Event Planner

Husch Blackwell•Kansas City, MO

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

Husch Blackwell LLP is a full-service litigation and business law firm with multiple locations across the United States, serving clients with domestic and international operations. At Husch Blackwell we believe that diverse, equitable and inclusive teams lead to better outcomes. Husch Blackwell is committed to retaining, recruiting, developing, and promoting talented lawyers and business professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We foster an engaged, diverse, and inclusive team culture of accountability and purpose that makes our Firm and our communities better. Our firm is committed to attracting and retaining professionals who value each other and the service we provide by embracing Teamwork, Collaboration, Client Service, and Innovation. If you are a motivated professional looking for a long-term fit where you can grow in a role, and will be valued and empowered, then we invite you to apply to our Event Planner position. This position will work in a hybrid capacity, 2-3 days per week, in our Kansas City, MO or Austin, TX office. The Event Planner is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing a wide range of firm and client events, including client meetings, seminars, social events, virtual and hybrid programs. The Event Planner has a strong background in event management, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across various departments and with external vendors. Essential job functions include: Strategic Planning: Lead initial planning and strategy sessions with stakeholders, making sure the event aligns with firm and industry unit business goals. Utilize best practices, benchmarking data, and creative thinking to recommend innovative ideas for client engagement. Meeting Management: Organize and manage all facets of firm and client meetings and events including seminars, webinars, social events, receptions, dinners, hybrid events and virtual events. Vendor Research and Management: Conduct market, vendor, and venue research and propose recommendations, negotiate, and manage relationships with vendors and suppliers. Reconcile invoices, ensure bills are accurate and paid in a timely manner. Promotion and Communication Plans: Develop and execute promotion and communication plans in collaboration with stakeholders and marketing/communication team to drive event registration, attendance and engagement. CRM System: Utilize CRM systems to manage event-related data, invitation lists, RSVP lists and attendee lists and ROI data. Event Logistics: Oversee and execute the event checklist, provide on-site support including managing registration, troubleshooting program challenges, and manage changes. Event Technology Management: Oversee the production aspects of events, ensuring all technical and logistical elements are in place. Implement and manage event technology solutions to enhance attendee experience, including webinar software, apps, polling, live Q&A, QR codes, and other as applicable. Budget Management: Manage event budgets, vendor research to help develop budgets, report on event expenses to stakeholder and ensuring financial efficiency and accountability. Event Materials: Plan, collaborate on and manage all event materials, including invitations, agenda, name tags, signage, and others as needed. Collaboration: Work professionally and collaboratively with internal teams, clients, and stakeholders to ensure event success. Provide Superior Service: Provide all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm’s attorneys, professional staff, clients and attendees. Post-Event Analysis: Prepare thorough post-event evaluations to measure success and identify areas for improvement. Other projects and duties as assigned.

Requirements

Associate's degree in related field; Bachelor's degree with major coursework in event management, hospitality, marketing, communications or related discipline preferred, or combination of education and commensurate work experience required.
3-5 years of experience in event planning or a related field required, experience in a professional services firm preferred.
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple events in conjunction with day-to-day deliverables.
Excellent organizational, project management and communication skills.
Ability to work early mornings, evenings, travel to events as needed, and occasional weekends, required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.
Experience with vendor sourcing and contract review required.
Experience with webinar platforms required.
Exceptional problem-solving abilities and a customer-focused mindset.
Ability to produce acceptable amount of work efficiently and accurately, quickly adapting to change in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in CRM systems and event technology platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead initial planning and strategy sessions with stakeholders, making sure the event aligns with firm and industry unit business goals. Utilize best practices, benchmarking data, and creative thinking to recommend innovative ideas for client engagement.
Organize and manage all facets of firm and client meetings and events including seminars, webinars, social events, receptions, dinners, hybrid events and virtual events.
Conduct market, vendor, and venue research and propose recommendations, negotiate, and manage relationships with vendors and suppliers. Reconcile invoices, ensure bills are accurate and paid in a timely manner.
Develop and execute promotion and communication plans in collaboration with stakeholders and marketing/communication team to drive event registration, attendance and engagement.
Utilize CRM systems to manage event-related data, invitation lists, RSVP lists and attendee lists and ROI data.
Oversee and execute the event checklist, provide on-site support including managing registration, troubleshooting program challenges, and manage changes.
Oversee the production aspects of events, ensuring all technical and logistical elements are in place. Implement and manage event technology solutions to enhance attendee experience, including webinar software, apps, polling, live Q&A, QR codes, and other as applicable.
Manage event budgets, vendor research to help develop budgets, report on event expenses to stakeholder and ensuring financial efficiency and accountability.
Plan, collaborate on and manage all event materials, including invitations, agenda, name tags, signage, and others as needed.
Work professionally and collaboratively with internal teams, clients, and stakeholders to ensure event success.
Provide all responsibilities with a commitment to providing superior service to the firm’s attorneys, professional staff, clients and attendees.
Prepare thorough post-event evaluations to measure success and identify areas for improvement.
Other projects and duties as assigned.