Manager of Events and Experiences
Corporate Headquarters /
Operations /
Full-time
/ On-site
The Manager of Events & Experiences is responsible for the creation, planning and flawless execution of special events and guest enhancing experiences and brand collaborations, across the Caruso portfolio. This includes but is not limited to event ideation, planning and execution, budget development, client service, day-to-day account management, coordination of event logistics, support in revenue generation through strategic brand alliances, partnerships and sponsorships, and recap and KPI reporting to internal and external stakeholders. The department operates as an in-house events agency, servicing all departments and properties across the Caruso portfolio.
Essential functions and responsibilities:
- Contributes to the development, management and execution of Caruso Signature Events programming, designed to increase foot traffic, drive the “right” guest to the property with frequency, capturing new market share and ultimately driving sales to our tenants, across the Caruso portfolio.
- Contribute to the development, creation and execution of new unique property events and experiences in collaboration and in support of property management and marketing initiatives, including annual and seasonal programming across the portfolio.
- Manages the execution of both large and small SAE consumer branded programs and initiatives (entertainment studios, consumer product goods, technology/lifestyle brands, fashion, auto, finance, beauty, etc.) that extend to one or multiple properties.
- Successfully and professionally manages retailer and client relationships through account/event management to build ongoing/repeat business.
- Interacts effectively with all levels of executives and team members, fostering cross-functional department communication in order to develop new and innovative programs.
- Builds and maintains excellent, cooperative relationships both internally and externally with retailers, clients, staff and vendors.
- Manage all event elements, including client communications, vendor relations, site walks, inventory trafficking, and overseeing load-ins and load-outs, as necessary.
- Manage the timely completion of event plans, communicating to all relevant and pertinent stakeholders. To include pre-event meetings with critical staff.
- Manage Events Calendar to include Caruso Signature, Marketing, PR, and Sponsorship events and experiences across the portfolio.
- Manage and facilitate event debriefings and recaps for all major client/internal events and experiences.
- Manage and oversee critical department administrative functions including but not limited to: the timely
- processing of invoices and contract billings, tracking departmental expenses and accounts receivable (i.e.
- outstanding client payments), etc.
- In partnership with Marketing, support tenant driven events as needed, including new tenant grand openings
- across all Caruso properties.
Event Strategy/Planning/Operations:
- Work with closely with SAE, Marketing & Property teams to plan and execute programming for across all properties. Handle transition to client management of project while internally updating/communicating with team members and account leads.
- Create and implement strategic event programming, supporting overall property campaigns that drive target audience to Caruso properties and increase traffic, drive sales and meet KPIs
- Set event goals and measure effectiveness; track back to KPIs for ROI.
- Responsible for creating individual comprehensive event recaps/presentations incorporating event performance and post-event ROI tracking to be shared with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Manage and coordinate creative requests with in-house designers as needed.
- Create event budgets based on scope of project, effectively control expenses throughout planning and execution to ensure costs remain under budget.
- Ownership of projects and activities and have full understanding of property rules and regulations
- Liaison with property operations, PR, social, digital, creative, concierge, engineering, IT, security, housekeeping, property marketing, partnerships, leasing, development, loyalty as needed for each project.
Qualifications Required
- College degree and 5+ years of experience in experiential marketing and special events with an experiential marketing agency or special events firm.
- Experience in event production and logistics.
- Knowledge of digital, PR, influencer and social media marketing.
- Awareness of marketing trends.
- Professional client relations skills.
- Highly creative – able to develop on-target ideas to connect brands to consumers with great experiences that are on brand strategy.
- Ability to link great creativity to strategy, demographic needs, research, creative brief directives.
- Ability to develop beautiful proposals, complete with our reach capabilities, value propositions, ideas right for the client and its brand essence and strategy, overview of target demographic, budget, timeline, metrics.
- Strong mentoring skills to grow a highly productive close-knit team.
- Ability to multi-task and maintain good temperament during high pressure, fast paced situations.
- Ability to build strong relationships with tenants, clients, vendors.
- Solid project and time management skills – can execute multiple ideas and events effectively and on time (from idea to finished project) simultaneously with adherence to deadlines.
- Self-starter – knows what needs to be done, and how to get it done. Works well independently and as part of a team.
- Works well under pressure, meeting multiple and sometimes competing deadlines in a professional, calm manner.
- Strong presentation skills to internal and external teams.
- Excellent execution skills and attention to flawless detail.
- Team player – collaborative, not ego driven, willingness to do "whatever it takes" to achieve success with the rest of the team.
- Great communicator – in a matrix organization, has the ability to keep different internal teammates and internal and external “clients” up to date on project status and seek help from colleagues who do not directly report to you to help fulfil the execution of an idea.
- Professional, polished and courteous with dynamic personality.
- Well resourced – knows people on the outside to call to get things done if competency or bandwidth does not exist in-house (as approved by department head).
- Strong budgeting and project management skills – set and meet event budgets.
- Adept at switching projects and focus with ease, with ability to easily multi-task across various projects with competing deadlines.
Physical Demands:
- Able to stand for 8-12 hours and during event/promotion
- Must be mobile to move around the entire property and travel to other Caruso properties
- Required to sit, stoop, carry boxes/supplies, kneel or crouch, climb ladders, and use handle-to-handle, grasp, feel or reach
- Able to work holidays, evenings or weekends as needed
Equipment and Software Skills Needed:
- Proficiency in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat and file sharing software
- CRM/SalesForce a plus
- Photoshop, CAD a plus
$70,000 - $80,000 a year
Position Salary Range: $70,000-$80,000 + bonus eligible. The salary range is the one that Caruso reasonably expects to pay for this position. The salary range does not guarantee, obligate, nor set expectations of an applicant’s wage in the event of hire. The posted range is only one component of Caruso’s total compensation and benefits package.
Caruso is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. The Company is committed to compliance with all applicable laws providing equal employment opportunities and will consider religious and medical accommodations.
