Director, Senior Event Planner

The Event Planning team is part of Firmwide Marketing and is responsible for delivering high impact conferences and events that reflect the Global Firmwide Brand while deepening client and employee engagement. The Senior Event Planner plays a critical role in shaping and executing strategic, brand forward experiences across the firm.

This position will primarily support strategic events across Integrated Firm Marketing, serving as a trusted advisor and events liaison to assigned Business Units (BUs). The role requires a balance of strategic thinking, relationship management, and flawless execution across a diverse portfolio of in person and select hybrid events.

Role Overview:
The Senior Event Planner is accountable for the end to end strategy, planning, execution, and evaluation of multiple, complex events simultaneously. In addition to leading logistics and production, this role partners closely with BU leadership, marketing stakeholders, and cross functional teams to ensure events directly support marketing priorities, including:

> Deepening client relationships through differentiated, experience led programming
> Elevating the firm's brand through cohesive storytelling, design, and content
> Expanding integrated, multi BU event strategies that drive scale and efficiency
> Leveraging data, insights, and post event analysis to continuously improve ROI and engagement

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Event Planning & Execution
> Lead the planning and delivery of a portfolio of client facing and employee recognition events, primarily in person with limited virtual components, aligned to BU and firmwide marketing strategies.
> Own the full event lifecycle, including venue sourcing, contracting, budgeting, site selection, registration, digital and print collateral, transportation, accommodations, communications, programming, decor, entertainment, gifting, catering, audiovisual production, speaker management, and post event reconciliation.
> Translate high level marketing and business objectives into compelling event concepts, formats, and attendee experiences.
Business Unit Liaison & Relationship Management
> Serve as the event planning partner and relationship manager for assigned BUs, building trusted, long term relationships with senior stakeholders.
> Act as a strategic advisor, guiding BUs on event strategy, audience targeting, format selection, timing, and integration with broader marketing initiatives.
> Proactively identify opportunities to streamline, scale, or integrate events across BUs while maintaining customization where it matters most.
> Ensure consistent communication, clear expectations, and proactive issue resolution throughout the planning process.
Vendor & Contract Management
> Source, negotiate, and manage contracts with all vendors, including venues, venue finding agents, transportation providers, speakers, entertainment, destination management companies, and production partners.
> Ensure vendor selection aligns with brand standards, budget parameters, and risk and compliance requirements.
Financial Management & Reporting
> Develop and manage detailed event budgets; oversee billing, accruals, reconciliation, and final financial reporting.
> Conduct post event cost analysis and provide insights and recommendations to inform future planning and 2026 budget optimization goals.
Invitation, Registration & Technology Strategy
> Partner with event hosts and BUs to develop invitation and registration strategies, including invitee list development, registration content, and attendance tracking.
> Direct and oversee all event technology, with heavy use of Cvent products, including registration, mobile apps, onsite solutions (badge and agenda printing), reporting portals, surveys, and Passkey.
> Provide clear reporting and insights to stakeholders before, during, and after events. (Job Description - continued)
Creative, Content & Production Collaboration
> Partner with Creative Services to ensure a consistent, elevated visual identity across all event collateral, including save the dates, invitations, agendas, speaker materials, attendee lists, signage, and on site branding.
> Oversee program production, including staging, audiovisual, and webcasts, ensuring content quality and brand alignment.
On Site Leadership & Post Event Analysis
> Travel regularly for site inspections and on site event leadership, ensuring seamless execution and coordination of on site teams.
> Lead post event wrap ups, including final attendance reporting, budget reconciliation, survey analysis, stakeholder debriefs, and recommendations for future events.
> Capture insights and best practices to continuously improve the firm's event portfolio in support of 2026 goals.
Team & Firmwide Collaboration
> Support and mentor other team members on program logistics and best practices.
> Stay current on venue trends, emerging destinations, speakers, and experience innovations.
> Ensure all events adhere to firmwide compliance, risk, and brand guidelines.
Travel
> Travel approximately 30% annually for site inspections and on site management of live events.

Qualifications & Experience:
> 7+ years of progressive experience in conference and event planning, with demonstrated success in the financial services sector
> Bachelor's degree required
> Deep expertise with Cvent and event technology platforms
> Experience with employee incentive and recognition programs is a plus
Skills & Attributes
> Strategic thinker with the ability to connect events to broader marketing and business objectives
> Strong relationship builder with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders
> Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
> Proven leadership, negotiation, and decision making capabilities
> Self starter with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
> Customer focused, approachable, and service oriented
> Excellent written and verbal communication skills
> Flexible and willing to work extended hours (evenings/weekends) and travel as needed
> Proficiency in MS Office

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

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Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $95,000 and $155,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background. Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

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