Director of Events & Program Mgmt

With a career at HMSHost, you really benefit! We Offer

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, flex or sick)
• Holiday pay
• Meal and Transportation Benefits
• *401(k) retirement plan with company match
• *Company paid life insurance
• *Tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program
• Training and exciting career growth opportunities
• Referral program - refer a friend and earn a bonus

*Benefits may vary by position so ask your recruiter for details.

Purpose: The Director of Events & Program Management leads strategy, planning, and execution of all North America trade conferences, industry events, and corporate event participation. This role works closely with Marketing & Communications, Business Development, and operational leaders to elevate Avolta's visibility and partnerships across the travel F&B and retail landscape.


Essential Functions:

• Develops and executes North America conference strategy, including trade shows, sponsorships, and industry events; manages all phases from concept to post-event analysis
• Partners with Business Development to align conference participation with commercial objectives, growth targets, and partnership goals
• Establishes and maintains brand standards and messaging across all event touchpoints, including booth design, presentations, collateral, and digital presence to position Avolta as a leader in travel F&B and retail
• Identifies high value speaking roles, sponsorship opportunities, activations, and thought leadership platforms; secures participation and prepares leaders for maximum impact
• Owns conference budget planning, forecasting, and management; tracks expenses against budget, reconciles post-event costs, and identifies savings opportunities while maintaining quality standards
• Manages relationships with vendors, agencies, and third-party partners including exhibit fabricators, production partners, logistics vendors, and conference organizers; negotiates contracts and oversees delivery
• Directs end-to-end event logistics including booth design, material production, shipping, staffing assignments, meeting agendas, and on-site execution
• Develops post-event analysis framework to measure performance, ROI, lead generation, partnership outcomes, and brand impact; provides recommendations for continuous improvement
• Prepares executive briefing materials, talking points, meeting agendas, and internal communications to support leadership participation and cross-functional coordination
• Maintains centralized event and conference calendar with detailed tracking of commitments, deadlines, costs, and key contacts; provides cross-functional visibility and alignment across all business units and functional areas
• Coordinates signature company initiatives including Hall of Fame recognition events, North America holiday celebrations and team-building events, and annual Avolta Day activities

Reporting Relationship: The Director of Events & Program Management reports to the Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment :

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 8 years:
  • In a technical role: Requires 8 years of experience engaged in event, conference, or experiential marketing experience, preferably in a matrixed or multi-location organization
    • A bachelor's degree in a program related to the functional area can count for 3 of the eight-year requirement
    • An MBA or a master's level degree in a program related to the functional area can count for an additional 2 years of the eight-year requirement
  • In the industry: 3-5 years of Hospitality, F&B and/or Retail experience
• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits:
  • Proven experience leading large-scale conferences, trade events, or experiential activations from concept to execution
  • Exceptional project management and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple complex events simultaneously
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare executive-level content
  • Strong financial and vendor management experience, including budgeting and negotiation
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with project management software preferred
  • Business acumen and also has the mindset required to understand the long-term implications of event and conference planning and to advance the organization's goals
  • Demonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population and individual circumstances
  • Demonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments
• Location/Travel:
  • This role is based at the North America Support Center in Bethesda, MD
  • This role requires travel up to 40%, including extended days surrounding major conferences

Avolta, including Dufry, HMSHost Corporation, Hudson, and affiliates ("the Company"), is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Company's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity in all aspects of employment and to comply with anti-discrimination laws and regulations. The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal opportunities to applicants and team members without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, age, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, national origin, disability, military service and veteran status, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances (referred to as "protected characteristics").