Senior Program Manager, Awards & Executive Engagement

Crain Communications•Detroit, MI

2d•$90,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Automotive News is seeking a highly organized, hands-on program leader to own the strategy, growth and execution of its global awards programs and private executive gatherings. This individual will manage programs from initial planning through delivery and reporting, working closely with editorial, sales, marketing, events, research and senior leadership to grow their impact, participation and revenue. This is a senior-level individual-contributor role that combines strategic thinking with detailed execution. The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable recommending how a program should evolve and personally managing the platforms, communications, judging logistics, fulfillment and RSVP workflows required to deliver it. These are not side programs: the person in this role will build community and engagement infrastructure that Automotive News is investing in as core to its future. Direct awards experience is welcome but not essential; relevant backgrounds may include program or project management, professional recognition, association programming, events or executive engagement.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in program management, awards or recognition programs, association programming, high-end events or executive engagement — with a track record of owning complex, deadline-driven programs end to end.
Exceptional organization and project management skills — you can run multiple overlapping program timelines, workflows and vendors without letting details slip.
Executive presence and polish — comfortable corresponding with C-level executives, sponsors and judges, and representing Automotive News in high-touch settings.
Experience administering program platforms — awards or submission systems, judging tools, RSVP or event platforms, CRM — and managing structured participant data with accuracy and discretion.
Commercial instincts — experience supporting sponsorship fulfillment, revenue tracking, renewals or business development.
Demonstrated comfort using AI tools (large language models, workflow automation or similar) to reduce manual work and improve program quality and consistency.
Strong writing and communication skills, from executive-level invitations to sponsor-facing reports.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience running awards or recognition programs, including judging operations.
Experience with invitation-only executive events, councils or membership communities.
Experience working with CRM and audience data or marketing automation to build and maintain targeted contact lists.
Familiarity with media or publishing environments, or with the automotive industry.

Responsibilities

Own the performance, growth and ongoing evolution of Automotive News’ global awards programs in partnership with senior leadership.
Develop annual program roadmaps encompassing schedules, growth priorities, revenue opportunities and cross-functional requirements, while maintaining consistent standards across programs and markets.
Analyze program performance, industry trends and competitive offerings to recommend improvements, new categories, market extensions and potential new programs.
Lead the complete lifecycle of each awards program, from planning and launch through entries, judging, recognition, event execution and post-program reporting.
Develop and manage detailed timelines and workflows, serving as the central point of coordination across editorial, sales, marketing, events, research and other participating teams.
Directly administer the award entry and judging platform, including program setup, categories, deadlines, content, user access and data.
Manage entries, participant questions, program correspondence and historical records, ensuring information remains complete and accurate throughout each program.
Develop and safeguard credible, editorially independent judging processes in partnership with editorial — the integrity of our judging is what makes Automotive News recognition worth winning — including recruiting judges and coordinating assignments, materials, meetings, deliberations, communications, follow-up and travel.
Maintain accurate, consistently structured award entry and participant data using definitions agreed with the research and data team, supporting approved research and benchmarking uses while respecting confidentiality and data-use restrictions.
Manage program vendors, invoices and expenses; identify execution risks, resolve day-to-day issues and escalate larger strategic or resource decisions when necessary.
Partner with sales and marketing to develop strategies that increase award entries, sponsorship revenue and overall industry participation.
Translate awards programs into clear commercial and promotional opportunities, providing the materials, insights and timelines needed to bring each program to market while monitoring entry pipelines, participation and revenue performance.
Serve as a primary day-to-day contact for award sponsors, ensuring that commitments are documented and fulfilled while supporting strong renewal opportunities.
Manage the entrant, finalist and winner experience, including communications, information collection, notifications, trophies, certificates, LinkedIn badges, licensing materials and fulfillment.
Partner with the events team to integrate awards into Automotive News events, coordinating winner participation, scripts, presentation materials, award assets, sponsor deliverables and onsite execution.
Partner with marketing and research to identify relevant opportunities for award participants, judges and event guests to engage with other Automotive News programs, and coordinate appropriate follow-up consistent with communication preferences and confidentiality requirements.
Own the program-management process for private sponsored dinners and other invitation-only executive gatherings, from initial planning through execution and follow-up.
Develop and proactively maintain targeted lists of industry leaders, customers, prospects and other priority guests in partnership with sales, editorial and leadership.
Directly manage high-touch invitation and RSVP workflows, including personalized outreach, response tracking, follow-up, guest information and last-minute changes.
Lead day-to-day sponsor relationships and partner with the events team on planning, guest experience, logistics, sponsorship fulfillment and onsite delivery, ensuring the event supports both Automotive News’ and the sponsor’s objectives.
Support the development of new executive engagement formats — councils, roundtables and peer forums — as Automotive News expands its convening role in the industry.
Track participation, revenue, audience composition, sponsor fulfillment and the growth of qualified executive relationships — including repeat participation across programs — and produce internal and sponsor-facing reports and post-program reviews that inform future improvements.
Build repeatable templates, checklists and workflows, and implement practical uses of AI and automation to reduce manual work, improve consistency and support program growth.