Manager, Events

About Restaurants Canada

Restaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit association representing Canada’s dynamic and diverse food service industry. Our members are the heart of communities across the country—from local independents to national chains. We champion their success through advocacy, research and connection.

Reporting to the Director, National Events, the Events Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering Restaurants Canada’s national trade show and other events throughout the year. This role acts as the operational lead across the full event lifecycle, from planning and budgeting through onsite execution, post‑event reconciliation, reporting, and continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will be highly organized, calm under pressure, and experienced in managing complex event logistics, exhibitors, vendors, registration systems, budgets, and stakeholder relationships. They will help ensure every event is delivered professionally, safely, on time, on budget, and with a strong attendee, exhibitor, sponsor, and partner experience.

• Manages the day-to-day planning, logistics, budgets, execution, and reporting for Restaurants Canada’s annual national trade show and additional events throughout the year.
• Acts as the primary operational contact for exhibitors, attendees, sponsors, stakeholders, suppliers, contractors, venues, and internal teams.
• Supports events of varying size and complexity, including trade shows, conferences, education sessions, receptions, networking events, activations, competitions, pavilions, and special projects.
• Works cross-functionally with marketing, sales, programming, registration, finance, operations, and leadership to ensure events are delivered consistently and professionally.
• Maintains operational standards, timelines, documentation, risk controls, and service expectations across all event activities.
• Provides onsite event support, including extended hours, evenings, weekends, and travel when required during event periods.

• Lead detailed event planning and execution for trade shows, conferences, member events, partner events, networking functions, activations, competitions, pavilions, stages, and other special events.
• Develop and manage event workplans, production schedules, run‑of‑show documents, critical paths, task lists, and internal timelines to ensure all milestones are met.
• Manage event budgets by reviewing vendor quotes and invoices, monitoring budget‑to‑actual performance, identifying cost risks or savings opportunities, and completing post‑event reconciliation in partnership with Finance and the Director, National Events.
• Coordinate venue logistics, floor plans, supplier requirements, food and beverage, audiovisual, signage, equipment, freight, storage, move‑in, show days, and move‑out activities.
• Oversee event platforms, registration systems, exhibitor modules, mobile apps, attendee communications, and CRM or data integrations as required.
• Manage attendee registration, ticketing, capacity planning, VIP allocations, badge processes, onsite check‑in, and registration issue resolution.
• Coordinate exhibitor applications, booth assignments, service communications, operational deadlines, onsite support, volunteer coordination and exhibitor experience from onboarding through post‑event follow‑up.
• Support sponsor, partner, and stakeholder deliverables by coordinating logistics, recognition requirements, onsite needs, and timely communication with internal teams.
• Source, coordinate, and manage vendors, suppliers, contractors, volunteers, and platform support teams, including quotes, scopes of work, timelines, service standards, and onsite deliverables.
• Coordinate hotel blocks, travel logistics, transportation planning, staff schedules, volunteer recruitment, volunteer scheduling, and onsite team briefings.
• Work cross-functionally with marketing, sales, programming, registration, finance, operations, and leadership teams to ensure event plans, communications, and deliverables are aligned.
• Monitor and resolve operational risks, attendee service issues, exhibitor concerns, vendor escalations,…