North America Events Leader

The North America Event Leader is responsible for overseeing and orchestrating events across the region to ensure they are executed flawlessly and meet organizational goals. This role requires a dynamic individual with a passion for event management, exceptional organizational skills, and the ability to lead a team effectively.

Aon is in the business of better decisions

At Aon, we shape decisions for the better to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world.

As an organization, we are united through trust as one inclusive team and we are passionate about helping our colleagues and clients succeed.

What the day will look like

Core Responsibilities

• Event Planning: Develop comprehensive event plans, including budgets, timelines, and logistics.
• Team Leadership: Lead and manage a team of event coordinators and support staff.
• Vendor Management: Identify and negotiate contracts with vendors and suppliers.
• Marketing and Promotion: Collaborate with the marketing team to promote events and ensure maximum attendance.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations.
• On-Site Management: Oversee event setup, execution, and breakdown, ensuring everything runs smoothly.
• Post-Event Analysis: Conduct post-event evaluations to assess success and identify areas for improvement.
• Compliance: Ensure all events comply with local regulations and organizational policies.

Colleague Development

• Collaborates with team leadership to establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations within the team
• Consistently provide robust onboarding, training, mentoring, and development to support colleagues around planning and executing events
• Provide communications, coaching and training to colleagues and event owners at all levels of the organization to ensure competency, commitment and compliance with event/marketing standards and service excellence
• Fosters a sense of teamwork in all parts of the organization to actively participate in process improvement and drive culture change
• Foster a culture of recognition, growth and service excellence with colleagues
• Manage training curriculum for new hires and experienced colleagues and institute a feedback process where training continually evolves to meet the needs of our event owners
• Develops appropriate tools to measure performance, assess accomplishments and evaluate operations and makes recommendations based on findings
• Create and update a Marketing Event Service Standards SharePoint site

Capacity & Colleague Management

• Identify event teams/onsite support based on experience, planning styles
• Regularly meet with Marketing leads to discuss and evaluate adequacy of Event Manager and Event Marketer capacity
• Execute quarterly stewardship calls with CMO and Global Head of Events to gather feedback on Marketing support and performance
• Where there are challenges between event owners and Event Marketers, facilitate dialogue in partnership with leaders to problem solve and execute an outcome
• Support the development of an Event and Marketing Manager talent pipeline, including new or additional career path opportunities for experienced colleagues
• Develop post-event debriefs on planning experience
• Facilitate new hire interviews
• Create Monthly team meeting agendas with hot topics that apply to both Marketing & Events

Operations & Communications

• Assist with implementing standardization across different event tiers of events globally
• Assist Operations with overall communication strategies for a variety of initiatives to engage and inform colleagues; change behavior where required and drive business results
• Ensure the planning, development and execution of event-related communications consider all audiences/levels in the firm; address the unique needs of the business units and geographies; ensure consistency and alignment with Aon's practices, brand standards, and other initiatives/global messages; support business priorities and objectives; and align to the company's values and goals
• Cultivate trusted partnerships with senior leaders to help influence communication style and effectiveness and generate results for the business

Event Management

• Assist M&E and Marketing with the vision and execution of major events that align with company objectives and drive global brand awareness and lead generation, including industry trade shows high-level customer summits, and advisory board initiatives
• Own or assist with managing end-to-end conference/event related planning that drives a consistent attendee experience, providing on-site support when needed
• Partner with leadership to identify event and partnership events calendar for the year to ensure proper staffing
• 3x3 in events - less is more / identify what events can partner events together

Supplier Relations

• Partner with procurement to evaluate, manage, and assist in maintain relationships with key supplier partners to ensure compliance and drive spend
• Introduce new/trending solutions and suppliers to M&E and marketing teams
• Identify, evaluate, and monitor diverse suppliers for engagement

How this opportunity is different

The North America Event Leader plays a crucial role in shaping the success of events in the region. This position offers an exciting opportunity for a seasoned event professional to lead and innovate in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. If you are a passionate and experienced event manager looking to make a significant impact, we encourage you to apply.

Skills and experience that will lead to success

• 10+ years of experience planning events in a corporate setting
• Previous people management experience with at least five direct reports
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to multi-task and work within deadlines
• Strong project management and process improvement experience
• Customer-obsessed mindset
• Professional approach and strong written and oral communication skills
• Good conceptual and creative thinking with ability to communicate complex issues and information to all levels of the organization
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work with senior leadership in a complex and matrixed corporate organization
• Proficiency in Cvent, Microsoft Office Suite including Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint
• Bachelor's Degree
• Ability to travel 25% for onsite event execution, trainings, or to attend industry conferences
• Certifications: Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) or equivalent certification is a plus.

How we support our colleagues

In addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we encourage an inclusive workforce. Plus, our agile environment allows you to manage your wellbeing and work/life balance, ensuring you can be your best self at Aon. Furthermore, all colleagues enjoy two "Global Wellbeing Days" each year, encouraging you to take time to focus on yourself. We offer a variety of working style solutions for our colleagues as well.

Our continuous learning culture inspires and equips you to learn, share and grow, helping you achieve your fullest potential. As a result, at Aon, you are more connected, more relevant, and more valued.

Aon values an innovative and inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel empowered to be their authentic selves. Aon is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Aon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran, marital, domestic partner status, or other legally protected status. People with criminal histories are encouraged to apply.

We welcome applications from all and provide individuals with disabilities with reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application, interview process and to perform essential job functions once onboard. If you would like to learn more about the reasonable accommodations we provide, email ReasonableAccommodations@Aon.com

For positions in San Francisco and Los Angeles, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction record in accordance with local Fair Chance ordinances.

Aon is not accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this position. If you are a search firm, you will not be compensated in any way for your submission of a candidate, even if Aon hires that candidate.

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Pay Transparency Laws

The salary range for this position (intended for U.S. applicants) is $125,000 - $145,000 annually. The actual salary will vary based on applicant's education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary may also be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location.

The salary range reflected is based on a primary work location of Chicago, Illinois. The actual salary may vary for applicants in a different geographic location.

This position is eligible to participate in one of Aon's annual incentive plans to receive an annual discretionary bonus in addition to base salary. The amount of any bonus varies and is subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan.

Aon offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and regular part-time colleagues, including, but not limited to: a 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions; an employee stock purchase plan; consideration for long-term incentive awards at Aon's discretion; medical, dental and vision insurance, various types of leaves of absence, paid time off, including 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year, 15 days of paid vacation per year, paid sick leave as provided under state and local paid sick leave laws, short-term disability and optional long-term disability, health savings account, health care and dependent care reimbursement accounts, employee and dependent life insurance and supplemental life and AD&D insurance; optional personal insurance policies, adoption assistance, tuition assistance, commuter benefits, and an employee assistance program that includes free counseling sessions. Eligibility for benefits is governed by the applicable plan documents and policies.

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