Watermark is looking for an Events Manager to generate demand and build pipeline for sales with sponsored and hosted events, virtual and in-person. This person will create a strategic plan and manage all tactics of hosted and sponsored events for Watermark. The goal is to create efficient, effective processes and a structure that ensures we support the right events at the right level, and that each event measurably contributes to our pipeline target.
The Events Manager collaborates with internal teams and external agencies to plan, design, and implement events, with a primary focus on managing tactics for trade association events, partner-hosted events, virtual events we sponsor, and an out-of-the-box solution for regional sponsored events where full marketing support is not recommended. You would own all aspects of these activities including event promotion across all marketing channels, all event logistics, and creating repeatable options/processes that scale.
The position requires excellent communication skills, collaboration, curiosity, and an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. You must be comfortable with ambiguity, an independent thinker, and able to get things done.
This role reports to the Director, Marketing Campaigns.
What you will be doing:
Manage all aspects of Watermarks event strategy, including where we should participate, at what levels, and how to deal with smaller sponsorships
Create a structure that takes all potential events into account, balances that against budget, pipeline targets, and team capacity.
Manage all aspects of event tactics for events that we sponsor, including providing deliverables to the event, promotions, booth set-up, staffing, follow-up, and metrics to determine the return on marketing spend.
Work collaboratively across marketing, product, sales, and client success to engage speakers for events, including client speakers. Expect to manage content creation, practice sessions, deck building, and logistics.
Work with several higher education associations, LMS providers, and other technology partners to reach prospects and clients where they congregate
What skills and experience you need to have:
5+ years B2B event experience, preferably in higher education institutions, edtech company that serves higher education, or has managed events for a higher-ed adjacent association or organization is a huge plus
Proven experience with managing sponsored events including trade shows and hosted meetings
Strong organizational and project management skills and the ability to manage multiple events at the same time
Analytical skills and proven ability to use data to inform future strategies
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to learn new concepts quickly
Ability to operate independently and solve problems quickly
Familiarity with Google Suite including G-Mail; Asana or Smartsheet, Slack, and other similar or related tools.
Experience working in fast-paced, high growth environments, comfortable with ambiguity
Team player attitude with the ability to interact with sales, marketing, product, and client-facing stakeholders as well as our clients.
Ideal, unicorn candidate has experience with any of these associations events: ACE, EDUCAUSE, AACTE, AAC&U, AACRAO, ACBSP, AALHE, AASCU, SACSCOC, HLC, WASC, CAEP, AAQEP, AIR
About the Marketing Team:
Were a team of demand generation-focused marketers facing a huge opportunity to sell new products into an established customer base and expand to new accounts. The higher education market needs our products, and the government is helping fund their transition to digital enablement. We sell the solutions that make the administrations jobs much easier, efficient, and transparent. We currently serve half of the total, finite addressable market, and are well-positioned to grow.
Roles this person will be working with:
Content Marketing: Responsible for the brands voice, and most content created.
Digital Marketing: Responsible for executing, testing, and maintaining our website, paid search, and paid social advertising, SEO, and digital program optimization.
Marketing Operations: Responsible for creating campaign templates that show clear paths to revenue, enabling you to clearly understand what works, what doesnt. Creates and maintains our rich marketing technology stack, and sets up reliable, streamlined campaign reporting.
SDRs: Outsourced team that follows up on MQLs
Partner marketing staff from key technology and accreditation partners/organizations
Two sales teams: Growth accounts (smaller institutions, a lot of accounts); Key and Strategic accounts (larger institutions, limited accounts but large opportunities)
