Director, Senior Event Planner

Morgan Stanley•New York, NY

About The Position

The Senior Event Planner is part of Morgan Stanley’s Firmwide Marketing Event Planning team, which delivers conferences and events that reflect the global firmwide brand and deepen client and employee engagement. The role primarily supports strategic events across Integrated Firm Marketing and serves as a trusted advisor and event liaison to assigned Business Units (BUs). It combines strategic planning, relationship management, and execution across a diverse portfolio of primarily in-person events and select hybrid events. The Senior Event Planner is accountable for the end-to-end strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of multiple complex events at once. The position partners with BU leadership, marketing stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to develop experience-led programming, strengthen the firm’s brand through storytelling and design, integrate event strategies across BUs, and use data and post-event analysis to improve engagement and return on investment. The role also involves regular travel, approximately 30% annually, for site inspections and on-site event leadership.

Requirements

At least 7 years of progressive conference and event planning experience.
Demonstrated success in the financial services sector.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Deep expertise with Cvent and event technology platforms.
Strategic thinking and ability to connect events with broader marketing and business objectives.
Strong relationship-building skills and confidence influencing senior stakeholders.
Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.
Leadership, negotiation, and decision-making capabilities.
Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
Customer-focused, approachable, and service-oriented approach.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Flexibility and willingness to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, and travel as needed.
Proficiency in MS Office.

Nice To Haves

Experience with employee incentive and recognition programs.

Responsibilities

Lead planning and delivery of client-facing and employee recognition events aligned with BU and firmwide marketing strategies.
Manage the full event lifecycle, including venue sourcing and contracting, budgeting, site selection, registration, collateral, transportation, accommodations, communications, programming, decor, entertainment, gifting, catering, audiovisual production, speaker management, and post-event reconciliation.
Translate marketing and business objectives into event concepts, formats, and attendee experiences.
Serve as event planning partner and relationship manager for assigned BUs, developing long-term relationships with senior stakeholders.
Advise BUs on event strategy, audience targeting, format, timing, and integration with broader marketing initiatives.
Identify opportunities to streamline, scale, or integrate events across BUs while preserving appropriate customization.
Maintain clear communication, set expectations, and resolve issues proactively throughout event planning.
Source, negotiate, and manage vendor contracts, including venues, venue-finding agents, transportation providers, speakers, entertainment, destination management companies, and production partners.
Ensure vendor selection meets brand standards, budget parameters, and risk and compliance requirements.
Develop and manage event budgets and oversee billing, accruals, reconciliation, and final financial reporting.
Analyze post-event costs and provide recommendations for future planning and budget optimization.
Develop invitation and registration strategies with event hosts and BUs, including invitee lists, registration content, and attendance tracking.
Direct event technology, including Cvent products, registration, mobile apps, on-site badge and agenda printing, reporting portals, surveys, and Passkey.
Provide stakeholders with reporting and insights before, during, and after events.
Partner with Creative Services on a consistent visual identity for event collateral and on-site branding.
Oversee program production, including staging, audiovisual, and webcasts, ensuring content quality and brand alignment.
Travel for site inspections and provide on-site event leadership and coordination of on-site teams.
Lead post-event wrap-ups, including attendance reporting, budget reconciliation, survey analysis, stakeholder debriefs, and recommendations.
Capture insights and best practices to improve the event portfolio in support of firm goals.
Support and mentor team members on program logistics and best practices.
Stay current on venue trends, destinations, speakers, and experience innovations.
Ensure events comply with firmwide compliance, risk, and brand guidelines.