Marketing - Sr Events Planner

Position Summary

The Sr Events Planner is responsible for planning, programming, coordination, and execution of Henderson's portfolio of client events, thought-leadership summits, industry symposiums, tradeshows, and tactical business development initiatives. This role works collaboratively across all marketing and business development functions, to ensure each event reinforces Henderson's client experience promise and strengthens Henderson's reputation in the market. The Sr Events Planner will be a creative thinker, meticulous planner, and proactive problem solver who understands how events serve broader marketing, business development, and client engagement goals. The ideal candidate brings both the logistical rigor to execute flawless events and the strategic mindset to shape programming, measure impact, and continuously improve the standards and processes related to event management and logistics.

Essential Job Functions & Accountabilities

Event Logistics & Budget Management

• Coordinate all logistics for events.
• Develop and manage comprehensive event budgets to ensure cost-effectiveness across the organization.
• Scout and select appropriate event venues based on objectives, theme, audience size, and geography.

• Establish event standards and operating procedures and train internal staff to properly execute events across Henderson offices and event locations around the country.
• Oversee on-site services including catering, signage, entertainment, permits, decor, A/V, and giveaways.
• Troubleshoot and address any issues that arise during events to guarantee seamless execution.
• Negotiate contracts with vendors, venues, and service providers to maximize value.
• Track and report event spending against budget, providing regular updates to leadership.

Event Strategy & Conceptualization

• Collaborate with Marketing, Client Experience, and Business development teams to define event goals, target audiences, and desired outcomes for each event.
• Create and maintain an annual event plan encompassing client appreciation events (e.g. golf tournaments, wellness excursions, hosted dinners), thought-leadership summits, industry symposiums, open houses, networking engagements, events, and other similar events.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to conceptualize and bring creative visions to life, ensuring each event aligns with Henderson's go-to-market strategies and promotional campaigns.

Content & Programming Coordination

• Partner with marketing team to develop agendas, panel topics, and educational content for thought-leadership and symposium events.
• Work with marketing to coordinate speaker logistics for events featuring presentations or panel discussions.
• Ensure event programming is relevant, timely, and enhances Henderson's reputation as thought leaders in our target client sectors.

Cross-Sector Coordination & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the central coordinator for events that span multiple sectors, aligning diverse stakeholder interests around shared event goals.
• Manage stakeholder input and support goal alignment across promotional campaigns.
• Own the end-to-end event lifecycle with accountability for outcomes, collaborating broadly while using personal knowledge and experience with event execution to earn influence and authority with key stakeholders.

Travel & Guest Experience

• Facilitate travel arrangements for key personnel and clients attending events, ensuring smooth planning.
• Coordinate accommodations, transportation, and any additional requirements for attendees if needed.
• Manage invite lists, RSVPs, and attendee communications through CRM and event management platforms.
• Ensure a positive experience for all guests, addressing special requests or requirements and creating touchpoints that reflect Henderson's client-first approach.

Post-Event Analysis & Feedback

• Work with client experience team to design and distribute post-event attendee surveys to capture feedback on experience, content, and value.
• Collaborate with client experience, business development, and marketing teams to synthesize event feedback and prepare post-event reports including attendance data, attendee sentiment, key takeaways, and ROI analysis for sector leadership.
• Conduct after-action reviews with event stakeholders to identify successes and areas for improvement.
• Support client experience as they incorporate event insights into Henderson's broader client listening process and client experience reporting.
• Maintain a continuous improvement approach, applying lessons learned to future event planning.

Core Competencies

Communication

• Keeps others informed, conveying information clearly and with an appropriate level of detail.
• Listens attentively to others and takes an interest in what they have to say.
• Responds openly to others, encouraging honest, productive communication.

Integrity

• Demonstrates consideration for the opinions, perspectives, and experiences of others.
• Takes responsibility for personal actions and delivers on commitments.
• Aims to understand how actions impact others.

Quality Orientation

• Takes steps to ensure work is done correctly.
• Delivers on client expectations.
• Strives to follow policies and procedures.

Teamwork/Inclusion

• Shares time, effort, and consideration with others.
• Gets curious, takes interest, and learns from the diversity of others.
• Shows enthusiasm for team goals.

Continuous Learning

• Views mistakes and change as a growth opportunity.
• Recognizes gaps in personal knowledge and enthusiastically pursues opportunities to learn something new.
• Engages others when tackling an unfamiliar task or responsibility.

Functional/Technical Expertise

• Recognizes routine problems and identifies solutions.
• Keeps up with industry and/or discipline standards.
• Maintains best practice throughout all job functions.

Required Education, Experience, Licenses & Technical Competencies

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in an event planning or event management capacity required, preferably in a corporate environment and/or within a professional services industry such as engineering, construction, architecture, law, or similar.
• Experience in budget management with effective negotiation skills required.
• Proven experience leading the planning and execution of large-scale, multi-stakeholder events from concept through post-event analysis required.
• Demonstrated ability to develop event programming and coordinate content, speakers, and educational sessions for professional or industry audiences required.
• Strong project management skills, capable of managing multiple concurrent events and workstreams simultaneously required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact confidently with all levels of individuals, both inside and outside the organization, including senior leadership and clients required.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft suite, specifically Word, PowerPoint, Excel, CoPilot, and OneNote.
• Proficient in event management platforms (e.g., Cvent, Eventbrite, or similar) and event registration software.
• Experience working in a CRM system required; proficiency in managing attendee data, invite lists, and post-event follow-up through CRM preferred.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver under strict deadlines.
• Team player with a positive and collaborative attitude.
• Must demonstrate proficiency in all core competencies as described and characterized in this job description.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Other duties as assigned.
• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to read, write and communicate in English.
• Travel for conferences, events, and tradeshows required (estimated 8-12+ times per year, including multi-day events in various locations).
• Ability to work after core business hours as needed, including occasional evenings and weekends for event execution.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs with or without assistance.