Conference Planner, Venue Sourcing

Conference Planner

As a conference planner on the Venue Sourcing team, you will be responsible for supporting the venue sourcing and contract negotiation strategy for a global conference portfolio with Gartner C-Level Communities. This role includes collaboration with the Logistics conference team to determine conference requirements, securing optimal conference space to maximize conference success, build strong relationships with venues and brand partners, and negotiate agreements that deliver best in class value and cost savings to the organization. Support and execute on multiple, simultaneous projects.

What You Will Do:

• Partner with internal stakeholders to understand business needs. Then, establish requirements, scope, and criteria for identified sourcing initiatives to achieve the desired business goals.
• Support overall global sourcing initiatives and lead in markets within region.
• Prepare and disburse venue RFPs for a portfolio of conferences, understanding the needs of the audience and identifying complex space requirements to source suitable venue options that support our strategy.
• Management and selection of best venues, provide strategic analysis to assist with decision making.
• Support contracting process including the negotiation of pricing and business terms to minimize the risk to the company and deliver increased value and cost savings.
• Leverage companywide buying power to ensure company is receiving the best options at the most affordable costs.
• Develop strong relationships with internal and external key stakeholders to ensure quality standard at meetings is maintained, company expectations are met, and lines of communication are open.
• Maintain a detailed venue directory to support sourcing efficiencies. Continuously look for new and/or expanding venue opportunities within new and existing geo locations.
• Communicate and collaborate with all parties to inspire confidence and ensure all needs are met.
• Strive for continuous improvement through ongoing venue and contract negotiation - collaborate with onsite planners to capture feedback and follow up to ensure practices are adjusted accordingly where necessary.

What Is Expected:

• Successful execution of sourcing and negotiation best practices
• Flawless client experience
• Build and maintain excellent working relationships
• Outstanding operational effectiveness and results oriented (including scalable and consistent processes)
• Exceptional communication and collaboration
• Ability to multitask and stay ahead of deadlines
• Achievement of financial objectives
• Willingness to travel and support onsite as needed up to 15% internationally and domestically

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor's degree preferred, but not required
• 1 year or more of relevant experience
• Venue sourcing experience
• Proven contract negotiation experience
• Proven budget management abilities
• Excellent interpersonal skills - team player who works well with others
• Client focused - superior customer service and relationship skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong time management skills and ability to multitask - high sense of urgency and prioritization
• Meticulous in execution of tasks
• Solution orientated, creative and innovative, strategic thinker
• Confident and collaborative mindset with ability to build and leverage relationships both internally and externally
• Strong financial management skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Fully competent in Microsoft office, especially PPT and Excel (Smartsheet's experience would be advantageous)

At Gartner, Inc., we guide the leaders who shape the world. Our mission relies on expert analysis and bold ideas to deliver actionable, objective insight, helping enterprise leaders and their teams succeed with their mission-critical priorities.

Since our founding in 1979, we've grown to more than 21,000 associates globally who support ~14,000 client enterprises in ~90 countries and territories. We do important, interesting and substantive work that matters. That's why we hire associates with the intellectual curiosity, energy and drive to want to make a difference. The bar is unapologetically high. So is the impact you can have here.

Our sustained success creates limitless opportunities for you to grow professionally and flourish personally. We have a vast, virtually untapped market potential ahead of us, providing you with an exciting trajectory long into the future. How far you go is driven by your passion and performance.

We hire remarkable people who collaborate and win as a team. Together, our singular, unifying goal is to deliver results for our clients.

Our teams are inclusive and composed of individuals from different geographies, cultures, religions, ethnicities, races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and generations.

We invest in great leaders who bring out the best in you and the company, enabling us to multiply our impact and results. This is why, year after year, we are recognized worldwide as a great place to work.

Gartner offers world-class benefits, highly competitive compensation and disproportionate rewards for top performers.

In our hybrid work environment, we provide the flexibility and support for you to thrive working virtually when it's productive to do so and getting together with colleagues in a vibrant community that is purposeful, engaging and inspiring.

The policy of Gartner is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status and to seek to advance the principles of equal employment opportunity.

Gartner is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers opportunities to all job seekers, including job seekers with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Company's career webpage as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling Human Resources at +1 (203) 964-0096 or by sending an email to ApplicantAccommodations@gartner.com.

Job Requisition ID: 98378