Event Operations Senior Associate

About the role

We are seeking a highly organized, detail-obsessed Event Operations Senior Associate to join our Events team, reporting to the VP, Experiential Marketing. In this role, you will be the operational engine behind Garner's Tier 1 owned events, the multi-day national programs (such as our Strategic Benefits Summit and Nexus by Garner) that bring our most important customers, prospects, and partners together. You will own the logistics that make these events feel effortless: venues, vendors, rooming, transportation, budgets, and flawless onsite execution.

This is a high-ownership, execution-focused role for someone who loves the details and thrives in the run-up to a major event. You will partner closely with the Director of Events and the broader Events team, manage vendors and budgets day to day, and be the calm, organized presence onsite when it matters most.

Where you will work

This position is available for remote work. Expect significant travel, up to 50%, to support Garner's Tier 1 events on the ground, with time spent onsite in the days leading up to and during each event.

What you will do

• Own end-to-end logistics for Garner's Tier 1 owned events, including rooming lists, room blocks, food and beverage, room sets, banquet event orders (BEOs), decor, transportation, offsite activities, and overall onsite flow
• Manage venue and vendor sourcing and relationships: run RFPs with our sourcing agency (ConferenceDirect) and destination management companies (DMCs), review contracts for accuracy, pricing, and concessions, and route them through Legal and Finance
• Run the operational backbone of each event: build and maintain the production schedule, conduct hotel site visits, and hold weekly check-ins with the hotel and DMC to keep every detail on track
• Coordinate all onsite experience details, including swag and gifting, decor, badges, signage, entertainment, photography, room drops, spa, dining, and VIP and attendee transportation
• Execute flawlessly onsite: serve as a key operational presence at each event, managing program execution, troubleshooting in real time, and ensuring a seamless experience for attendees and Garner staff
• Own event budgets day to day: draft and maintain budgets, process contracts, invoices, and reimbursements with Legal and Finance, and reconcile final numbers after each event
• Drive the project management for each event: build and maintain detailed plans and timelines in Asana, and use Slack and Google Workspace to keep the team, vendors, and stakeholders aligned, communicating, and on schedule; confirm Garner attendees and run staff prep meetings in the