Event Program Manager / Event Project Manager / Event Program Lead (Maternity Leave Contract: 18-24 Months)

EL Productions Ltd. • Mississauga, ON

1d • CA$85,000 - CA$110,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

E.L. Productions Ltd. (ELP) is seeking an experienced Program Manager for an 18-24 month maternity leave contract. ELP, a premier event producer with over 30 years of experience, partners with major Canadian brands to create exceptional virtual and live experiences. The Program Manager will lead complex event programs, ensuring successful delivery by establishing structure, alignment, and leadership. This role involves managing the overall program plan, client relationships, budget, team, and risks, connecting all workstreams to ensure programs are delivered on time, within budget, and to ELP's high standards. Additionally, the Program Manager will provide people leadership to Producers and Coordinators, fostering their growth through clear expectations, coaching, feedback, and development opportunities.

Requirements

• 7+ years of progressive experience in event production, program management, experiential events, client services, or a related environment
• Proven experience leading the delivery of complex client programs or events with accountability for execution outcomes
• Demonstrated experience managing program budgets, financial performance, scope, and reconciliation
• Experience leading cross-functional teams through complex program planning and execution
• Strong experience managing client relationships throughout the program lifecycle
• Demonstrated experience identifying and managing operational, financial, vendor, and program risks
• Experience directly managing and developing team members, including coaching, performance feedback, and development planning
• Experience working within structured delivery processes, operational playbooks, and established standards
• Experience managing vendors, freelancers, and external partners within complex program environments
• Strong program leadership with the ability to connect multiple workstreams, maintain the big picture, and drive complex programs forward
• Exceptional client relationship skills with the confidence to manage expectations, navigate difficult conversations, and build lasting trust
• Strong people leadership and coaching skills with a genuine interest in helping others grow and perform at their best
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to manage budgets, control scope, monitor costs, and protect program profitability
• Exceptional organization and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple programs, timelines, priorities, and stakeholders
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate risk, make timely decisions, and know when to escalate
• Clear and confident communication across clients, team members, leadership, vendors, and partners
• Calm and adaptable under pressure, maintaining perspective and leadership through changing priorities and live program challenges
• Collaborative leadership style that creates accountability while bringing different people and disciplines together around a shared goal
• Process-driven mindset with a commitment to quality, consistency, continuous improvement, and exceptional delivery

Nice To Haves

• Post-secondary education in Event Management, Hospitality, Business, Project Management, or a related discipline is an asset
• Professional certifications in project or program management, such as PMP or equivalent, are an asset
• Bilingual French/English capabilities are an asset

Responsibilities

• Lead complex event programs from planning through execution and close, maintaining accountability for the overall program plan, objectives, timelines, and delivery
• Build trusted client relationships, proactively managing communication, expectations, decisions, feedback, and evolving program needs
• Lead cross-functional program teams, creating clarity across responsibilities, priorities, milestones, dependencies, and next steps
• Maintain visibility across all program workstreams, identifying gaps, risks, competing priorities, and decisions required to keep delivery moving
• Own assigned program budgets, scope, financial performance, and reconciliation while protecting approved budgets and company-defined margin targets
• Identify and manage operational, financial, vendor, contractual, safety, client, and attendee risks throughout the program lifecycle
• Lead program readiness, ensuring teams, vendors, documentation, contingency plans, and program elements are prepared for successful execution
• Provide direct people leadership to Producers and Coordinators, setting clear expectations and providing regular coaching, feedback, and development support
• Support the growth of team members through development plans, skills progression, stretch opportunities, and increasing levels of ownership
• Partner with Experience leadership and resourcing teams to ensure programs are staffed appropriately based on requirements, capacity, capability, and development opportunities
• Reinforce ELP’s processes, playbooks, tools, and delivery standards while identifying opportunities to continuously improve how we work
• Lead post-program reviews and translate client feedback, program learnings, and delivery challenges into stronger future programs

Benefits

• Generative AI is used to help confirm that applicants meet minimum requirements through screening questions; all qualified resumes are reviewed by a Human Resources professional.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed