Events, Exhibitions & Meetings Manager

Events, Exhibitions & Meetings Manager

Location:

Chesapeake, VA, US, 23320

Position Type:
Professional

Transport is at the core of modern society. Imagine using your expertise to shape sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions for the future. If you seek to make a difference on a global scale, working with next-gen technologies and the sharpest collaborative teams, then we could be a perfect match.

Volvo Penta is seeking an exceptionally organized, self-sufficient, and proactive Events, Exhibitions & Meetings Manager to lead the end-to-end strategy, planning, and execution of trade shows, customer experiences, dealer meetings, and events across North America.

This role requires a highly systematic project manager who excels at coordinating multiple work streams, deadlines, and stakeholders. You will partner closely with Sales to define the strategy, goals, audience, and KPIs for each event and then lead the full process to bring each experience to life. From promotions to communications to graphics to logistics, you will keep the entire cross-functional team aligned, on track to deliver an exceptional customer experience.

The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, is exceptionally structured in their approach, and delivers flawless execution backed by measurable results.

• Lead the full lifecycle of event delivery from strategy definition through post-show analysis

• Partner with sales and business leaders, along with the marketing team, to define the event purpose, audience, messaging, and KPIs

• Translate objectives into detailed processes and deliverables including event briefs, timelines and checklists

• Manage all cross-functional deliverables including: o Promotions and pre-event communications o Graphic and asset deadlines o Content and messaging needso Booth/experience design decision so Logistics, freight, travel, and vendor coordinationo Staffing plans and schedules

• Work closely with the Brand Manager to ensure a seamless, compelling brand experience and the Communications Manager to secure message consistency across touch points

• Be the central project manager ensuring every stakeholder knows what needs to be done, by whom, and by when

• Maintain a disciplined process for status tracking, deadline enforcement, issue escalation, and documentation

• Serve as the primary on-site leader during setup, execution, and teardown at events, meetings & exhibitions Operational Excellence & Experience Delivery

• Manage booth assets, demos, signage, technology, and experience elements.

• Oversee vendor and agency partners, ensuring clarity of requirements and accountability to timelines and budgets

• Ensure all deliverables align with Volvo Group brand standards and safety/compliance requirements.
  Strategic Planning & KPI Alignment

• Conduct event evaluations and recommend the right shows, activations, and sponsor ships based on strategic value and ROI

• Collaborate with Sales to define lead-capture plans, meeting targets, and follow-up actions

• Develop systematic processes to ensure consistency across events Measurement, Insights & Continuous Improvement

• Build a performance measurement framework tracking: o Lead scans and lead qualityo Meetings set and complete do Demo interaction so Visitor engagement

• Deliver post-event debriefs with insights, opportunities, and clear recommendations Cross Functional Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all event-related communication

• Align product, sales, brand, and leadership stakeholders on expectations, timelines, and deliverables

• Facilitate direction check-ins, distribute status updates, and proactively identify and resolve risks

• Provide clear direction to agencies, designers, and production partners

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Event Management, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)

• 5+ years of experience in event management, trade shows, or experiential marketing (B2B preferred)

• Demonstrated success managing large-scale, complex events

• Experience in marine, industrial, or transportation industries is a plus

• Intermediate…