Conference Program Director

Purpose

Build and lead a best-in-class conference program for a new, flagship initiative serving the digital infrastructure ecosystem, spanning data centers, AI-enabled compute, and enterprise/edge architectures. The role combines content leadership with senior industry engagement to develop a program that is technically credible, commercially impactful, and operationally excellent.

At Closer Still, we strive to deliver the best. We’re on a mission to be the most dynamic B2B events and communities business in every market we serve, bringing people together to learn, connect and grow.

Operating across five regions, we power over 200 market-leading events, publications and brands across Business Technologies, Healthcare, Learning, HR & Education, and Future Transport & Infrastructure.

But what truly sets us apart is our people.

Our teams are diverse, driven, and united by a shared commitment to excellence. Rooted in our core values of ownership, empathy, teamwork, integrity, and determination, we empower every employee to grow, shape their own path and make a meaningful impact.

Joining Closer Still means being part of something bigger - not just building events, but creating opportunities, connections, and lasting value for the communities we serve.

You will own the end-to-end program strategy and delivery for a new digital-infrastructure conference brand. You’ll curate themes, recruit senior speakers, and forge high-value industry relationships across operators, end users, and solution providers. You’ll work cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and operations to ensure the program drives audience quality, partner value, and growth. In this role, you will report to the Event Lead.

• Program Strategy & Thought Leadership:
  Define the annual program thesis and content pillars across topics such as next-gen compute and networking, facilities & power management, sustainability, automation, AI/ML workloads, IT/OT integration, and edge architectures.
• Design multi-track agendas and diverse formats (keynotes, panels, technical deep-dives, workshops, round tables, exec dialogues) that serve both strategic and practitioner audiences.
• Establish an Industry Advisory Board representing operators, enterprises, service providers, and technology leaders to ensure market relevance and quality.
• Speaker & Community Development:
  Build and manage a senior speaker roster across end users (enterprise, colo/telco, elite operators), technology vendors (compute, networking, storage, power/cooling, software), integrators/ODMs, and investors.
• Lead structured outreach and relationship programs with key companies to secure A-list speakers and moderators; maintain a balanced pipeline of established leaders and emerging voices.
• Serve as an external ambassador for the program at industry meetups, partner events, and online communities.
• Commercial Alignment & Audience Growth:
  Partner with commercial leads to translate program themes into value‑backed opportunities (e.g., thought‑leadership packages, showcases, workshops, hosted buyer/meet‑the‑expert, project theaters).
• Collaborate with marketing on positioning, agenda storytelling, and data‑driven audience acquisition for target roles (infrastructure, architecture, operations, facilities, procurement) across enterprises, colos, telcos, and cloud‑adjacent players.
• Use post‑event analytics and attendee feedback to iterate agendas and inform year‑round content/community activities.
• Program Operations & Delivery:
  Own program timelines, budgets, and quality standards; produce run‑of‑show, speaker briefings, and on‑site moderation plans.
• Coordinate with production/ops on room specs, AV, recording, and accessibility; ensure excellent on‑site experience for speakers and attendees.
• Measure program performance (NPS, session fill, seniority mix, engagement) and report insights with clear actions.
• Industry Relations:
  Develop strategic relationships with standards bodies, open‑hardware/software communities, regional associations, and user groups; explore co‑created sessions and project workshops that complement our program.
• Maintain a landscape view of…