Events Marketing Manager

CXponent Event Manager

CXponent is a premier technology advisory platform providing high-touch brokerage and consulting services. We help enterprise and mid-market organizations plan, select, negotiate, and deploy complex enterprise technology solutions. As a trusted partner and advocate, CXponent guides clients through critical IT roadmaps, simplifies vendor procurement, and minimizes the cost, time, and risk associated with technology investments.

CXponent operates in a collaborative, fast-paced environment where we cut through marketplace noise to deliver true business transformation.

Industry Sector: Tech Services

Location: Chicago (Hybrid), Remote considered for exceptional candidates

Position Summary

Manage event strategy, planning, and execution end-to-end, from the annual event calendar through post-event follow-up. Partner closely with sales and marketing teams, and support the VP, Vendor Partnerships on events involving CXponent's vendor and partner ecosystem (IT Infrastructure, telecom, cloud, CX, cybersecurity, and managed services partners), to make sure every event earns its place on the calendar and its line in the budget.

Key Responsibilities & Deliverables

1. Strategy, Planning & Campaign Execution

• Annual Event Calendar & Strategy: Build and publish a prioritized annual event calendar (customer, prospect, partner, and vendor events) within the first 90 days. Collaborate jointly with Sales and the VP, Vendor Partnerships to rank events against revenue, marketing, and local market objectives.
• Full-Funnel Promotion & Pipeline Influence: Partner with demand generation and content teams to wrap every event in pre-event awareness and post-event nurture campaigns. Set defined pipeline targets so that at least 70% of events drive measurable pipeline/opportunity influence.

2. Financial Management & Operational Discipline

• Budget Ownership & Execution: Oversee forecast-to-reconciliation event budgets, maintaining documented budget discipline so that 90%+ of events land on time and within approved spending limits across the calendar.
• Reporting & ROI Data Integrity: Deliver clean, accurate attendance, cost, and lead data to the VP, Vendor Partnerships within 5 business days of each event to feed program-level ROI models without data-quality issues.
• Scalable Playbook & Vendor Management: Establish a repeatable event playbook and build a vetted bench of venues, AV/production vendors, and agencies within 9 sedimented months. Conduct honest post-event retrospectives and continuously update the playbook quarterly.

3. Sales Alignment & Lead Handoff

• CRM Lead Execution: Own a documented lead handoff process into CRM/marketing automation within 48 hours of each event, tracking and reporting to achieve a 90%+ sales follow-up completion rate.
• Cross-Functional Partnership & Brand Stewardship: Build high-trust relationships with sales leadership and reps (achieving 4/5+ satisfaction ratings) while serving as a proactive, communicative partner to the VP, Vendor Partnerships and representing CXponent's brand at every touchpoint.

Ideal Experience and Qualifications

• Project & Program Management Rigor: Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent events without dropping details. Impeccable organization skills, including detailed checklists (venue, speakers, registration, logistics), strict adherence to deadlines, and early risk identification.
• Sales & Cross-Functional Influence: Demonstrated track record of building genuine partnerships with sales reps and leadership. Ability to align sales and marketing teams around event priorities and drive event outcomes without relying on formal authority.
• Financial & Budget Acumen: Strong proficiency in forecasting, tracking, and reconciling event budgets. Capability to catch variances early, adjust scope proactively, and articulate budget trade-offs clearly to executive leadership and finance.
• Data-Driven & ROI-Oriented Mindset: Skilled in defining measurable performance goals before every event, tracking lead quality and pipeline impact, and synthesizing raw data into executive ROI reporting.
• Vendor & Negotiation Skills: Hands-on experience sourcing venues, negotiating favorable terms with caterers and AV/production vendors, and holding outside event agencies/consultants to high standards.
• Communication & Executive Presence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; experienced in prepping speakers/executives and representing the brand professionally at premium, executive-facing, and vendor-partner ecosystem events.
• Ownership, Adaptability & Travel: High accountability and adaptability. Willingness to travel 25–40% for on-site execution of major events while managing smaller events remotely and driving continuous process improvements.