Marketing - Sr Events Planner

Henderson Companies•Lenexa, KS

13h

About The Position

The Sr Events Planner plans, programs, coordinates, and executes Henderson’s portfolio of client events, thought-leadership summits, industry symposiums, tradeshows, and tactical business-development initiatives. Working collaboratively across marketing and business development, the role ensures events reinforce Henderson’s client-experience promise and strengthen its market reputation. The planner combines detailed logistical execution with strategic event programming, impact measurement, and continuous improvement of event-management standards and processes. Responsibilities span event logistics and budget management; event strategy and conceptualization; content and speaker coordination; cross-sector stakeholder management; travel and guest experience; and post-event analysis. The role owns the event lifecycle from planning through execution and review, coordinates internal and external stakeholders, and reports event outcomes and return on investment. Travel for conferences, events, and tradeshows is required, estimated at 8–12 or more trips per year, including multi-day events. Work after core business hours, including occasional evenings and weekends, may be required for event execution.

Requirements

At least 5 years of professional experience in event planning or event management.
Experience managing budgets and negotiating effectively.
Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder events from concept through post-event analysis.
Ability to develop event programming and coordinate content, speakers, and educational sessions for professional or industry audiences.
Strong project-management skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent events and workstreams.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including confidence interacting with senior leadership, clients, and people at all organizational levels.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, CoPilot, and OneNote.
Proficiency with event-management platforms such as Cvent or Eventbrite, or similar platforms, and event-registration software.
Experience working in a CRM system.
Self-motivation and ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver under strict deadlines.
Collaborative attitude and ability to work as a team player.
Proficiency in the core competencies described in the posting, including communication, integrity, quality orientation, teamwork and inclusion, continuous learning, and functional/technical expertise.
Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.
Ability to travel for conferences, events, and tradeshows, estimated at 8–12 or more times per year, including multi-day events.
Ability to work after core business hours as needed, including occasional evenings and weekends.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds, with or without assistance.
Legally authorized to work in the United States; eligibility verification is required at commencement of employment.

Nice To Haves

Event planning or management experience in a corporate environment or a professional-services industry such as engineering, construction, architecture, or law.
Proficiency managing attendee data, invite lists, and post-event follow-up through a CRM system.

Responsibilities

Coordinate event logistics and manage comprehensive budgets, track spending, and report budget updates to leadership.
Scout and select venues based on event objectives, theme, audience size, and geography.
Establish event standards and operating procedures and train internal staff to execute events.
Oversee on-site services, including catering, signage, entertainment, permits, decor, audiovisual services, and giveaways.
Troubleshoot event issues and negotiate vendor, venue, and service-provider contracts.
Collaborate with marketing, client experience, and business development teams to define event goals, audiences, and desired outcomes.
Create and maintain an annual event plan covering client events, summits, symposiums, open houses, networking engagements, and similar events.
Work with internal stakeholders to develop creative event concepts aligned with go-to-market strategies and promotional campaigns.
Coordinate agendas, panel topics, educational content, and speaker logistics for thought-leadership and symposium events.
Ensure programming is relevant, timely, and supports Henderson’s reputation as a thought leader in its target client sectors.
Coordinate events spanning multiple sectors and align stakeholder interests and promotional-campaign goals.
Own the end-to-end event lifecycle and collaborate with stakeholders to achieve event outcomes.
Facilitate travel arrangements, accommodations, and transportation for key personnel, clients, and other attendees as needed.
Manage invite lists, RSVPs, and attendee communications through CRM and event-management platforms.
Address guest requests and create positive attendee experiences that reflect Henderson’s client-first approach.
Design and distribute post-event attendee surveys with the client experience team.
Prepare post-event reports with attendance data, attendee sentiment, key takeaways, and ROI analysis in collaboration with relevant teams.
Conduct after-action reviews, identify improvements, and apply lessons learned to future events.
Support the client experience team in incorporating event insights into broader client listening and reporting.