ABOUT OUR COMPANY

FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency providing Content, Creative, Digital Technology, Management & Delivery, and Data & Insights services. Operating as a full-service agency partner or through embedding specialist talent into client teams, FIRST brings brands and people together through creative, connected experiences. Spanning 12 countries with more than 700 team members, FIRST works with clients across industries including financial services, technology, media, consumer electronics, medical and healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and the nonprofit sector.

Most recently, Eventex honored FIRST as one of the Top 150 Event Organizers & Agencies in the USA, while Chief Marketer listed FIRST among their “200 Top Marketing Agencies" for both 2022 & 2021, and Special Events recognized FIRST as one of their “50 Top Event Companies” at the end of 2020. Crain’s New York Business included FIRST in the Top 100 “Best Places to Work in NYC” for 2020, and The London Stock Exchange Group once again listed FIRST as one of ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ in 2020.

Learn more at www.firstagency.com

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Senior Project Manager will assume a key role within the organization by leading and motivating colleagues in a way that enhances working relationships and encapsulates FIRST values and client brands. The individual will ensure the project team delivers consistently exceptional service to our clients through excellent project management and delivers world-class events that exceed client expectations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assume a leadership role within the organization, both leading and motivating colleagues.

• Deliver events which are world-class and that exceed clients’ expectations.
• Responsible for leading, planning and executing key events, in particular high profile and complex events.
• Responsible for managing client relationships and overseeing a team on a project by project basis while being client liaison and managing SLA’s (Service Level Agreements) are monitored and achieved throughout the event planning process.
• Ensure that the entire project team delivers a consistently exceptional service to our clients through excellent project management.
• Manage all aspects of the event operation from creative concept and development through initial briefing to reconciliation including but not limited to budget management, site selection, hotel/venue management, food & beverage, registration management, transportation, décor, staffing, etc. 
• Work with Department Head and Team Leads to identify staffing needs per program based on overall project scope and client needs.
• Provide advisory support on strategic approaches with the project team.
• Field questions and offer advice to team members to assist with creative problem solving, acting as a mentor for the broader team as required.
• Work with the team to ensure adherence to FIRST and client standards of operations.
• Responsible for fiscal success of individual programs and assigned accounts accurately through timely budgeting and reconciliation of events, monitoring and maximizing opportunities for increasing value adds, savings, and cost efficiencies.
• Share knowledge of best practices and new suppliers, services and venues.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with clients and suppliers.
• Negotiate and review supplier contracts and addendums for accuracy.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 8 years of event management experience, or similar fields.
• Bachelor’s Degree required in related fields.
• Advanced project management skills, including: budget creation, management and reconciliation.
• Advanced experience of conference, meeting and production management.
• Advanced experience of food and beverage management, including but not limited to menu creation, understanding BEO’s, plus staffing requirements, timings, etc. as they relate to F&B.
• Advanced experience creating, leading and adapting staffing plans based on overall project scope and flow.
• Excellent supplier knowledge and negotiating skills.
• An advanced working knowledge of the MS Office.
• Proactive and creative problem solver and decision maker.
• Able to develop a nurturing and caring approach to team leadership, while being a mentor and supporting other team members as required.
• Team player, resourceful and adaptable to situations and ever changing demands.
• Highly organized with the ability to handle multiple tasks to meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent time management and multi-tasking skills with the ability to be proactive and ambitious.
• A calm and flexible approach to handling pressure and stress.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Advanced working knowledge of key US destinations (e.g. New York, Chicago, Miami, etc.).
• Expert knowledge of venues and suppliers in key US cities.

ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL

• Assume responsibility for your own environment, ensuring adherence to health and safety policies while having clean smart surroundings.
• Work intelligently and ensure that managers are aware of problems or issues which negatively affect productivity.
• Build excellent relations with the team through positive communications.
• Ensure knowledge is shared within the team to enable them to work smarter and more efficiently.
• Work on ad hoc requests from FIRST and client as required, typically during quiet times.