The Manager, Field Marketing, serves the essential role responsible for directing and executing TVAs internal and external meetings and events. In coordination with Director, Marketing & Creative Communications, and consulting with executive leadership, senior management staff and others who have support needs; this position oversees the execution and all related resources related to meetings and events. This is a critical role because a successful corporate event helps TVA build strong relationships with our stakeholders, inclusive of employees, customers, shareholders, investors, community, and the media. Span of responsibility includes managing and developing employees and assignments, working across TVA to enhance the role of events support, and working collaboratively within Communications implementing supporting overall business unit strategies.
Supervisory Responsibility:
- Four to five full time staff as well as contracted labor
Principal Accountabilities:
- Exhibits and promotes integrity, respect, and authenticity in all interactions internal or external to TVA Communications and in performance of assigned duties.
- Demonstrates strong collaboration, open-mindedness, and partnership with teammates within and outside of the TVA Communications organization.
- Enhances and protects the TVA reputation and brand; builds understanding and support for the agency’s long-term strategy and enterprise priorities.
- Accountable for modeling leadership behaviors, consistently delivering high-quality results and managing complex communications issues and projects for the agency.
- Directs the Field Marketing Team, ensuring events are developed and conducted in support of client needs, within existing TVA guidelines, and adhering to industry standard ethical guidelines. Handles difficult conversations and performance management of people, utilizing feedback from clients, peers, and Communications leadership team.
- Collaborates with Communications senior leadership to develop, implement and execute enterprise-wide event and major meeting strategy. Identifies opportunities for Field Marketing Team involvement to include large and complex events, meetings of high visibility and criticality, tradeshow exhibits and sponsorships and other situations where the importance of TVA’s brand and specialized negotiations/logistics support would be beneficial.
- Oversees event execution and develops standards and strategies guiding team-wide accountability and best practices; identifies areas for process improvement and executes solutions; identifies areas for cost savings/avoidance for executed events as well as opportunities for future team involvement. Monitors event timelines and ensures deadlines are met.
- Understands TVA’s brand, business operations, business strategy, current and future issues affecting near and long-term plans, and the culture and value systems impacting TVA’s effectiveness. Ensures TVA’s participation/representation are conducted in a way that advances TVA’s overall brand; including the use of appropriate protocol, identifying all appropriate stakeholders, customer, and constituency groups as well as political/business leaders whose attendance/participation would be appropriate for each particular event.
- Advocates for inclusion and collaboration of other Communications staff as necessary to fully exploit the benefits of TVA’s meetings and events.
- Recognizes confrontational situations and applies negotiation/persuasion to facilitate win-win situations.
- In coordination with Communications’ leadership and other staff when appropriate, helps Communications Consultants identify opportunities related to events and provides event-related information in support of communications plans.
- Budget and key metric responsibilities. Assists with preparing budgets and providing periodic progress reports to director/stakeholders as requested.
- Conducts RFPs for required specialty labor to include, but not limited to, audio video production, event planning support and associated systems. Administers existing contracts and reviews/processes payments in a timely manner.
- Coordinates with TVA Police, Facilities Management, and others as needed for event-related issues.
- Serves as a member of the Emergency Response Organization, and the Public Information organization in particular, in accordance with Emergency Plan procedures. Supports on-call rotation for after-hours needs. Additional assignments as needed.
Minimum Requirements:
Education — Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, communications, marketing, journalism, public relations, English or related fields. An advanced degree is strongly preferred.
Experience — At least five (5) years of experience in event or hospitality management, marketing, or communications. Must also be familiar with the companies that supply event services or facilities, such as conference centers, hotels, catering firms, audiovisual specialists, speaker bureaus, exhibit companies and set builders. At least five years of active, full-time event management responsibility. Combined experience with events and exhibit management desired. At least five years of directly managing staff.
Certification/License, etc — Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) highly desired.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities — Proven knowledge of contemporary event marketing/management processes, practices and tools; ability to interact persuasively with all levels of the organization and external to the company; skills in current communications technology; creativity and resourcefulness. Candidate may be required to obtain and maintain a security clearance based on position access requirements and essential job functions. Fantastic customer service, ethic, high standards for quality and passion for brand fidelity.
Proficient using the Web to conduct research, event administration and procurement as well as with the latest versions of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Excellent organization skills and experience with project management techniques and tools. Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects and work assignments from a variety of staff and volunteers. Excellent interpersonal skills both in person and by phone, with high professionalism. You must be able to give clear instructions and motivate the Event Management Team to deliver results.