Tradeshow Event Manager

Title : Tradeshow Event ManagerClient Title: Partner Events Contractor – Marketing EventsLocation: Hybrid at San Francisco, CA 94104Contract Duration: 9-month contract - leave coveragePay Rate: $160/hr on W2Notes:Location: Hybrid - SF HQ - in-office 2x/week [Monday and Wednesday Preferred] (more during event weeks) and onsite at events as neededTime zone Requirements: PST business hours requiredFlexibility: Schedule flexibility around event dates and on-site execution; travel required for major partner conferences (domestic)Industry Exp: Background in SaaS, Cloud or technology company partner/field marketing or tradeshow programsInterview Process: 4 roundsEvent dates:SF - 11/17-11/20thVegas - 11/30 - 12/4And buffer days as well for travel as wellTeam ContextThe Events & Experiential team produces highest-visibility programs that drive enterprise pipeline, brand awareness, and partner ecosystem engagement. Partner events — Marquee sponsorships at industry conferences— are a critical channel for enterprise growth.This is a net new supporting role on the Partner Events team, designed to help carry the operational load of partner event activations — booth logistics, sponsorship deliverables, vendor coordination, and on-site execution — so the Partner Events Lead can focus on strategy, portfolio evaluation, and stakeholder alignment.Role ScopeSponsorship & Partner Activation ExecutionSupport end-to-end sponsorship deliverables for major partner conferences ( example: Big Tech industry events) — deadlines, asset submissions, portal management, and contractual obligationsCoordinate booth logistics: build, AV, furniture, graphics, electrical, internet, lead capture, and teardown across 10x10 through 30x30+ footprintsSupport speaking session logistics — speaker submissions, slide deadlines, tech checks, and rehearsal schedulingSupport co-marketing event execution with partners and "Event in a Box" resource developmentVendor & Logistics ManagementAssist with sourcing, briefing, and managing exhibit houses, AV vendors, labor, and freight/drayage partnersCoordinate shipping and freight logistics for booth properties, demo hardware, and swag (domestic and international)Track vendor budgets, POs, and invoicing in partnership with Procurement and FinanceMaintain vendor scorecards and surface preferred-partner recommendations to the Partner Events LeadOn-Site Staffing & Meeting CoordinationBuild and maintain staffing schedules, booth duty rosters, and demo rotations for 40+ on-site staffCoordinate on-site executive and customer meeting logistics — room booking, calendar management, briefing docsProvide on-site logistics support during show days: load-in, run-of-show, escalations, and load-outSupport on-site lead capture setup and daily lead delivery to Marketing OpsSponsorship Portfolio SupportMaintain the sponsorship intake tracker and evaluation framework; gather prospectuses and pricing for inbound opportunitiesCompile post-event recaps: leads, meetings, spend vs. budget, and recommendations for renew/expand/dropDocument repeatable playbooks and checklists for partner event execution to enable scale across the portfolioWorking Style & Collaboration ExpectationsSupport day-to-day execution of assigned partner activations under the direction of the Partner Events Lead; escalate approvals, strategic decisions, and budget implications promptlyCollaborate cross-functionally with Partner Marketing, Creative Studio, Marketing Ops, Sales/Partnerships, MoE/Solutions Engineering, and Procurement at the direction of the Partner Events teamProactively flag deadline risks, deliverable gaps, and vendor issues before they become escalationsHelp manage competing priorities across concurrent show timelines (often 3–4 activations in flight) and communicate trade-offs clearlyMandatoriesExperience Requirements5+ years of experience in B2B event marketing, tradeshow management, and/or sponsorship execution rolesDirect experience managing sponsorship presence at major tradeshows and conferencesProven track record executing large-scale conference sponsorships and booth activations (30x30+) at tier 1 industry eventsExperience managing exhibit house and AV vendor relationships end-to-endExperience with sponsorship deliverable management — exhibitor portals, asset deadlines, and show services ordersDemonstrated ability to build staffing plans, run-of-show docs, and on-site logistics from scratchSkills & CompetenciesProficiency with exhibitor service portals and show management systems (Freeman, GES, or similar)Working knowledge of Salesforce and lead capture/scanning tools for pipeline attributionExperience with procurement and contract management tools (Zip, Ironclad, or similar)Excellent attention to detail, deadline management, and quality control under fixed show datesStrong written and verbal communication skills for cross-functional and vendor coordinationAbility to manage multiple concurrent activations with hard, immovable deadlinesIdeal ProfilesPreferred ExperienceBackground in SaaS, cloud, or technology company partner/field marketing or tradeshow programsExperience coordinating international event logistics (freight, carnet, vendors, multi-time zone coordination)Familiarity with co-marketing programs and partner MDF processesMindset & ApproachCalm operator who thrives on hard deadlines and on-site problem-solvingBias toward action and comfort with ambiguity in a fast-paced environmentAccountability mindset — takes full responsibility for assigned workstreams and follows through without hand-holdingCollaborative and low-ego; comfortable being the operational backbone in a supporting capacity while others are front-of-houseWhat to look for – our green flagsHas supported a 20x20+ booth build at a major tech conference start to finish, including exhibit house coordinationCan speak to specific examples of managing sponsorship deliverables against exhibitor portal deadlinesHas run on-site logistics support for 30+ staff at a multi-day showComfortable with both the visible (show floor execution) and invisible (freight forms, portal uploads, badge lists) sides of tradeshowsShows initiative in building checklists and playbooks — doesn't wait to be told what's broken