Director, Meetings & Events

 

Work Location Type: Onsite 

 

As a leading industrial distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom, We Keep The World Working® by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. With 2023 sales of $16.5 billion, we’re dedicated to providing value for customers, fostering an engaging culture for team members and driving strong financial results.

 

Our welcoming workplace enables you to learn, grow and make a difference by keeping businesses running and their people safe. As a 2024 Glassdoor Best Place to Work and a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company, we’re looking for passionate people to join our team as we continue leading the industry over our next 100 years.

 

 

Position Details
  The Director of Meetings & Events leads a team responsible for planning, executing, and managing Grainger's events, including corporate functions, customer events, conferences, and trade shows. Responsible for developing and implementing organizational event strategies and overseeing event logistics, budget management, vendor negotiations, and ensuring safety and security at all events. The Director collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to align events with organizational goals.     You Will
 

• Develop and implement event and related marketing strategies that support organizational objectives, promote events, and maximize attendance.
• Oversee the full lifecycle of events through planning, coordination, execution, and on-site management.
• Responsible for managing event budgets and ensuring alignment with financial guidelines.
• Responsible for vendor contract negotiations and relationship management ensuring favorable rates and services.
• Develop and implement comprehensive safety and security plans in collaboration with corporate Security and local law enforcement and ensures they are followed.
• Conduct risk assessments and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Responsible for leading, mentoring, and coaching events team and ensuring high performance and collaboration within the team and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and serve as the primary contact for external partners and vendors.
• Oversee the creation of promotional materials and branding.
• Monitor and analyze event performance metrics and conduct post-event evaluations to identify areas for improvement.

 

You Have
 

• Bachelor's Degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Business Administration, or related field. Required
• 10+ years of experience in event planning and management. Required
• Experience articulating strategies and influence others at various levels of the organization.
• Experience with budget management, vendor negotiations, and event safety.
• Experience within event management software such as Aventri, Eventcore, Cvent, Stova, etc.
• Experience managing various competing priorities and overlapping timelines.
• Flexibility to travel up to 40% and work evenings