Corporate Events Experience Program Manager - Hybrid to Kerrville, TX

Job Summary

This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing corporate events, large-scale conferences, Associate tours, and company merchandise programs across Corporate, Retail, and Manufacturing. Partners with Associates, vendors, community organizations, and various stakeholders to deliver well-organized, engaging, and personalized experiences that support and align with James Avery Craftsman's business objectives and culture. Oversees event and program management, including logistics, budgeting, vendor coordination and cross-functional execution, ensuring successful delivery of events, tours, and merchandise initiatives while maintaining a high level of quality and participant satisfaction.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Strategizes, plans and executes corporate events, meetings, conferences, Associate events, Board meetings, service award dinners, and related functions successfully and within budget.
• Manages events and projects from concept through completion, including creative ideation, stakeholder coordination, logistics, attendee experience, security, catering, décor, engagement activities, and post-event follow up.
• Ensures events are curated to create a personalized experience with thoughtful content and engaging experiences. Coordinates with a cross-functional team to support and achieve James Avery Craftsman's (JAC) objectives with each event, tour and program delivered.
• Plans, promotes, and executes tours, festivities, events, and related diverse activities while fostering positive relationships with Associates, various stakeholders, merchants, businesses and community partners.
• Manages all event operations and logistics including, but not limited to space planning, attendee journey, security, catering & decor, activities & engagement, and other related event needs. Sources and works with event planners as needed.
• Negotiates vendor agreements and contracts in partnership with Legal and Risk Management; sources and manages event planners and vendors as needed.
• Forecasts, develops and manages event budgets, reporting, metrics, and year-over-year (YOY) planning to measure success and support future strategy.
• Collaborates with stakeholders and Creative Services to develop company merchandise for Associates, including pricing, order quantities, and program execution.
• Leads projects and events of varying scale, providing clear direction to Associates, volunteers, and cross-functional partners.
• Plans and manages Associate tours of manufacturing and corporate facilities as requested.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations or related field; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• 5 years of experience in event planning or similar work, including demonstrated experience planning and executing conferences.
• Financial and budgeting knowledge with substantial negotiation and contracting experience.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills with Leadership, Associates and various stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead and efficiently delegate assignments, projects and tasks.
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends dependent upon events and business needs.
• Ability to travel to various work and event locations as business need requires.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership or supervisory experience.
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), Certified Meeting Manager (CMM), Certified Special Events Professional (SCEP), Digital Event Strategist (DES) or similar certification.
• Proficiency in event management software.
• Event management experience in a manufacturing and/or retail environment.