What does a senior event manager do?

A senior event manager is responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of events from conception to completion. They manage event teams and budgets, find venues, negotiate contracts, plan logistics, market events, and ensure events run smoothly. Senior event managers work across various industries on events like conferences, festivals, weddings, parties, fundraisers, and more. They require excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills.

What are the main duties of a senior event manager?

The main duties of a senior event manager include:

• Overseeing and providing strategic direction for event planning teams
• Creating event plans, budgets, and timelines
• Researching and selecting event venues and vendors
• Negotiating and securing vendor contracts
• Coordinating event logistics like catering, A/V, transportation, accommodations, etc.
• Obtaining permits, licenses, and insurance as needed
• Creating and executing event marketing plans
• Managing event registration, attendee communications, and RSVPs
• Sourcing, ordering, and arranging event materials, signage, decor, etc.
• Overseeing event staff like ushers, speakers, vendors, volunteers, etc.
• Supervising event setup and teardown
• Handling onsite management during events
• Troubleshooting any issues that arise before or during events
• Managing post-event tasks like surveys, payments, reviews, etc.
• Analyzing event ROI, metrics, feedback to improve future events

What skills does a senior event manager need?

To be a successful senior event manager requires:

• Project management skills – able to juggle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, stick to budgets
• Leadership and team management skills – motivate and direct event teams
• Organizational skills – coordinate many moving parts and vendors seamlessly
• Interpersonal skills – build relationships with clients and vendors
• Problem-solving skills – quickly adapt to changes or issues
• Creativity – develop event themes, designs, activities, and programs
• Financial/numeracy skills – create budgets, manage spending, analyze ROI
• Communication skills – liaise between stakeholders clearly
• Attention to detail – review all event elements thoroughly
• Multitasking abilities – juggle multiple events and tasks simultaneously

What is the typical senior event manager salary?

According to Payscale, the average salary for a senior event manager in the United States is $64,656 per year. Salaries typically range between $48,000 to $86,000 annually. Factors like location, industry, experience level, and company size can influence senior event manager pay. Some typical senior event manager salaries by industry include:

What is the job outlook for senior event managers?

The job outlook for senior event managers is strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for meeting, convention, and event planners is projected to grow 7% from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will be driven by:

• Increasing business travel, conferences, and conventions as the economy expands
• More hybrid in-person/virtual events requiring creative management
• Companies using more events for launches, fundraising, PR, etc.
• Increase in weddings, parties, reunions, and social events

Experienced senior event managers with strong IT, marketing, and budget management skills should have the best job prospects. Candidates with industry certifications like CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) may also have an advantage.

How can you advance as a senior event manager?

Some potential advancement opportunities for senior event managers include:

• Event director – Oversee all events for an organization vs. individual events
• Account director – Manage events/teams for a portfolio of clients
• Event management firm owner – Start your own event planning company
• C-level executive – Move into a Chief Event Officer or Chief Experience Officer role
• Professor – Teach event management courses
• Consultant – Provide event expertise on a contract basis

Expanding your skills in areas like data analytics, digital events, and experiential marketing can help open up new career possibilities. Getting an MBA in event management or a related field can also advance your career.

What is the career path to become a senior event manager?

A common career path to becoming a senior event manager is:

1. Get a bachelor’s degree – Most employers prefer degrees in hospitality, communications, public relations, marketing, or business. Event management degrees are ideal.
2. Take on event coordinator/planner roles – Gain 2-5 years of hands-on experience assisting with events.
3. Advance to a junior event manager – Begin taking lead on small to mid-size events with oversight.
4. Become an event manager – Coordinate large-scale events independently from concept to completion.
5. Get promoted to senior event manager – Oversee teams, budgets, and strategy for the largest events.

Gaining CMP or other event certifications, working for multiple employers, and showing leadership initiative can help you advance faster.

What is it like working as a senior event manager?

Here are some insights into working as a senior event manager:

• Fast-paced, high-energy environment
• Very hands-on role, on your feet most of the day during events
• Calendar fills up quickly – juggling multiple events simultaneously
• Work weekends and long hours, especially leading up to big events
• High stress when dealing with last-minute emergencies and changes
• Very rewarding seeing vision come to life at successful events
• Lots of face time and relationship building with clients
• Get to lead and mentor junior staff
• Significant travel to conventions, conferences, client meetings, etc.
• Office work planning events and post-event tasks too
• Must be extremely organized and attentive to all details

Conclusion

Being a senior event manager allows you to spearhead large-scale, complex events from initial planning to flawless execution. It’s a fast-paced, demanding role for organized leaders with project management skills who thrive under pressure. Successful senior event managers get to regularly see their creative visions come to life while building relationships with clients and event teams. With strong growth predicted for the meeting and event planning industry, it can be a rewarding long-term career.