Director, Events, Sponsorships, & Partnerships

Job Description

CoStar Group is a leading global provider of commercial and residential real estate information, analytics, and online marketplaces. Included in the S&P 500 Index, CoStar Group is on a mission to digitize the world’s real estate, empowering all people to discover properties, insights and connections that improve their businesses and lives.

We have been living and breathing the world of real estate information and online marketplaces for over 35 years, giving us the perspective to create truly unique and valuable offerings to our customers. We’ve continually refined, transformed, and perfected our approach to our business, creating a language that has become standard in our industry, for our customers, and even our competitors. We continue that effort today and are always working to improve and drive innovation. This is how we deliver for our customers, our employees, and investors. By equipping the brightest minds with the best resources available, we provide an invaluable edge in real estate.

Role Overview

The Director of Events, Sponsorships & Partnerships will lead an event management team based in multiple cities, supporting all major CoStar Group brands in a matrixed, fast-paced environment. This role will set and drive strategy, internal and outsourced event staffing, budgeting, industry partnerships, and execution for annual multi-million dollar internal and external events. The Events team oversees a high volume of sponsorship fulfillment projects and high-profile events for Sales leadership and C-suite executives. The event portfolio includes 100-150 projects per year, 30-50 of which require in-person execution throughout North America and Europe.

The Director will provide leadership and hands-on execution of the concept, project direction, financial oversight, and production of large-scale events. These vary from conferences hosted for 500-2,700, colleague engagement initiatives, large custom-built exhibits in major tradeshows, client special events, concert and other ticketed event production, sponsorship of industry initiatives, sales incentive groups, and various domestic and international events on an annual basis. This is a highly visible role both internally and externally, serving as an event management subject matter expert, consultant, and partner to CoStar Group executives. The goal will be to maximize internal and external customer engagement, brand recognition, sales lead generation, and a return on investment.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative, proactive, creative, detailed, and highly experienced professional who can manage complex projects while managing 7-9 full-time Events team members, external independent contractors, and long-term service providers. This role will partner with staff across the organization to ensure that every project is executed to the highest standards, on budget, and professionally. This candidate should be comfortable operating in an environment of constant change, results-oriented, highly motivated, service-minded, and enthusiastic. The Director will demonstrate strong time management, leadership, dedication, and communication skills, along with an extensive knowledge of international events, contract negotiations, and conference management.

This is a senior-level, hands-on role based in Arlington, Virginia, working in the office five days per week, and reporting to the Vice President of Marketing and Communications.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop, plan and manage multi-million-dollar large scale internal and external events and projects from concept to delivery. These may include leading or serving on core planning teams for NAA Apartmentalize, NAR NXT, ICSC, CoStar Group Sales Conferences, President’s Club, etc.).
• Collaborate across functions to drive consensus and create solutions-oriented plans as well as work with external organizations with confidence and executive presence.
• Partner with contractors or agencies to negotiate major contracts pertaining to event accommodations, entertainment, venues, vendors, DMCs, activities, transportation, etc.
• Work with creative design, video, marketing, and communications to oversee event branding opportunities, production vendors, and installation.
• Commercially focused to ensure that all events are focused on supporting business initiatives and are tailored to various targeted audiences.
• Meticulously focused and able to drive projects/events to deadlines. Set standards for quality, creativity, and consistency.
• Highly organized, with grace under pressure and a mindset geared to professionalism and creative solutions.
• Responsible for budget creation and management for the Events team, optimizing resources to create efficiencies in supporting brand, marketing, finance, and sales goals.
• Manage communications process, audio visual production, internal and external staffing, project plans, timelines, contracting, team assignments, executive briefings, industry partner relationships, and procurement for each event.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited, not-for-profit, in person University or College; masters preferred
• 10+ years planning and executing large-scale, multi-million-dollar events
• 7+ years of experience managing teams
• Demonstrated expertise in overseeing major conferences, executive programs, corporate special events, exposition logistics, sales incentive trips, custom booth builds, and sponsoring external initiatives/ events
• International event management and contracting experience
• A track record of commitment to prior employers
• Experience creating and managing large event budgets
• Effective contract negotiation skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, notably Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to travel for events and pre-event preparation – 20-30%
• Ability and willingness to work extended hours and varying work schedules for event management, execution, and travel as needed

Preferred Qualifications:

• CMP certification and experience with Cvent a plus
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral 
• Meticulous attention to detail and superior organizational skills 
• Ability to expertly articulate ideas, secure decisions, and present to senior level stakeholders
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with demonstrated experience in consistently delivering high quality results 
• Team player who collaborates and can easily pivot to assist other projects as needed
• Proven ability to adapt to fast-paced and changing environments, program elements, and directions- pivoting and prioritizing effectively in responses 
• Ability to work quickly and effectively under pressure, delivering on urgent requests while remaining detailed oriented 
• Flexibility and ability to push through indecision and ambiguity to deliver results 
• Ability to exert up to 20 pounds of force to move objects/boxes

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage: Medical / Vision / Dental / Prescription Drug 
• Life, legal, and supplementary insurance 
• Virtual and in person mental health counseling services for individuals and family 
• Commuter and parking benefits 
• 401(K) retirement plan with matching contributions 
• Employee stock purchase plan 
• Paid time off 
• Tuition reimbursement 
• On-site fitness center and/or reimbursed fitness center membership costs (location dependent), with yoga studio, Pelotons, personal training, group exercise classes 
• Access to CoStar Group’s Employee Resource Groups 
• Complimentary gourmet coffee, tea, hot chocolate, fresh fruit, and other healthy snacks 

CoStar Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer; we maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing