Venue Sourcing Manager
The Venue Sourcing Manager will consistently deliver exceptional service to our clients through excellent meetings management. This position is an integral part of our Venue Sourcing/Client Solutions team and will be responsible for managing the venue sourcing process for events as a dedicated resource within our Solutions division for a management consultancy firm.
Responsibilities
* Venue Sourcing & Contract Management
* Provide site selection services for meetings and events
* Review venue contracts and client addendums for accuracy and negotiate where applicable
* Develop and submit RFPs via Cvent
* Consolidate information to fulfill client reporting requirements
* Ensure CVENT is kept up to date
* Manage complex space, rates, costs, concessions, and terms of contract agreements negotiations
* Ensure allocated work is correctly logged and updated for venue sourcing monthly reports to management
* Cultivate and maintain relationships with internal and external clients and suppliers
* Create and maintain best practices and SOP for venue sourcing across the team
* Maximize and closely monitor opportunities for increasing value adds, savings, and cost efficiencies
* Field questions and offer advice to team members to assist with visual creative problem solving
* Work with Operations Lead to create client reporting to maintain our SLA, drive better procurement and team structure
* Manage and ensure SLAs are monitored and achieved throughout the venue sourcing process
* Contribute to the creation and deepening of a knowledge bank of venues, hotels, destinations, and services that ensures the FIRST team is providing expert advice and recommendations to clients
* Conduct site visits as required
Qualifications
* Extensive event management or venue sourcing experience (familiarity with both an agency environment and financial or consulting clients is preferred)
* Advanced project management skills, including budget creation, management, and reconciliation
* Experience with high-level conference and meeting management
* Exceptional ability to establish relationships and maintain a positive rapport with clients, vendors, and suppliers
* Excellent oral and written communication skills
* Advanced negotiating, risk management, and contracting skills
* Knowledge of venues in regional destinations
* Strong knowledge of Cvent eRFP and budgeting modules
* Good/advanced working knowledge of the MS Office Suite
* Creative problem solver, resourceful, team player
* Calm and flexible approach to handling the pressure and stress of ever-changing demands
* Highly organized with excellent time management skills to handle multiple tasks and meet strict deadlines
* Ambitious and proactive
* Willing to travel when required
Preferred Qualifications
* Strong working knowledge of key domestic and international destinations including venues and suppliers
* Demonstrated ability to collaborate with colleagues at all levels
* Experience with international events is a plus
* Experience with mentoring junior team members
* Demonstrate advanced client communication skills
Administration & General
* Assume responsibility for own environment, ensuring adherence to health and safety policies while having clean smart surroundings
* Work intelligently and ensure that team management is aware of problems or issues which negatively affect productivity
* Ensure knowledge is shared within the team to enable them to work smarter
* Accurate adherence to the company’s time tracking policies and systems
* Work on ad hoc requests as required
FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.
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