Meetings & Conferences Planner-Western & Southern Financial Group

Job Description

Job Title: Meetings & Conferences Planner

Company: Western & Southern Financial Group

Location: Cincinnati, OH

Pay: $25000 – 50000 per year

AI Pay Analysis: The annual salary range of $25,000 to $50,000 for a Meetings & Conferences Planner in Cincinnati, OH, appears to be significantly below the industry standards for this role. Typically, Meeting and Conference Planners earn between $40,000 and $70,000 per year, depending on experience and specific job responsibilities, with opportunities for higher earnings in larger organizations or those with extensive experience. Given Cincinnati’s cost of living and the requirements of the position, a salary at the lower end of this range may not be competitive, particularly in the context of attracting skilled professionals in the events management sector. Thus, the proposed salary range may deter potential candidates and suggest that employers may need to reassess their compensation packages to align more closely with market expectations.

Job description:

Plans, coordinates, and executes all aspects of a diverse range of meetings while supporting small to medium-sized Core Business Unit (CBU) meetings and conferences throughout the organization. This role includes conducting site inspections as necessary, providing location recommendations, negotiating contracts, managing budgets, executing on-site logistics, reconciling billing, and facilitating post-meeting evaluations. The individual will collaborate directly with business unit leaders, their support staff, senior executives, and marketing teams throughout all phases of planning and execution. Additionally, this position is responsible for managing executive travel arrangements with Cin-Air and Limolink, working closely with the office of the Chairman, President, and CEO.

The candidate will assist the Meeting Planning, Travel & Events team in various aspects of meeting and conference planning, encompassing program specifications, banquet event orders (BEOs), rooming lists, flight manifests, website design and registration tracking, menu planning, and budgeting. Utilizing a suite of meeting management technology tools and industry best practices, the individual will work to ensure that all stakeholders achieve their business and financial goals. This role operates with some supervision and is expected to exercise discretion within an established range of decisions, regularly updating the Manager on progress.

Responsibilities

Key Duties:

• Coordinating all travel arrangements for senior executives on Cin-Air, including air, car, and hotel bookings, while engaging directly with the office of the Chairman, President, and CEO.
• Managing, coordinating, and executing a comprehensive range of meetings across the organization, from small to mid-size gatherings, as well as supporting various CBU conferences. Responsibilities include recommending venues, developing timelines, negotiating and finalizing contracts, budgeting, and event registration management (including Cvent), as well as coordinating logistics, such as rooming lists and banquet event orders.
• Overseeing contract negotiations and the approval process in conjunction with legal and procurement partners. Acting as a liaison between project leaders, the individual will foster collaboration and coordination among internal stakeholders concerning timelines, promotional efforts, and communication strategies. Partnering with Procurement and AAA to manage hotel, car, and airline contracts is also essential.
• Developing, maintaining, and reconciling meeting and conference budgets, which range from $25,000 to $50,000 annually, with a focus on cost management, value creation, return on investment, and risk mitigation.
• Leveraging cloud-based applications and internal systems to manage events from initial planning through to registration, project management, budgeting, attendee management, sourcing, and reporting. The individual will also organize and manage assigned enterprise events team efforts, including food and beverage selection, décor, and on-site management.
• Performing other duties as assigned and ensuring compliance with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, communications, or a related field is preferred.
• Proven track record of coordinating multiple projects simultaneously while accurately completing assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• A self-motivated, enthusiastic, and determined individual, possessing excellent customer service skills and demonstrated adaptability.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey information clearly, accurately, and concisely.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with a proven capacity to interpret and meet customer needs.
• An understanding of or experience in the meeting and hospitality industries, including familiarity with RFPs, rooming lists, flight manifests, and hotel contracting.
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive information and correspondence professionally.
• Proven ability to work effectively within a team environment while also excelling as a high-level individual contributor in fast-paced, high-pressure situations.
• Ability to make sound decisions under conditions of uncertainty.
• Certification as a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is preferred.

Work Setting/Position Demands:

• None

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 10% travel is required; extended hours may be necessary during on-site meetings/conferences and during peak workload periods or special projects, aligned with executive travel schedules.

Job Posting Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2024 07:27:02 GMT

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