Director, Special Events and Conference Planning

The Walt Disney Company is seeking a Director for Special Events and Conference Planning in Glendale, CA. This role involves leading a team to oversee over 300 corporate events annually, managing event strategies, budgets, and stakeholder engagement. Candidates should have a relevant degree and 7+ years of experience in strategic event production, with strong communication and leadership skills. Knowledge of the Disney brand is preferred.
Disney Corporate Creative Resources (DCCR) is a multi-disciplinary creative and events agency that provides creative services and solutions to a broad array of functional areas within The Walt Disney Company. The Corporate Events team within DCCR produces hundreds of internal and external-facing special events, meetings, conferences, conventions, and virtual shows each year for corporate entities within Disney including D23, finance, legal, employee engagement, corporate communications, administrative & executive, human resources, and more.

Turnkey, full aspects of event planning are managed and executed by the Corporate Events team which include but are not limited to: creative ideation & design, project management, venue management, logistics, operations, technical & AV production, food & beverage/catering, travel management, content integration & management, digital communications & activations, show development, entertainment, décor, and other event production elements.

Responsibilities:
• Lead and manage a team of event professionals on overall event strategy and production
• Oversee over 300 corporate events each year with various levels of scope including high-profile, signature events
• Manage all event specific business needs for success including effective strategic event models, responsibility of fiscal and operating budgets, stakeholder engagement, and operational & logistical strategies
• Liaison with vendors, venues, executives, talent, clients, and other key stakeholders
• Lead, schedule, and integrate multi-disciplinary teams and departments in the planning and execution of events
• Identify, develop, and produce new, compelling creative content & interactive experiences for events
• Develop and pitch executive presentations to include event concepts, proposals, plans, creative, etc.
• Hands-on event producing – in a lead and/or supporting role - for various events throughout the year
• Offer creative solutions for event-related activations, issues, and processes
• Executive Produce key company events and initiatives for D23, employee events, and corporate entities
• Basic Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in communications, music, theater, hospitality management, marketing, business, or related field, or equivalent experience required
• 7+ years experience with strategic event production, senior-level event planning, creative
• Corporate, live theater, and/or entertainment event production
• Experience working in entertainment field with strong knowledge of live show productions
• Management/leadership of teams and projects
• Strong knowledge of technical event design and show production needs – staging, video, audio, lighting, etc.
• Excellent verbal and writing communication skills
• Ability to remain calm and confident under pressure
• Flexible and adaptable in an ever-changing environment
• Experience working with name talent and senior executives
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Strong knowledge of the Disney brand, processes, and culture
• The hiring range for this position in Glendale is $148,700 to $199,400 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.