Associate Director, Client Operations - Live Events

Blavity, Inc. is a venture-funded media and technology company, founded in 2014 around a simple idea: enable Black millennials to tell their own stories. Today, we are home to the largest network of platforms and lifestyle brands serving the multifaceted lives of Black millennials & Gen Z through original content, video, unique experiences, and product solutions. Blavity Inc. has evolved into a market leader for Black media, reaching 250 million users per month through our growing brand portfolio, including Blavity, Blavity360º, AfroTech, Talent Infusion, 21Ninety, Travel Noire, Home & Texture, and Blavity House Party. Our Blavity, Inc. employee community is composed of passionate, energetic, and culturally conscious individuals working together to deliver value to each other, the company, and our clients. We are always searching for new additions to our community that will help us continue to scale, contribute meaningfully to our culture, and advance our strategic direction.

Job Summary:

Blavity Inc. is seeking an Associate Director, Live Events Client Operations to provide hands-on day-to-day management of the Live Events Client Operations Team and lead sponsorship operations across all Live Events Division events. This role will:

• partner with the VP to set the strategy for sponsorship management
• manage a team of client operations managers, associate and coordinators 
• build relationships with our largest tech clients 
• support overall client satisfaction and engagement 

To be successful, the Associate Director will need to be a strategic thinker, project management powerhouse, resilient to change, and collaborate well cross-functionally with internal stakeholders and with vendors. 

This role will report directly to the VP, Live Events.

Responsibilities:

• Managing staff in the day-to-day operations for functional area(s) of responsibility. 
• Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, personal development for direct reports and accountable for the performance of employees. 
• Ensuring work completion within schedule and constraints.
• Execute the strategy for Live Events Client Operations department and leading team’s overall success to execute top-tier partner’s contractual deliverables, while providing exceptional client experience.
• Responsible for delivery of large scale solutions impacting client experience including sponsorship portal and activation delivery partners (general service contractor, registration, housing, etc). 
• Creating best practices and systems for the Client Operations team to create best in class sponsor contract fulfillment and experience while in a remote work environment.
• Designing and implementing Client Operations team project workflow from inception through completion using templates, automation and online tools.
• Leading department meetings, training, and professional development for the Live Events Client Operations team.
• Serving as the team’s internal strategic leader, while being comfortable in an external client-facing role as the highest point of Live Events Client Operations team escalation.
• Conducting and managing internal meetings to review the status of all ongoing client sponsorships.
• Managing and growing a team of Client Operations Managers, Associate, and Coordinators; providing guidance and oversight throughout the campaign process and the complete project workflow
• Staying up to date on factors impacting your client’s industries and businesses, and identify opportunities for AfroTech to support them in overcoming these challenges.
• Effectively lead vendor management and advise on contract negotiations for select vendors that support conference delivery focusing on delivering excellent client results and reducing expenses to improve margins
• Work with Business Development, Account Management and Live Events Operations to collaborate on event prospectus that ensures effective sponsor fulfillment of prospectus deliverables
• Collaborate with the Live Events Operations and Business Development to develop a registration strategy with clients’ needs at the forefront
• Develop Client call schedule and coordinate with internal team members to develop call materials and hold monthly virtual calls. 
• Collaborate with Live Events Operations and designated vendors to develop and implement all activations on across events
• Collaborate with Live Events Operations and designated vendors to develop and implement any food and beverage activations and security strategies on the expo floor
• Collaborate with Live Events Operations, Creative Services and designated vendors to develop signage and branding strategies for the expo floor and other sponsorship activations 
• Develop and implement onsite staffing schedule and protocols on the expo floor, in learning labs, interview rooms and to staff all client sponsored activations or events appropriately

Qualifications: 

• Education: MS/MBA in Marketing, Communications, or related field preferred
• Required Experience: 8+ years experience in a client facing role, client portfolio management, and cultivating relationships with high profile clients and sponsors.  
• Preferred Experience:
  • 8+ years of experience in trade shows/ exhibits management 
  • 5+ years of experience managing and growing a team of other account managers
• Technologies: Fluent in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Asana or comparable project management tools
• Additional Qualifications:
  • Ability to anticipate areas of risk and implement creative solutions
  • Experience delivering onsite activations at major conferences, conventions, and trade shows.
  • High-energy, company-first and positive attitude 
  • Outgoing and sociable personality, expert at interfacing with partners virtually and in-person
  • A healthy appreciation of GIFS and Black culture

Details: