Director, Senior Event Planner
About The Position
The Senior Event Planner is part of Morgan Stanley’s Firmwide Marketing Event Planning team, which delivers conferences and events intended to reflect the global firmwide brand and deepen client and employee engagement. The position primarily supports strategic events across Integrated Firm Marketing and serves as an events liaison and trusted advisor to assigned Business Units (BUs). It combines strategic planning, relationship management, and execution across a portfolio of primarily in-person events, with select hybrid or virtual elements. The role is accountable for the end-to-end strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of multiple complex events at once. The planner translates marketing and business objectives into event concepts and attendee experiences, partners with BU leaders and cross-functional teams, manages vendors and event finances, and oversees Cvent-based registration and event technology. The position also leads on-site delivery, post-event analysis, and recommendations to improve engagement, return on investment, and future event planning.
Requirements
- 7 or more years of progressive experience in conference and event planning.
- Demonstrated success in the financial services sector.
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Deep expertise with Cvent and event technology platforms.
- Strategic thinking and ability to connect events to 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 Microsoft Office.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with employee incentive and recognition programs.
Responsibilities
- Lead the planning and delivery of client-facing and employee recognition events aligned with Business Unit and firmwide marketing strategies.
- Manage the full event lifecycle, including venue sourcing and contracting, budgets, 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 Business Units, building relationships with senior stakeholders.
- Advise Business Units on event strategy, audience targeting, format, timing, and integration with broader marketing initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to streamline, scale, or integrate events across Business Units while preserving appropriate customization.
- Maintain clear communication, set expectations, and proactively resolve planning issues.
- Source, negotiate, and manage contracts with 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 detailed event budgets, billing, accruals, reconciliation, and final financial reporting.
- Conduct post-event cost analysis and provide recommendations for future planning and 2026 budget optimization.
- Develop invitation and registration strategies with event hosts and Business Units, including invitee lists, registration content, and attendance tracking.
- Direct event technology, including Cvent registration, mobile apps, on-site badge and agenda printing, reporting portals, surveys, and Passkey.
- Provide stakeholders with event reporting and insights before, during, and after events.
- Partner with Creative Services to maintain a consistent visual identity across 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, coordinating 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 2026 goals.
- Support and mentor team members on program logistics and best practices.
- Stay current on venue trends, emerging destinations, speakers, and experience innovations.
- Ensure events adhere to firmwide compliance, risk, and brand guidelines.
Benefits
- Comprehensive employee benefits and perks.
- Opportunity to work alongside experienced colleagues in a supportive and empowering environment.
- Opportunity to move within the business.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
