Manager of Field Operations - Trade Shows

Derse•Milwaukee, WI

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Derse is a complete face-to-face marketing agency and exhibit builder. We bring a smarter approach to building client sales while managing their trade show, marketing environments and event programs. Our teams are made up of smart and forward-thinking people who bring experiential marketing solutions to life! The Manager of Field Operations is a corporate based role that provides oversight of all field operations, ensuring the successful execution of on-site installations and supervision. In this role, you'll manage the Derse team of Traveling Supervisors, oversee large and complex trade show and experiential marketing projects, as well as direct Support Desk operations at shows with a significant Derse presence. This position is crucial to long term success both for Derse and our clients.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Construction Management, or similar required
8+ years of relevant trade show operations experience required, combination education and experience may be considered
Financial acumen and strong presentation of financial reporting experience.
Proficiency in MS Suite including; Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and related.
ERP and Project Management software knowledge preferred.
Ability to travel and support business climate. Travel is considered extensive and may be for extended periods of time.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage the master schedule for all Traveling Supervisors, ensuring coverage on key clients / installations
Maximize Traveling Supervisor utilization and charge-out while ensuring high-quality supervision for complex projects
Train, mentor, and develop Traveling Supervisors, including the creation and ongoing refinement of SOPs to define expectations
Partner with divisional leaders to identify future Traveling Supervisors, in tandem with minimizing unnecessary account team travel
Select and oversee shows requiring Support Desk coverage, taking ownership of large-show support
Assess current and future show support needs to determine where Support Desk services are required
Communicate the approved show support list to Divisions and Estimators to ensure all costs are properly captured
Review estimates for completeness, labor hours, materials, and other factors prior to client submission for large and complex projects
Ensure permits, engineering approvals, stamps, and site-specific requirements are included in estimates for special installs and structures
Review large-show projects requiring Support Desk support, ensuring accuracy and completeness
Act as primary field contact for key I&D partner companies, providing clear feedback based on on-site performance
Collaborate with Divisional and Corporate leadership to standardize and improve show execution, identify trends, and address challenges
Work with leadership across Divisions to identify breakdowns in systems, reviews, checklists, and implement corrective action
Perform value engineering during the estimating and design process to ensure budgets and margin expectations are met on large projects
Review show service budgetary guidelines to confirm all required materials, labor, and trade services are accurately accounted for
Promote and reinforce a “show floor back to shop” mindset across divisions to drive continuous improvement