IBM Global Conference team - Event strategist

Your role and responsibilities

The IBM event team plans and executes best-in-class virtual, in-person and hybrid events that deliver new pipeline, build brand awareness, and offer outstanding attendee experiences. Delivering great client events involves many stakeholders and the event strategist role provides critical services and consulting, playing a key role by partnering across functions to ensure event compliance and audit readiness.

As part of this broader events mission, the IBM Global Conference team scope is end-to-end execution of Think and TechXchange global conferences, the two annual IBM flagship conferences for clients and partners. The ideal candidate for this role is passionate about B2B events, has a good understanding of event workstream alignment and can lead multiple projects at the same time, has strong project management and leadership skills, is detail and goal orientated, self-driven, and is a motivated thought-leader eager to learn and grow in the company.

Key responsibilities

• Operates at strategic level focusing on strategic event planning of the two annual Global Conferences - with the goal to achieve business outcomes and brand building; sets strategic event vision aligning business goals, focus on ROI, and long-term audience engagement

• Leads pre-event, during-event and post-event activities for these events including selecting locations, managing agencies and venues, budget management, onsite logistics management and post-event follow-up

• Drives innovation in event execution with and through technology. Provides streamlining and efficiency recommendations and drives a culture of optimization

• Provides financial strategy for event planning: helps define event budget strategy and uses financial data to make decisions. Master of optimizing budgets and resources - can prioritize work efforts and resources.

• Leads overall event workstream management- fosters an environment of collaboration to drive all business processes, while holding individuals and teams accountable for their outcomes and contributions to the overall event planning and execution.

• Manages post event outcomes and performance with relevant stakeholders (i.e. field marketing)

• Remains current with B2B event industry trends, best practices and new thinking in areas such as environmental sustainability, inclusivity, and the role of AI in events

• Acts as an event advocate, promote events internally and externally to drive interest and engagement

• Ensures all legal, compliance, procurement, finance, and other required processes are efficiently completed

Required education

Bachelor's Degree

Preferred education

Master's Degree

Required technical and professional expertise

• Bachelor's degree in marketing, Communication, Business Administration or equivalent experience.
• Ten (10) years or more experience in marketing or related role; Five (5) years or more experience in planning and executing a wide range of B2B events
• Responsible team player with a demonstrated ability to work independently under pressure, managing resources and several projects simultaneously
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including attention to detail and adherence to deadlines
• Avid learner who consistently expands knowledge to gain new skills and expertise
• Experience with event technology systems such as registration sites, event management platforms and mobile apps
• Outcomes focused: strategic thinker that drives ROI and audience first mentality across the team; Ability to manage resources (time and budget) to achieve objectives, predict needs and prevent issues
• Communication / Negotiation: partners well across functions, effectively utilizing group dynamics and negotiating to define approaches and goals; has strong written and verbal communication skills
• Problem Solving: recognizes complex problems related to functional objectives. Applies creativity and judgement to manage work on different projects within the business environment.
• Analytics/ Data driven: employing a data driven approach to decision making and recommendations, based on event performance analysis; partners across functions and utilizes marketing analytics and reporting tools & systems, including Excel, to analyze event-related data, identifying patterns or areas of focus.
• Impact on Business: Accountable for results and for activities and/or projects involving multi-functional teams. Regularly participates in overall functional program planning. Demonstrates discretion and independent judgment in matters of significance to IBM.
• Contribution / Leadership: Understands functional mission and team vision. Utilizes expertise to directly influence people outside function. Contributes to defining objectives within specified projects.

We offer a dynamic blend of personal flexibility and a thriving in-office environment. This role requires three days of in-office presence per week, with two days for remote work

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in marketing/ event management or related discipline
• Experience using RainFocus
• Flexibility to travel

YOUR LIFE @ IBM

In a world where technology never stands still, we understand that, dedication to our clients success, innovation that matters, and trust and personal responsibility in all our relationships, lives in what we do as IBMers as we strive to be the catalyst that makes the world work better.

Being an IBMer means you'll be able to learn and develop yourself and your career, you'll be encouraged to be courageous and experiment everyday, all whilst having continuous trust and support in an environment where everyone can thrive whatever their personal or professional background.

Our IBMers are growth minded, always staying curious, open to feedback and learning new information and skills to constantly transform themselves and our company. They are trusted to provide on-going feedback to help other IBMers grow, as well as collaborate with colleagues keeping in mind a team focused approach to include different perspectives to drive exceptional outcomes for our customers. The courage our IBMers have to make critical decisions everyday is essential to IBM becoming the catalyst for progress, always embracing challenges with resources they have to hand, a can-do attitude and always striving for an outcome focused approach within everything that they do.

Are you ready to be an IBMer?

ABOUT IBM

IBM's greatest invention is the IBMer. We believe that through the application of intelligence, reason and science, we can improve business, society and the human condition, bringing the power of an open hybrid cloud and AI strategy to life for our clients and partners around the world.

Restlessly reinventing since 1911, we are not only one of the largest corporate organizations in the world, we're also one of the biggest technology and consulting employers, with many of the Fortune 50 companies relying on the IBM Cloud to run their business.

At IBM, we pride ourselves on being an early adopter of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and blockchain. Now it's time for you to join us on our journey to being a responsible technology innovator and a force for good in the world.

IBM is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualifiedapplicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexualorientation, national origin, caste, genetics, pregnancy, disability,neurodivergence, age, veteran status, or other characteristics. IBM is alsocommitted to compliance with all fair employment practices regardingcitizenship and immigration status.

OTHER RELEVANT JOB DETAILS

IBM offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program. Eligible employees may have access to:

• Healthcare benefits including medical & prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and mental health & well being
• Financial programs such as 401(k), the IBM Employee Stock Purchase Plan, financial counseling, life insurance, short & long- term disability coverage, and opportunities for performance based salary incentive programs
• Generous paid time off including 12 holidays, minimum 56 hours sick time, 120 hours vacation, 12 weeks parental bonding leave in accordance with IBM Policy, and other Paid Care Leave programs. IBM also offers paid family leave benefits to eligible employees where required by applicable law
• Training and educational resources on our personalized, AI-driven learning platform where IBMers can grow skills and obtain industry-recognized certifications to achieve their career goals
• Diverse and inclusive employee resource groups, giving & volunteer opportunities, and discounts on retail products, services & experiences

We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

This position was posted on the date cited in the key job details section and is anticipated to remain posted for 21 days from this date or less if not needed to fill the role.

IBM will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. Therefore, in order to be considered for this position, you must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.