Trade Show Manager

Overview Lifeway is seeking an experienced Manager, Trade Shows & Event Stores to lead the strategic and operational execution of approximately 60 annual events that serve churches and ministry partners across the country. This role is the driving force behind Lifeway's trade show presence and national event store footprint — overseeing everything from product curation and merchandising to team leadership, vendor negotiations, and on-site execution. If you thrive in a high-volume, travel-intensive environment and love building teams and systems that scale, this is an opportunity to do meaningful work at the intersection of operational excellence and ministry impact. This position is based within the Nashville Metropolitan Area. Full-time employees are eligible for enrollment in our comprehensive benefits plans including healthcare, vacation and sick time, holiday pay, care days, 401(k) plan, maternity and paternity leave, adoption assistance, mission trip time, and more. This is a hybrid remote/in-office position located in the greater Nashville, TN area. Relocation assistance is available. Responsibilities Lives out Lifeway’s mission and values, showing deep commitment to Kingdom work Owns and drives the operational strategy for approximately 60 annual trade shows and event stores Ensures consistent, on-brand execution that serves churches and honors Lifeway's mission Defines event needs including size, layout, product curation, pricing strategy, signage, and attendee experience for national event stores and trade show conferences Leads the product curation process for all event stores, consulting with ministry teams to align offerings with church needs and Lifeway's resources strategy Oversees design, layout, and merchandising of exhibits, hospitality suites, trade show booths, and special projects — including oversight of new exhibit construction with cost management accountability Leads, coaches, and develops a cross‑trained team of Event Leads and Coordinators capable of executing both trade shows and event stores with consistency and confidence Serves as on‑site planning and logistics lead for major national events and trade shows, providing hands‑on leadership across 20+ events per year Negotiates contracts with venues, transportation vendors, catering providers, and event partners to meet annual budget goals Oversees a $1M+ annual budget including forecasting, expense management, variance analysis, and post‑event financial reconciliation Partners cross‑functionally with Strategy & Creative, Finance, Logistics, IT, and Warehouse teams to coordinate responsibilities and maintain accountability across the event calendar Drives continuous improvement through post‑event reviews, data analysis, and development of standardized workflows and SOPs for scalable event execution Significant travel, typically overnight Qualifications Education Bachelor's degree - Marketing, Event Management, Business, Communications, etc. or equivalent combination of education and experience, required Masters degree, not required Advanced graduate degree (PhD, etc.), not required Skills, Knowledge, & Experiences, required 8–10 years of event operations or large‑scale event management experience, including trade shows and national event stores from planning through post‑event reporting 5+ years of team leadership or people management experience in a fast‑paced, travel‑intensive event environment 3+ years of vendor management and contract negotiation experience with venues, catering, transportation, and event partners Demonstrated expertise in large‑scale event logistics including freight, inventory workflows, merchandising, and travel coordination Strong financial management skills including budgeting, expense tracking, variance analysis, and financial reconciliation for event programs Proven ability to develop standardized workflows, SOPs, and process improvements that drive consistency and scalability across high‑volume programs Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to and partnering with cross‑functional teams, senior leadership, and external stakeholders Actively involved in an evangelical Christian church Skills, Knowledge, & Experiences, preferred Experience with project management tools such as Workfront or similar trade show management platforms Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for financial tracking, reporting, and analytics Experience with Oracle or Firebrand systems Knowledge of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and experience in SBC event contexts Prior experience working within a ministry, church, or faith‑based organization #J-18808-Ljbffr