Event & Trade Show Manager

Title: Event & Trade Show Manager

Company: Universal Nutrition (Animal Brand)

Are you ready to live the brand, bring energy to every moment, and turn events into engines for growth? Universal Nutrition is looking for a driven Event & Trade Show Manager to own the events strategy for its flagship brand, Animal—across owned experiences, trade shows, and third-party activations.

Animal isn’t just a supplement line—it’s a mindset and a community. Built for serious strength and those coming back stronger, Animal empowers athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and everyday movers to push their limits. Now we need you to bring that mission to life in the real world.

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What You’ll Do

Own the events ecosystem

• Lead planning, organization, and flawless execution of owned events (brand experiences, community events, pop-ups) and 3rd party events (expos, trade shows, partner activations) for Animal.
• Build and manage an annual events calendar aligned with Animal’s brand, sales, and product priorities.
  
  

Activate the brand & NPDs

• Turn events into launchpads for new product development (NPD): sampling, demos, and storytelling that bring Animal innovation to life.
• Partner with Marketing, Brand, Innovation/R&D, and Sales to create event concepts that showcase Animal hero products, new launches, and key brand messages.
• Design experiences that drive trial, education, and conversion—not just foot traffic.
  
  

Drive consumer closeness

• Create formats that get us closer to consumers: live feedback, product trials, Q&A sessions, and content moments with athletes and creators in the Animal ecosystem.
• Capture insights from events (who attended, what resonated, what was sampled, feedback) and feed them back into brand, product, and sales strategies.
  
  

Collaborate & orchestrate

• Work cross-functionally with brand, content/social, athletes & ambassadors, DTC/media, and sales to ensure events are fully integrated into Animal campaigns and launches.
• Coordinate booth design, signage, assets, staffing plans, and run-of-show, ensuring every detail reflects Animal’s standards and visual identity.
• Manage agencies, vendors, and partners (event organizers, fabricators, A/V, logistics, etc.) from brief to execution.
  
  

Own logistics, budget & performance

• Handle all logistics: registration, travel, shipping, inventory, product samples, and on-site set-up/tear-down.
• Own event budgets, negotiate with vendors, and track spend vs. ROI.
• Define and report on KPIs for each event (leads, sampling, engagement, content captured, sales impact, etc.) and continuously improve playbooks.
• Develop post event analysis reports synthesizing data from all functional teams (sales, content, brand) to drive actionable recommendations for future events and overall business strategy
  
  

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What We’re Looking For

• 4–6 years of experience in event management, experiential marketing, or trade show coordination (CPG, sports nutrition, fitness, or lifestyle brands a plus).
• Proven track record owning events from strategy through execution—briefs, timelines, budgets, logistics, and on-site leadership.
• Strong collaboration skills and comfort working with cross-functional teams (marketing, sales, product, creative, and external partners).
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve in real time under high pressure (ex. handling last minute shipping errors, staffing changes, or unexpected on-site logistics)
• Ability to stand for extended periods (8 hours) during event setup and activation
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs. (product cases, display items, booth materials)
• A passion for sports, fitness, and/or nutrition—you understand the culture around strength, training, and performance.
• Highly organized, detail-obsessed, and able to manage multiple events and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Creative mindset with the ability to turn insights and ideas into memorable, on-brand experiences.
• Willingness to travel regularly, and internationally, for events and trade shows.