Event Planner

This position exists to serve Thrivent as a consulting and collaboration resource to design, plan and execute field conferences, meetings, and corporate events. The position works with event sponsors to determine event goals, objectives and return on event investment. Practices a professional event planning process to deliver services for large, multi-day events.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Acts as a strategic consultant for event sponsors by collaborating on development of event goals, objectives and return on investment and providing feedback on content, agenda, and program details to optimize the outcomes. Consults with business sponsors and employees to ensure events reflect Thrivents purpose, and values.
• Demonstrates project management and organizational skills to successfully manage assigned events and meetings inclusive of venue selection, negotiations, contract revisions, agendas, all logistic planning including transportation, room blocks, meeting room set up, AV/production, food and beverage, and dietary restrictions.
• Determines and recommends resources and required budget and aggressively manages to the approved event budget, including attrition, deposit schedules, and final reconciliation. Applies Strategic Meeting Management (SMM) principles including enterprise-wide visibility to meeting volume, capturing and reporting event spend, cost avoidance, risk management, and ROI. Ensures compliance to applicable tax law through accurate reporting including but not limited to taxation, attendee supplemental expense allowance, and chargebacks to correct business units, event sponsors, and attendees.
• Leads the strategic sourcing process including defining event venue/vendor requirements, developing requests for proposal, managing responses and facilitating venue/vendor selection, facilitating post contract relationship management.
• Negotiates contracts and manages vendors, including hotels, caterers, AV, decor, and marketing materials. Oversees group air travel and ticketing, including monitoring and ensuring that arrangements are compliant with Thrivents travel policy. Researches, identifies, and selects appropriate event speakers and entertainment; manages contract riders and onsite handling. This position ensures compliance to prescribed contract authorization and management procedures.
• Partners with attendee experience team to manage event websites and registration including on-site; partner in the production of event materials; partner on internal and external event performance surveys to determine return on event objective.
• Supervises on-site meeting/conference staff; acts as main point of contact during events; exercises sound decision making skills and discretion to resolve all issues that arise. Acts as a mentor to less experienced staff.
• Introduces innovation and improvement to existing or new events and/or programs. Embraces continuous improvement through survey results, industry involvement, benchmarking with peer groups, research and other feedback. Participates in national event related associations.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Required:

• College degree required in Event Planning, Hospitality, Communications or related fields.
• 5+ years applicable experience in event planning.
• Attention to detail, strong organizational skills and ability to successfully meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high pressure environment while demonstrating superior poise, critical thinking skills and excellent judgement.
• Ability to work independently and provide leadership on assigned programs from planning through completion.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communications skills and the ability to present to senior leadership and influence decision making.
• Travel required: Less than 20%

Preferred:

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) or Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) designation strongly preferred
• Project management certification preferred
• Advanced Excel skills preferred

Pay TransparencyThrivents long-term growth depends on attracting, rewarding, and retaining people who are committed to helping others thrive with purpose. We accomplish this by offering a wide variety of market competitive compensation programs to attract, reward, and retain top talent. The applicable salary or hourly wage range for this full-time role is $65,765.00 - $88,976.00 per year, which factors in various geographic regions. The base pay actually offered will be determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant experience, skills, and knowledge, business needs, market demand, and other factors Thrivent deems important.Thrivent is unique in our commitment to helping people to be wise with money and live balanced and generous lives. That extends to our benefits.The following benefits may be offered: various bonuses (including, for example, annual or long-term incentives); medical, dental, and vision insurance; health savings account; flexible spending account; 401k; pension; life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; disability insurance; supplemental protection insurance; 20 days of Paid Time Off each year; Sick and Safe Time; 10 paid company holidays; Volunteer Time Off; paid parental leave; EAP; well-being benefits, and other employee benefits. Eligibility for receipt of these benefits is subject to the applicable plan/policy documents. Thrivents plans/policies are subject to change at any time at Thrivents discretion.

Thrivent provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) without regard to race, religion, color, sex , gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable local, state , or federal law. This policy applies to all employees and job applicants.

Thrivent is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation , please let us know by sending an email to human.resources@thrivent.com or call ... and request Human Resources.