Director, Events & Experiences

Posted Sep 22

About the Role:

Currently, BWZ's core product is our network of online publications. We have a portfolio of 15+ professional development brands that bring in 500k+ unique monthly visitors and we've developed a successful playbook for launching, producing, monetizing, and growing publications.

We’re looking for someone to do the same for events, a new business unit we want to develop, in parallel and in support of our membership products. This linked blog post is great inspiration for the opportunity at hand.

This is an entrepreneurial effort, we are looking for an experienced event producer who has a track record of starting events from scratch and bringing them to successful sustainability. The ideal candidate understands the unique challenges that first-year events have, and can expertly guide on-the-ground execution teams who must manage the uncertainty of the startup event.

The Director, Events & Experiences will create, kickstart and execute the flagship event series for BWZ, and recruit a team to announce, project-plan for, and execute our first events in 2025 for C Suite executives.

You'll conceptualize, kickstart and develop the world's best C Suite events, translating strategic vision to executional capability and the development of a highly profitable business line, in its own right, and in support of other b2c commerce initiatives.

You understand what makes an incredible, memorable, must-attend event, and you make it happen. You are familiar with the strain and challenge of starting an event brand from the ground up. You are proficient at building new teams, identifying credible vendors and team members, keeping everyone aligned to quality results. You create and evolve the strategy, finesse the planning and manage the production to develop events at an ever-increasing quality, and profitability.

You're the glue for the events team and beyond, holding everything together, keeping the team accountable for process and results. You connect and collaborate within Brand, Commerce, Media, Sales and Marketing to maximize the value and utility of the events in support of the broader business. You care about the revenue metrics, be it selling tickets or closing sponsorships.

You're actively engaged with prototyping and developing startup baseline best practices for event planning, execution, and process development. You lead by example, set the team up for success, develop and elevate the team, creating the process, tools, exemplars and best practices.

You identify as a self-starter and enjoy the hustle it takes to build something from nothing. This is a position that will require a comfort level with the uncertainty the unknown brings, and get charged by seeing your creative and operational vision come to life.

You constantly raise the bar, coaching and supporting to help the team understand what good looks like - and support them in getting there themselves.

Who you are:

The ideal candidate has successfully conceptualized, executed, and monetized a range of events, including festivals, tradeshows, conferences, retreats and meetups for both large (<1000) and small (>50) audiences previously, preferably for a media company.
5 years of experience creating and executing events within tech and media
An operator and executor at heart, capable of handling strategic planning and menial tasks with equal enthusiasm.
You have a track record of starting events and building them from the ground up.
A self-starter with a high degree of ownership, capable of learning new things quickly and forming insightful strategies.
A dynamic leader with exceptional organizational skills and a knack for fostering team collaboration

Objectives:

First three months: Conceptualize and announce BWZ's first C Suite flagship events, to take place in 2025, securing and vet moderators/conveners, event advisory boards, secure venues for events and work closely with our internal sales and finance team to refine the ticket and sponsorship monetization strategies
First year: Plan and execute end-to-end the first marquee C Suite events profitably, arrange travel, accommodations, and more for attendees, contract and manage event photographers, videographers, event rental suppliers, caterers, etc. And operationalize the internal production process for events so the business unit can generate positive cash flow within the first year

What you'll be doing (responsibilities):

You'll deliver event performance:

Ensure year-one events financially break even while impressing all guests, setting startup events for sustainable success
Produce profitable, return-worthy events across C Suite brands
Ideate, test and iterate on event programming to maximize revenue and engagement
Develop process and programming to drive efficiency and opportunities for scale
Ensure event plans are viable, aligned with goals, and implement-able
Identify capacity gaps, forecast content needs, and make appropriate hires

You'll make our events amazing:

Execute premium, AAA “branded event” with a specific attendee core promise
Drive repeat attendance and membership registration
Develop and iterate event concepts to build the range and scope of event offerings including festivals, tradeshows, conferences, retreats, and meetups
Hone event strategy and execution to become a must-attend event for attendees
Show the team what good looks like, and collaborate with them on it to deliver

You'll coach the team:

Source, develop and equip the team to deliver quality and performance
Develop, document, & align team on process for event planning, production and analysis
Be the guardian and arbiter of quality - adding finishing touches, making improvements and catching the things that others miss, while training the team to do the same
Help the team plan, create, monitor evaluate and improve performance
Encourage and guide events team in personal development, new experiments, and fun

How your success will be measured:

Events EBITDA: $/yr
Attributable Membership signups: #/yr
Marquee events planned: #/yr
Marquee event tickets sold: #/yr
Marquee event sponsorship sold: $/yr
Secondary Meetups/Minglers executed: #/yr
Event NPS: Average #/event
Repeat attendees: #/yr

Your skillset includes:

Startup Event Management Expertise: Proven experience in conceptualizing, kickstarting, planning, and executing large-scale, high-profile events, particularly for senior executives in the tech and media industries. Track record in year-one event success a requirement
Leadership and Team Building: Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, mentor, and develop a high-performing events team. Experience in managing cross-functional teams and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Strategic Planning: Ability to develop and implement comprehensive event strategies that align with business objectives. Skilled in forecasting, capacity planning, and resource allocation.
Organizational Skills: Exceptional organizational abilities, including project management, scheduling, and logistics coordination. Capable of managing multiple events simultaneously with attention to detail.
Communication and Negotiation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Proficient in negotiating contracts with vendors, sponsors, and partners to achieve favorable terms and conditions.
Financial Acumen: Experience in budgeting, financial planning, and financial reporting for events. Ability to manage event budgets efficiently and maximize profitability.
Marketing and Promotion: Knowledge of event marketing strategies, including digital marketing, social media promotion, and attendee engagement tactics. Ability to drive event attendance and brand visibility.
Problem-Solving: Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate and address issues proactively. Adaptability in dynamic environments and the ability to handle unexpected challenges.
Technological Proficiency: Proficiency in event management software and tools, as well as familiarity with CRM systems, data analysis tools, and other relevant technologies.

Nice to haves:

Media Industry Experience: Previous experience working within a media company, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in this sector.
Tech Industry Familiarity: In-depth knowledge of the tech industry and experience organizing events focused on tech topics
Membership-Based Models: Experience with membership-based business models and understanding how events can drive membership growth and retention.
Creative Innovation: A track record of introducing innovative event concepts and formats. Ability to think outside the box and create memorable, engaging experiences for attendees.
Advanced Data Analysis: Skills in data analysis and interpretation to measure event success, attendee satisfaction, and ROI. Experience using data to inform event strategy and decision-making.
Global Event Experience: Experience managing international events, understanding cultural nuances, and handling logistics for global attendees.
Sustainability Practices: Knowledge of sustainable event practices and the ability to implement environmentally friendly initiatives in event planning and execution.
Professional Network: A robust professional network within the event planning, media, and tech industries. Ability to leverage relationships for event speakers, sponsors, and partnerships.
Public Speaking: Strong public speaking and presentation skills to represent BWZ at events, panels, and industry conferences.

$125,000 - $175,000 a year

Salary Statement:

This full-time position is available as either a remote or hybrid position (depending on location), with an annual salary in the range of $125,000 to $175,000 CAD. The range is a guide for the expected skills, knowledge and experience for new hires based in Canada only. Seniority level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, and alignment with market data. This means ranges will vary for candidates based outside of Canada and/or at different seniority levels. In addition to annual salary, full-time employees are eligible for a discretionary bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.

About Us:

Black and White Zebra is a rapidly growing, independent media tech company headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Since 2012, our portfolio of influential digital publications has been helping millions of people succeed at work.

Our brands cover project management, product management, people management, customer experience, quality assurance and others, with the goal of connecting people with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to succeed professionally.

We got our start in 2011 as The Digital Project Manager blog, founded by our CEO Ben Aston. Since then, we’ve grown into an international team of 70+ creators, strategists, and innovators with a portfolio of more than 14 online publications. We enjoy an impact-driven environment that combines the agility of a startup with the creativity of an agency and the diversity of a global company.

We’ve recently ranked #30 in The Globe and Mail’s Fastest Growing Company list and received a CMI award for Best Digital Publication for The Digital Project Manager—and we’re listed in both Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers, and Best Employers in BC.

All of this growth is driven by our commitment to our mission: In a world of evolving skills, practices, and technology, we’re creating a playbook for the future of work and empowering communities to create it with us.

Diversity Equity and Inclusion:

Black and White Zebra is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, marital status, military or veteran’s status (including protected veterans, as may be required by federal law), sexual orientation or any other category protected by law. We celebrate all backgrounds and attributes that continue to help make our team impactful, iterative, adaptable, and fun!