Director, Retail Events & Recognition

The Director, Retail Events and Recognition will be responsible for creating, defining and managing small and large scale strategic events and special projects to inspire and celebrate our retail associates. The primary focus of this role will be to create, organize and lead the annual event for our high performing General Managers.

The person in this role should be passionate about motivating and recognizing our General Managers as Panera Bread’s #1 Leaders. Working closely with the Executive Leadership and the Operations Leadership Teams, this role offers a powerful opportunity to define and promote programs that will ensure we are recognizing and celebrating our top Leaders who are essential for Panera’s on-going growth now and for the future.

This position can be remote, work from home.

Responsibilities:

• Define and create an exciting, vibrant, world-class annual trip recognition program to recognize, celebrate and reward the top 10% of our Retail General Managers after thorough research and input obtained from Sr. Leadership and Key Stakeholder interviews to better understand and determine what drives top General Manager behavior.
• Create an event RFP using needs assessment; track incoming proposals; prepare a facility comparison grid; make recommendations; negotiate contract terms, including Location, food and beverage minimum, hotel cut-off date, group lodging block and rates, and attrition and cancellation clauses in compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Plan and execute all trip logistics (pre, during and post event), including but not limited to venue, transportation, food and lodging, speakers and talent, exhibitors/vendors, technology, off-site activities, marketing/communications, and program materials.
• Create, maintain, and monitor event budget including tracking all incurred and anticipated expenses to ensure that all line items are within budget. Reviews contractor invoices, resolves discrepancies, assigns appropriate project coding, and submits final invoices for approval.
• Continuously and proactively create events to celebrate our associates, bakery-cafe openings and special contests to promote excitement about new products.
• Build strong relationships and partnerships within Panera to ensure a pulse on what drives and motivates our associates.
• Possess strong “storytelling” skills with the ability to demonstrate, influence, and negotiate cross-functionally.
• Possess a strong desire to get things done, a proven drive, ownership, and accountability; organization and project management skills.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience required.
• 3 or more years’ hands-on experience in Event Planning with proven ability to manage and lead both small and large scale events.
• Experience in project management or project planning.
• Detail-orientated and curious, able to quickly evaluate inter-dependencies between projects and programs, and use analytics and creative problem-solving skills to identify a clear pathway to best solutions.
• Outstanding communication and cross-departmental team building skills with the ability to effectively persuade through oral and written means.
• Elevated performance in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment with demonstrated ability to complete projects on time based on scope, people/resources and business value.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize and balance varying workloads to ensure delivery of high-quality results.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Ability to travel as needed for the role. (Approximately 40%)