Senior Associate, Speaker Relations
About The Position
The Milken Institute is seeking an experienced and proactive professional to support the planning and production of its annual calendar of global events within the Speaker Relations arm of the Events Department. This individual will interact closely with the Institute’s programming, event technology teams, and internal stakeholders while serving as a liaison with speakers, partners, and VIP guests. The role emphasizes creating an exceptional and seamless speaker experience before, during, and after events, strengthening relationships, and ensuring ongoing engagement with the Milken Institute. The Senior Associate will report to the Associate Director, Event Production and Speaker Relations. This full-time position provides opportunities for professional growth within a dynamic organization.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- A minimum of 3 relevant experience in events, development or client relations, with a proven track record of working with high-profile individuals.
- Exceptional organizational skills and an acute attention to detail, with an understanding of logistics and process optimization.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including experience engaging confidently and positively with senior-level decision-makers and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while maintaining high productivity and meeting deadlines.
- A creative, solution-oriented mindset with the ability to problem-solve and think critically under pressure.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), with familiarity in tools such as Salesforce, Cvent, and project management software considered a strong asset.
- A team-oriented individual who takes initiative, seeks out challenges, and supports team goals collaboratively.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary point of contact for speakers, providing high-touch support and maintaining clear and professional communication throughout the engagement process.
- Maintain the speaker registration process, including back-end workflows and data integrity.
- Collaborate across departments to ensure alignment of speaker logistics, programming objectives, and event operations.
- Manage speaker-related timelines, deliverables, and on-site support to ensure a seamless experience.
- Work with event production partners in the development of event run of shows and on-site management of the speaker ready room and public facing programming rooms.
- Further develop the on site speaker experience, VIP speaker touch points, and speaker networking and interactive opportunities.
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with C-suite executives, thought leaders, and influencers, ensuring their needs and expectations are met with discretion and professionalism.
- Utilize tools such as Salesforce, Cvent, and other project management platforms to track and manage speaker-related data and deliverables.
- Support the continuous improvement of Speaker Relations processes, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, creativity, and branding.
- Duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Plan - 403b (5% match)
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Paid Time Off (Personal, Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Family Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
- Fertility Support
- Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account (FSAs)
- Pet Insurance Discount
- Training & Development: LinkedIn Learning – over 15,000 self-guided classes offered
- Annual Mentor Program
- Wellness Resources: Employee Assistance Program
- CALM app membership
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
