Senior Director, Event Operations

Job DetailsPosition Type: Full TimeTitle: Senior Director, Event Operations Classification: Exempt / Full-Time Department: Marketing Salary Range: $160,000.00 – $175,000.00 Reports To: Senior Vice President, Global Markets & Chief Trade and Product Development Officer   About Brand USA Brand USA is the nation's destination marketing organization, dedicated to driving legitimate international inbound travel to strengthen the U.S. economy, boost exports, create quality jobs, and foster community prosperity. By running data-driven campaigns and unifying messaging across industry and government, Brand USA positions the United States as a premier global destination while providing up-to-date visa and entry information. Established by the Travel Promotion Act in 2010, over the past decade, Brand USA, in collaboration with travel industry partners, has been responsible for attracting an additional 8.7 million visitors who spent nearly $29 billion in the United States, generating $63 billion in economic output, and sustaining nearly 37,000 jobs per year. Without any cost to taxpayers, these efforts have generated $8.3 billion in tax receipts and returned $20 to the U.S. economy for every dollar spent. Job Summary As Brand USA's event portfolio continues to grow in scale and complexity, the Event Operations & Strategy department is evolving — and the Senior Director of Event Operations is the cornerstone of that evolution. This role is the organization's primary execution leader and its strategic architect for what Brand USA events become: someone who owns flawless delivery today while actively designing the next generation of experiences for tomorrow. On the operations side, this role owns the physical delivery of key Brand USA events — the contracts, the production, the logistics, and the on-site execution that determines whether an event succeeds or falls short. On the design and innovation side, it serves as the department's forward-thinking voice — evaluating event formats, integrating AI into operational workflows, and bringing concrete ideas to internal stakeholders about how Brand USA's events should evolve. This is a true senior meeting planner role, not a project management position. The right candidate brings deep, hands-on expertise in complex AV and production design, hotel and venue operations, and multi-city international event execution — and pairs that expertise with a genuine instinct for innovation and a fluency with AI tools that makes the whole team faster and smarter. This position is the senior leader of the Event Operations & Strategy department, an internal team of two, complemented by external agency resources, and reports to the SVP of Global Markets. Essential Functions Event Portfolio The Senior Director leads operations across Brand USA's core event programs, including: Travel Week events (U.K. & Europe, India, and South America). Canada Connect — B2B trade and media program (Toronto and Montreal). Sales Missions and Road Shows. Sponsored event executions, including IPW, DI Annual Conference, ESTO, and other industry events. Internal meetings and corporate event support. Event Operations & Logistics Own and drive master event timelines and communication calendars across key Brand USA events — managing multiple workstreams simultaneously with precision and accountability. Lead end-to-end on-site logistics for events of 1,000+ attendees across multiple cities and countries, including load-in/load-out schedules, event-day run-of-show, staffing deployment, and real-time problem resolution. Manage room block pickup, rooming lists, VIP accommodations, and attrition exposure; serve as the primary hotel contact from contract through post-event reconciliation. Oversee all F&B planning, including menu development, dietary accommodations, guarantee management, and on-site service coordination. Manage ground transportation logistics, including airport transfers, shuttle programs, and attendee movement between multi-venue events. Oversee registration operations, ensuring seamless attendee check-in and on-site experience. Oversee budget stewardship, including tracking, reconciliation, and variance reporting throughout the event lifecycle. Lead post-event reconciliation, final settlements, and retrospective documentation. AV, Production & Technical Execution Design and specify full AV/production requirements for general sessions, breakout rooms, receptions, and B2B meeting environments — including lighting design, sound, LED/projection, staging, and set design. Develop detailed technical riders and production specifications; manage labor calls, rigging requirements, and power distribution planning in coordination with venue and production vendors. Direct general session production, including run-of-show, presenter management, speaker rehearsals, prompter scripts, and broadcast/livestream coordination where applicable. Oversee signage strategy and environmental branding, working with creative and marketing teams to ensure cohesive, on-brand physical presence throughout all event spaces. Select, contract, and manage AV/production vendors; evaluate technical proposals, negotiate pricing, and hold vendors accountable to spec and budget. Serve as the on-site production lead — the person in the room who knows what should be happening and makes fast decisions when it isn't. Vendor & Agency Management Direct and manage external contractors, production vendors, and event staffing resources. Serve as Brand USA's operational liaison to in-market DMCs and local agencies across all event markets, including oversight of Brand USA's contracted operations team in the U.K. (2 staff). Issue RFPs, evaluate bids, and manage vendor relationships through event close. Stakeholder & Internal Collaboration Consult regularly with internal department heads (Marketing, Trade, PR, Public Affairs, IT, C-Suite) to align event operations with broader organizational objectives. Serve as the department's senior operational voice in cross-functional planning discussions. Build and maintain strong relationships with hotel, venue, and destination partners. Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to the Event Marketing & Systems team and other event staff. Event Design, Evolution & Innovation Bring a continuous improvement mindset to every event — evaluating format, flow, attendee experience, and production quality with fresh eyes after each program. Serve as the department's strategic architect for event design: proposing new formats, programming concepts, and attendee journey improvements that keep Brand USA's events ahead of industry trends. Lead post-event analysis and debrief processes, translating feedback and data into concrete recommendations for future events. Integrate AI tools into event operations workflows — from run-of-show generation and vendor briefing to logistics documentation and communications drafting — and champion adoption across the team. Research and pilot emerging event technologies, production techniques, and engagement models that could enhance the Brand USA event experience. Partner with internal teams to identify opportunities to evolve event programming in alignment with Brand USA's broader strategic objectives. Report to work on a regular basis and is available for occasional after-hours emergency calls and projects.   Additional Responsibilities May be asked to perform additional duties not listed in the job description as required by business needs. Job Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. 10+ years of progressive meeting planning and event management experience — this is a true meeting planner role requiring deep operational and production expertise, not a project management background. Demonstrated, hands-on expertise in complex AV/production design: able to read a technical rider, specify a general session from scratch, direct a labor call, and troubleshoot on-site independently. Expert-level knowledge of hotel and venue operations: contract negotiation, BEO management, room block strategy, F&B guarantees, and attrition risk management. Proven experience executing large-scale, multi-city, and international events (1,000+ attendees) with a track record of flawless on-site delivery. Strong vendor and DMC management experience across domestic and international markets. Exceptional organizational and communication skills; able to manage multiple complex events simultaneously without overlooking a detail. A demonstrated eye for event design and continuous improvement—strong opinions about what makes a great event and a track record of acting on them. Curiosity about the future of the events industry and the initiative to bring new ideas to the table. Fluent, daily use of Claude or other similar generative AI tools to improve operational workflows, event design, communications, and team productivity (required). Proficiency with Cvent and project management platforms (Wrike or equivalent). Experience working directly with the C-suite and senior organizational leadership. CMP, CMM, or equivalent certification preferred. Significant domestic and international travel is required to support on-site event execution throughout the year. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.  Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across the organization and externally. A dedicated remote work area that is quiet enough for employees to concentrate is required. Must have homeowner's or renter's insurance and the ability to comply with company technology, safety, and health requirements. Ability to travel on occasion as required to attend meetings and/or events. Ability to frequently operate a computer and other office productivity machinery. Ability to lift up to twenty (20) pounds. Ability to perform the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation. May require more than forty (40) hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.   Brand USA Offers a Comprehensive Benefits Package, Including: Medical, Dental, and Vision: Three medical plan options (HMO, POS, PPO) through CareFirst, with varying coverage levels and out-of-pocket costs. Dental and vision plans are also offered. Life and AD&D Insurance: Company-paid basic life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance (2x annual salary up to $200,000). Short-Term and Long-Term Disability: Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance. 401(k) Retirement Plan: A 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions (100% of the first 3% of salary deferred, plus 50% of the next 2%, which means a total of 4% matching contribution when the participant defers 5%). Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Options for pre-tax deductions for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Transit and Parking Account: Pre-tax deduction option for transit and parking expenses. Wellness Program: Access to a wellness and disease management program through Sharecare. Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access to resources for personal and work-related issues. Voluntary Benefits: Options for additional life insurance, pet insurance, etc. International Medical Coverage: Coverage for medical emergencies while traveling internationally on company business.   Schedule Brand USA's business hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Our standard work hours may vary based on position requirements. Additional hours may be required during peak times, which may require an adjusted work schedule, overtime, and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines.   Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Brand USA will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.   Brand USA has an organizational commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion. In that spirit, we welcome all qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, economic circumstances, national origin, or veteran status.     Qualifications