• Columbia, SC
  • $80,000 Per Year
  • Instant Apply
15 days ago

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The SCMC Director of Events leads the strategic planning and execution of all major events for South Carolina Manufacturers & Commerce, overseeing a comprehensive events portfolio that drives member engagement, industry advancement, and organizational growth.


Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

  • In consultation with President & CEO, VP of Member Relations, Strategy, and Programming, and other senior staff, develop and implement a comprehensive annual events strategy aligned with organizational goals and member needs
  • Lead strategic planning sessions for major conferences, trade shows, networking events, and educational seminars
  • Conduct market research and industry analysis to identify emerging trends and opportunities

 

Financial Management & Business Development

  • Track annual events budget exceeding $1.5M, ensuring profitability and ROI targets
  • Lead sponsorship strategy and cultivate relationships with major corporate partners
  • Solicit and secure event sponsors
  • In coordination with VP of Member Relations, Strategy, and Programming, determine pricing strategies for registration, exhibitor fees, and premium experiences
  • Continuously analyze event financial performance and provide regular detailed reporting

 

Vendor & Venue Management

  • Source, evaluate, and manage relationships with venues, caterers, AV providers, and other vendors
  • Negotiate contracts for services and manage vendor performance
  • Conduct site inspections and coordinate setup/breakdown activities
  • Oversee vendor coordination during events and manage on-site troubleshooting
  • Maintain comprehensive vendor database and performance records

 

Stakeholder Relations, Partnership Development & Marketing

  • Serve as primary liaison with key sponsors and VIP attendees
  • Lead crisis management and high-level problem resolution during events
  • Serve as primary driver of agenda development, managing and overseeing SCMC working groups charged with recommending content
  • Source guest speakers, coordinate agenda topics, and manage holistic agenda development
  • Collaborate with marketing team on event promotion strategies and materials

 

Other Duties as Required

 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Marketing, Business Administration, or related field
  • 8+ years of progressive experience in large-scale event management, with 3+ years in leadership roles
  • Proven track record managing events with budgets exceeding $400K and attendance over 450
  • Strong business acumen with experience in P&L management and ROI analysis
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and presentation skills
  • Experience with association management and trade organization dynamics preferred
  • CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) or similar industry certification preferred
  • Proficiency with event management software (Cvent, Eventbrite, etc.) and CRM systems
  • Strong project management skills with ability to handle multiple concurrent events
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Detail-oriented with strong organizational and time management abilities
  • Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends during events
  • In office presence during scheduled hours, and work collaboratively in face-to-face interactions with others (other staff, members, directors, vendors and the public)
  • Prompt, Regular, predictable, and full attendance
  • Ability to handle productivity requirements of job (fast paced, stressful, and full attention when exigent issues arise)
  • Ability to work under strict deadlines and high levels of stress
  • Ability to work effectively, efficiently and with a high degree of accuracy, despite stress, interruptions or other office distractions. 
  • Ability to set goals, meet deadlines, and work independently without excessive supervision or instruction
  • Ability to concentrate in a normal office environment and follow through on a task to completion
  • Ability to think quickly but calmly and communicate effectively during events as issues arise
  • Ability to align multiple points of view, think critically about the consequences of actions and communications, and align all actions with the organization’s mission and the membership’s goals. 
  • Ability to multi-task and/or stop project to focus on other issues and then resume project
  • Ability to work and sustain attention with distractions and/or interruptions
  • Ability to learn new tasks or dynamic factual issues quickly, including the ability to read, comprehend and retain information quickly
  • Ability to utilize time management skills and otherwise organize/prioritize tasks
  • Ability to comprehend and understand both written and oral instructions
  • Ability to remain poised under all circumstances, diffuse conflict with colleagues and/or customers/vendors/members, and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner
  • Ability to work as an integral part of a team

 

Travel

In-state travel. The expectation for the frequency of travel is between 15-20% of the Events Manager’s time.

 

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation

  • Competitive base salary plus performance-based incentives, at the discretion of SCMC President and CEO and Board leadership.

 

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
  • Paid time off and holidays
  • Professional development opportunities and continuing education support

 

Working Conditions

  • Primary office location, with regular travel throughout the state
  • Some evening and weekend work required for industry events and networking functions


Numbers & Facts

LocationColumbia, SC
Salary$80,000 Per Year

Skills

  • Alliance/Partner Managementunmatched
  • Audiovisualunmatched
  • Budget Managementunmatched
  • Business Administrationunmatched
  • Business Developmentunmatched
  • Business Skillsunmatched
  • Business Strategyunmatched
  • Communication Skillsunmatched
  • Conferencesunmatched
  • Contract Negotiationunmatched
  • Crisis Managementunmatched
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systemsunmatched
  • Database Administrationunmatched
  • Detail Orientedunmatched
  • Device Driversunmatched
  • Establish Prioritiesunmatched
  • Event Managementunmatched
  • Event Marketingunmatched
  • Event Strategy Developmentunmatched
  • Financial Analysisunmatched
  • Financial Managementunmatched
  • Follow Throughunmatched
  • Identify Issuesunmatched
  • Industry/Trade Analysisunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Manage Agendaunmatched
  • Market Researchunmatched
  • Marketingunmatched
  • Multitaskingunmatched
  • Networking Eventsunmatched
  • Organizational Skillsunmatched
  • Performance Managementunmatched
  • Presentation/Verbal Skillsunmatched
  • Problem Solving Skillsunmatched
  • Product Pricingunmatched
  • Profit & Lossunmatched
  • Profit & Loss Managementunmatched
  • Project/Program Managementunmatched
  • Relationship Managementunmatched
  • Return on Investment (ROI)unmatched
  • Seminarsunmatched
  • Set Goalsunmatched
  • Strategic Planningunmatched
  • Team Playerunmatched
  • Time Managementunmatched
  • Trade Showsunmatched
  • Trend Analysisunmatched
  • Vendor/Supplier Evaluationunmatched
  • Vendor/Supplier Managementunmatched
  • Writing Skillsunmatched

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