Associate Director

Associate Director, Meeting Planning And Event TechnologyThe Associate Director, Meeting Planning and Event Technology is a leadership role and is responsible for overseeing corporate meetings, event technology, and the FINRA Strategic Meeting Management Program (SMMP). This position manages a team of individual contributors and is accountable for complex multifaceted meetings.Event TechnologyOversee and manage all cross departmental integrations into the Cvent technology system(s). Facilitate productive operations to share information and processes efficiency through multiple system sources such as: Single Sign On, Workday, Deem Travel, Conference Virtual Platforms, mobile apps, Post, and URL Branding. Develop and maintain best practices to improve fiscal transparency, standards, and practices.Lead the implementation, productivity, and efficiency measures for FINRA's meeting planning technology software, tools, and resources. Provide the direction necessary to continue the development and growth of SMMP.Develop and implement the meeting technology roadmap to initiate new processes, create efficiencies, and collaborate across FINRA lines of business.Serve as the Virtual Technology Specialist for revenue generating conferences that use virtual and mobile applications. This role includes project manager between FINRA groups and platform vendor, initiates APIs between FINRA and virtual system to provide secure transfer of information, serves as virtual producer for live stream sessions.Maintain best practices to improve fiscal transparency, standards, and practices.Lead key stakeholders in identification and review of new software products that enhance department efficiencies and effectiveness. Evaluate business impact and present options to leadership that best fit business needs.Partner with the FINRA cyber security and data privacy teams to ensure meeting technology vendors, as well as departmental processes, are in compliance with FINRA policy and procedures.Implement the development of metrics and standards for the department of technology. Areas include Single Sign on, Concur Travel, Conference APP Integration, post URL branding and maintaining private domain account.Manage and support team in their day-to-day responsibilities to execute the goals and priorities of the program. Promote daily prioritization of workload, coordinate program intake. Support registration using on-demand badge printing and attendance tracking system.Manage and develop ongoing training and materials for key users of meetings technologyIntegrate FINRA spending codes, workday feed, within meeting technology platform for budget planning to provide reporting and accruals in coordination with financial management team.Manage the supplier network.Leverage strategic vendor and technology contracts to drive higher cost/benefit ratios and positive financial results for FINRA.In-person work required for week of FINRA annual conferenceTeam Management & Meeting Planning:Supervise and lead the meeting planning team in providing day-to-day oversight, guidance, and support to ensure efficient operations and high-quality event delivery.Assign and distribute meetings, events, and project responsibilities.Project Manager responsible for handling complex meetings, events, and conferences from conception to completion. Responsible for overseeing the planning and organization of all meeting aspects, including facilitation of program structure, cross department collaboration with liaisons, site selection, contract negotiation, hotel rooming list, food & beverage, vendor management, onsite management, event design and signage, registration, technology solutions, and post conference financial and attendee reporting.Accountable for developing and managing multi-faceted budgets for revenue generating meetings, ensuring cost-effective planning and execution.Independently negotiate numerous vendor contracts including hospitality services (which incorporates FINRA Legal addendum), technology systems, and exhibitor contract management.Select and manage conference virtual platform and mobile application to enhance attendee engagement, interaction, and provide high-quality experiences for conference attendees.Oversee the entire exhibitor management process for revenue-producing conferences which includes creating policies and guidelines with OGC for exhibiting companies to adhere to onsite, manage floor plans, logistics, and signage alongside the exhibitor manager, and payment collection prior to event.Responsible for coordination of external speaker/committee travel guidelines and approval of expenses.Adapt and scale program objectives to meeting and venue requirements. (Fit and flow of meeting to facilitate meeting goals).Manage the execution of marketing materials to support meetings, including presentations, customized signage, session collateral, and media scripts.Strategic development of meeting goals, objectives, and program with key stakeholders.Interact with internal key stakeholders, invited guests and management committee during events.Additional Responsibilities:Demonstration of FINRA's values.Collaboration, both in-person and virtually, in furtherance of FINRA's mission of investor protection and market integrity.Other duties as required.Education/Experience Requirements:Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Technology, or other related field plus a minimum of eight (8) years of meetings management, event management, project management, hospitality experience and/or IT-related roles, or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) required. Cvent Certification required.Expertise in technologies and software, including Microsoft Office Suite and Cvent, with proven aptitude for learning new technologies.Advance Verbal and Written Communication Skills.Previous experience using Cvent to manage a strategic meetings management program of similar scale of up to 3,000 person events and exhibits.Must have experience in negotiating 3rd party vendor contracts and legal addenda.In-depth knowledge of Virtual Event Production, Audio Visual industry, equipment, webcasting and multi casting.Must maintain professionalism in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.Must be flexible, creative, and capable of trouble shooting and developing alternative plans on the go.Strong leadership and mentoring skills.Experience managing or leading a team preferred.Working Conditions:Hybrid work environment, with defined in-person presence requirements.A professional, highly visible, and fast-paced environment.Travel is required and extended work hours.