Meetings & Events Planner (Hybrid, Columbia SC) Job

As a Meetings and Events Planner you will have the opportunity be apart of a dynamic team that is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of meetings, conferences, and special events for AgFirst and its affiliated Associations. This includes gathering event requirements, leading meeting sponsors through the planning / decision making phase, site proposals, site selection, support through contract negotiations, 3rd party vendor selections, coordinating marketing requirements and communications, and execution of meeting logistics (design, technical delivery, and value proposition). This position will also assist in coordinating the event budget, billing, and reconciliation of expenses.
What You'll Do:
- Meets with meeting sponsors to determine program requirements. Develops overall event plan, budget, and responsibility / timeline matrix.
- Secures proposals for event locations and accommodations. Facilitates the decision making process with purchasing and meeting sponsors.
- Facilitates regularly scheduled customer meetings to maintain alignment with requirements, meeting objectives, and budgetary variances. Manages event timelines and responsibility matrix. Manages communications regarding event progress.
- Coordinates customer invitations, advance and on-site registration processes, and post-event follow-up evaluations.
- Coordinates and ensures appropriateness of all event plan details such as room / facility layout, equipment, menus/catering, themed décor, signage, ground transportation, off-site recreation, printed materials (working through marketing), event security, and speakers / entertainers.
What You'll Need:
- Education and/or experience equivalent to an Associate Degree in Business.
- Three years of meeting planning experience.
- The ability to execute multiple events simultaneously following basic project management guidelines.
- Excellent team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with customers, project managers, Bank and Association management teams.
- Must be attentive to detail and work well under pressure.
- Flexibility in approach to problem solving and creative thinking. Ability to listen and incorporate new information / viewpoints.