Global Events Director

Job Summary

The Global Director of Events will lead the strategic vision and operational execution of all international events including trade shows/fairs and major business events across the organization (e.g. SPIEL, GenCon, and Pax Unplugged/Pax East among others). This role will be responsible for developing and implementing a cohesive global events strategy that aligns with the company's objectives, brand positioning, and business goals. The ideal candidate will drive both high-level planning, major long-term partnerships and day-to-day operations of global events, ensuring seamless execution, innovation, and measurable impact. This individual will manage directly the Global Events Central Team (Events Coordinator and Event Content Manager), will manage with functional reporting (dotted line) the Senior Events Managers of Playtype and RTM, and will collaborate closely with cross functional teams such as Publishing leadership, business leaders, marketing, sales, product, to deliver world-class customer experiences at conferences, trade shows.

What does this role Involve

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and lead the Global events strategy and execution, ensuring alignment between Playtype strategy and consistency with organizational goals, brand values and targets and key business initiatives.
• Provide coordination and drive resource allocation/arbitration between each Playtype & 3P Studios considering needs, requirements, audience and fair rules.  As needed, escalate arbitration to the Publishing or Group Executive Teams when constraints & conflictual strategies occur.
• Deliver a consistent and valuable approach to key global vendors across all events (Global and Playtype specific events), building Company-wide agreements to ensure cost optimization and to leverage experience across the team.
• Build and maintain relationships with external global event partners, vendors, and stakeholders to ensure high-quality event experiences and a positive Asmodee reputation.
• Identify new opportunities to expand event presence in key global markets, driving growth and brand visibility.

Operational Execution:

• Oversee the end-to-end planning and execution of all Global events, from budgeting, resource allocation, space and location bookings, logistics, and vendor management to content development, speaker coordination, and post-event analysis.
• Manage the overall Global Events budget, starting with the proposal process and ending with the decision about the proper allocations. Partner with the Playtypes and Route to Market Event Managers along the way for alignment and to best execute on prioritization and decision-making needs.
• Develop and implement event performance metrics to measure success and deliver continuous improvement.
• oCreate and lead a team of event professionals, providing mentorship, support, and guidance to ensure operational excellence by leading by example.

Global Event Management:

• Build long-term and trustful partnerships with 3P Lead efforts in sourcing, negotiating, and managing external vendors (e.g. booth builders, demo staffing, etc.), ensure maximum value while creating event experiences and quality across all Global events.
• Create an Event Managers network across the Company to share ideas and best practices and ensure the scale-up of the various Event teams of the organization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with Senior Events Managers of Playtype, marketing, sales, and product teams to ensure event content and experiences align with key messages and business objectives.
• Partner with senior leadership to define event goals, KPIs, and communication strategies, ensuring alignment across all channels.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure consistent branding, messaging, and customer engagement across all events.
   

What are we looking for

• Proven experience (10+ years) in event management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role overseeing global events. Experience in the gaming (tabletop / videogames) or multimedia industry is an advantage.
• Expertise in both the strategic vision and operational execution of large-scale, multi-market events.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience in budgeting, cost control, and event ROI analysis.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels of the organization and with external partners.
• Out-of-the-box thinking and a high level of creativity to deliver impactful event experiences, even within restricted budgets.
• Strong negotiation skills and extensive experience in negotiating with event stakeholders and vendors.
• Ability to adapt to last-minute changes while ensuring the best possible outcome within the budget.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with senior executives.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, cross-cultural environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to travel to all events; and
• On event days, ability to spend 10+ hours engaging in physical activity including lifting and moving items of up to 50 pounds, walking long distances, and standing on your feet for hours at a time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a high-growth or global enterprise environment.
• Advanced degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
• Certification in event management or project management (e.g., CMP, PMP) is a plus.