Company: Gowling WLG

Location: Toronto, ON

Expected salary:

Job date: Thu, 05 Sep 2024 06:00:10 GMT

Job description: ABOUT GOWLING WLGAt Gowling WLG, our dedication to excellence and quality service begins with our people. As a global law firm with offices across Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we pride ourselves on sourcing and retaining top talent who bring energy, passion and commitment to the delivery of outstanding client service.Employee satisfaction is important to us. We work hard to ensure that our people are motivated, engaged and empowered. We are guided by our firm’s Core Values – The Power of Teamwork, Always Striving to be Better, We all Bring Something Different – in all that we do.Diversity, equity, and inclusion are an integral part of our firm’s core values. We are always striving to build a more equitable, engaging and rewarding workplace by attracting and retaining talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. Our aim is to help everyone reach their full potential and achieve their personal and professional goals.Our diverse group of legal professionals, law students, law clerks, paralegals, legal administrative assistants and business services team members work together, and are respected and valued for their individual contributions.PROFILEEvents have the power to connect, build relationships, shape perceptions, demonstrate expertise and transcend boundaries. At Gowling WLG, events are a core component of our client engagement and go-to-market strategy. To us, an event isn’t a moment-in-time; it’s an opportunity to engage, delight and create memorable experiences for our clients and people before, during and after each interaction.We are seeking a passionate National Events & Experiences Manager with strong leadership to join our Business Development (BD) & Marketing team. We are looking for a leader who is enthusiastically committed to delivering excellence and making a meaningful impact for our clients, people and Firm. To you, status quo isn’t an option. You hold yourself and your team to high standards and you believe the best events are experiences that start with a bold vision. You enjoy breaking out of the sea of sameness and love to innovate with new strategies, approaches, vendors and ideas to continue to elevate the level and quality of events you and your team deliver.As the team leader, you will set the standard and develop a national events centre of excellence aligned with the Firm’s strategy and business development objectives to deliver leading events and differentiated experiences for our clients and people across in-person, hybrid and virtual platforms.RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement a national events strategy that aligns with the firm’s vision, values, and business goals.
• Work closely with senior leaders, BD & Marketing teams, and external partners to define event objectives, themes, content, format, and audiences to create engaging experiences that showcase our legal expertise, enhance relationships and strengthen our brand reputation.
• Manage and oversee the end-to-end planning and delivery of various types of internal and external national events, such as conferences, seminars, webinars, workshops, client events, and large-scale internal celebrations, ensuring they meet objectives and exceed the expectations of stakeholders.
• Create and manage all aspects of event budgets, timelines, and checklists, ensuring that deadlines and deliverables are met, including those being led by team members.
• Negotiate contracts and fees with vendors, venues, speakers, sponsors, and other partners.
• Supervise and direct teams, event staff, volunteers, and contractors, providing clear instructions and feedback.
• Monitor and evaluate the performance and impact of each event, collecting feedback and data, and preparing post-event and quarterly reports, highlighting the key outcomes, satisfaction, learnings, and recommendations for future improvement.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications teams to design and develop compelling event-related communications and promotional strategies across channels to increase attendance.
• Build a consistent framework for event evaluation, robust toolkits and events processes that can be easily exported and shared to support the larger BD & Marketing team, as well as others hosting their own smaller events across the Firm.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients and stakeholders of national events initiatives and inquiries and deliver a high level of client satisfaction by addressing any issues or concerns promptly.
• Stay current on the latest event trends and be the go-to subject matter expert on events, conferences and effective sponsorship activation, including sharing the latest best practices and opportunities across the team and with stakeholders.
• Maintain an annual calendar and assessment of recurring national and international events, and continually scan market for emerging events with potential for business growth that are actively shared with Business Development & Marketing teams.
• Serve as a player and a coach, providing leadership and active growth and development support to National Events & Experiences team members and indirect reports, while also leading and managing high-visibility and large scale events.
• Play an active role in annual and quarterly planning, as well as monthly reporting and participate in associated projects as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Post-secondary education in Hospitality Management, Marketing, Business, Communications or a related field; Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation or similar considered an asset, as well as specialized training in events.
• Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience in event planning and managing large-scale events; with a minimum of two (2) years’ experience leading an events team.
• Professional services events experience is considered an asset.
• Excellent project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrate a high level of initiative, ownership and detail orientation while managing multiple events and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Expertise in managing senior and demanding stakeholders, with the aptitude to anticipate and address client needs in a professional and courteous manner.
• Comfortable with ambiguity with the unique ability to translate abstract ideas into tangible outcomes that meet and exceed stakeholder expectations, while guiding others to do the same.
• Understand and appreciate the value of data and measurement, and recognize the importance of demonstrating the ROI of each event, including to executive audiences.
• You believe that we can go faster and further together, and lead by example to actively team across groups to produce the best results that delight, excite, and engage audiences.
• You have a client and solution orientation, and continuously think through how to make things easier for others, while producing the best possible outcomes.
• Experienced in managing event budgets, including cost projection, vendor negotiations, as well as proactively sourcing and liaising with external vendors to secure the best possible service and terms.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, CRM solutions, event management software (including virtual event technology), as well as digital and social platforms.
• Flexible and adaptable, with the willingness to travel and work outside of regular hours as required.
• Bilingualism (English/French) is considered an asset.

Gowling WLG employees benefit from a hybrid work environment.Not sure if you meet all the requirements? If you are excited about this opportunity but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Gowling WLG is a global law firm that values excellence, teamwork, and diversity. They prioritize employee satisfaction and are committed to creating an equitable and engaging workplace. They are currently seeking a National Events & Experiences Manager to lead their events strategy and deliver exceptional experiences for clients and employees. The ideal candidate will have experience in event planning and management, strong leadership skills, and a focus on innovation and client satisfaction. The firm offers a hybrid work environment and encourages individuals who may not meet all qualifications to apply. They are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities.