Director of Events

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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…