individual contributor and a manager of a team of event planners. The incumbent serves as a role model for cross OU collaboration and nimble inclusion of existing and emerging services and expertise from across the team. Sample Portfolio of Assignments Board Meeting Series & Executive Events Serve as the primary event lead for the Meeting Series, held three times annually, overseeing all phases from inception through post-event evaluation Manage site selection, logistics, staffing, budgeting, and vendor coordination for all Board meetings Partner with senior leadership to ensure seamless execution aligned with governance protocols Lead the strategic planning and placement of future Board meetings, including multi-year site selection and program development Prepares and delivers holistic presentations to various audiences Governance & Institutional Meetings Manage a high volume of governance meetings, including committee, council, and advisory group convenings across domestic and international locations Develop and maintain master event calendars and planning timelines for all governance-related meetings Ensure consistent standards for meeting logistics, materials, technology, and hospitality across all governance events Human Resources, Culture & Internal Events Lead planning and execution of Town Hall and All-Hands meetings, ensuring effective production, A/V coordination, and logistics for both in-person and hybrid formats Oversee holiday and cultural celebration events that reflect the association's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion Support planning of internal HR events, including onboarding programs, staff appreciation events, and department-wide functions Team Leadership & Development As a team leader, this person sets the tone and direction for integrated services being delivered across CEE and IEEE. Ensures that CEE peers from Audience Development, Exhibits, Multimedia, Programming, etc. are fully integrated into event projects under management. Embraces and implements standards set by other partner groups such as BMC, IT, etc. Directly manage a team of six event planners and coordinators, providing day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and professional development Contribute to the hiring, onboarding, and training of event staff; establish performance standards and conduct regular evaluations Foster a collaborative, high-performance CEE team culture with a focus on accountability and continuous improvement Escalates to management any challenges in implementing standards. Budget & Financial Management Develop, manage, and reconcile event budgets across the full portfolio; provide accurate forecasting and variance reporting to senior leadership in partnership with analyst or colleagues. Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising event quality or attendee experience Oversee registration and financial reconciliation processes in partnership with Finance Contract Negotiation & Vendor Management Negotiates with a variety of vendors within a framework that includes peers with subject matter expertise. Follows departmental processes with regards to these processes as they evolve. Typical vendors may include hotels, convention centers, venues,, caterers, DMCs, and other suppliers for domestic and international Works closely with colleagues with SME in specific areas such as Multimedia/AV/Video and hotels, and leverages deep expertise.. Strategically includes city, tourism and other geo-partners when selecting locations working with peers and across the enterprise to leverage relationships and expertise. Review and execute contracts in accordance with company and departmental policies; ensure inclusion of risk mitigation and attrition clauses, in line with our legal and expense authorization policies Site Selection & Logistics Conduct site searches and inspections for assigned major events, evaluating venues based on capacity, accessibility, cost, and alignment with event objectives, strategic funding opportunities and regional objectives Manage RFP processes, hotel room block negotiations, and housing bureau relationships in partnership with colleagues with SME. Ensure compliance with ADA requirements, international travel considerations, and duty-of-care obligations

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field required
10–15 years of progressive experience in event planning and management, with at least 5 years in a leadership or director-level role
Demonstrated experience planning and executing large-scale, high-profile events
Proven track record managing complex governance and executive-level meetings
Experience with domestic and international event planning, including cultural, professional and financial considerations.
Exceptional project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent events across a complex annual calendar
Strong contract negotiation skills and working knowledge of event-related legal language and risk management
Proficiency in event management platforms (e.g., Cvent, Certain, Swoogo) and Microsoft Office Suite
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to work effectively with C-suite leadership, Board members, and external stakeholders
Strong financial acumen with demonstrated budget management experience
Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required (estimated 25–35%)
High degree of professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail
Comfortable escalating challenges to manager.
Strong presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Association Executive (CAE), or other relevant professional designation strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Overseeing the strategic planning, execution, and management of a high-volume and diverse portfolio of events
Overseeing the full lifecycle planning of assigned programs
Leading a team of six event professionals
Managing vendor and venue contract negotiations
Providing expertise in both domestic and international event planning
Integrating professional partners from across CEE and the enterprise such as programming, multimedia, marketing, etc.
Serving as an individual contributor and a manager of a team of event planners
Serving as a role model for cross OU collaboration and nimble inclusion of existing and emerging services and expertise from across the team
Serving as the primary event lead for the Meeting Series, held three times annually, overseeing all phases from inception through post-event evaluation
Managing site selection, logistics, staffing, budgeting, and vendor coordination for all Board meetings
Partnering with senior leadership to ensure seamless execution aligned with governance protocols
Leading the strategic planning and placement of future Board meetings, including multi-year site selection and program development
Preparing and delivering holistic presentations to various audiences
Managing a high volume of governance meetings, including committee, council, and advisory group convenings across domestic and international locations
Developing and maintaining master event calendars and planning timelines for all governance-related meetings
Ensuring consistent standards for meeting logistics, materials, technology, and hospitality across all governance events
Leading planning and execution of Town Hall and All-Hands meetings, ensuring effective production, A/V coordination, and logistics for both in-person and hybrid formats
Overseeing holiday and cultural celebration events that reflect the association's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
Supporting planning of internal HR events, including onboarding programs, staff appreciation events, and department-wide functions
Setting the tone and direction for integrated services being delivered across CEE and IEEE
Ensuring that CEE peers from Audience Development, Exhibits, Multimedia, Programming, etc. are fully integrated into event projects under management
Embracing and implementing standards set by other partner groups such as BMC, IT, etc.
Directly managing a team of six event planners and coordinators, providing day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and professional development
Contributing to the hiring, onboarding, and training of event staff; establish performance standards and conduct regular evaluations
Fostering a collaborative, high-performance CEE team culture with a focus on accountability and continuous improvement
Escalating to management any challenges in implementing standards
Developing, managing, and reconciling event budgets across the full portfolio; provide accurate forecasting and variance reporting to senior leadership in partnership with analyst or colleagues
Identifying cost-saving opportunities without compromising event quality or attendee experience
Overseeing registration and financial reconciliation processes in partnership with Finance
Negotiating with a variety of vendors within a framework that includes peers with subject matter expertise
Following departmental processes with regards to these processes as they evolve
Reviewing and executing contracts in accordance with company and departmental policies; ensure inclusion of risk mitigation and attrition clauses, in line with our legal and expense authorization policies
Maintaining and cultivating strong vendor and venue relationships to maximize value and service quality
Conducting site searches and inspections for assigned major events, evaluating venues based on capacity, accessibility, cost, and alignment with event objectives, strategic funding opportunities and regional objectives
Managing RFP processes, hotel room block negotiations, and housing bureau relationships in partnership with colleagues with SME
Ensuring compliance with ADA requirements, international travel considerations, and duty-of-care obligations