Director of Sponsorship Operations - ShopTalk

Director of Sponsorship Operations - ShopTalk
Location: NY
A bit about us
We’re Hyve, a global events company that does things differently.
Our events deliver game-changing impact for people, businesses and beyond. That might mean winning a major contract, securing transformational investment, getting on the shelves of a giant retailer or hearing from thought leaders who are changing the future.
The purpose of every one of our events is to bring the people who power major industries together – and open a world of potential.
At the same time, we’re using our events as platforms for progress, to drive the conversation across the world’s biggest industries on crucial topics like sustainability, diversity and ethical business.
 
These moments can change lives. And making those connections motivates us every single day.
But creating those human connections doesn’t just happen at our events. It’s part of everyday life when you work at Hyve. There are all sorts of socials, inclusion workshops and professional development opportunities to get your teeth into. And then there are the benefits. From gym memberships to private medical care, season ticket loans to healthy pensions, we’ve got you covered in all kinds of ways. (We’ll even give you an extra day off on your birthday!)
A bit about you
First of all, whatever your background and whatever your beliefs, there’s a culture of belonging here at Hyve and everyone is welcome. The question isn’t where you are from – it’s where you want to go.
We’re a positive bunch and if you’re a “glass half full” kind of person you’ll fit right in. Our values are brilliant work, fresh thinking, rich connections, and collective buzz. And just to be clear, these aren’t just words we put on the walls and forget about. They pull everyone together and help us all produce work that we’re proud to put our names to. If that resonates with you, great: we’re on the same page.
About the Role
We are looking for an experienced and highly collaborative Director of Sponsor Operations USA to join the RetailTech portfolio, supporting Shoptalk and Groceryshop events.
Reporting to the Head of Global Sponsor Operations, this is a senior operational leadership role with a strong focus on project management, team leadership and development, and operational excellence. The Director will lead the execution of Sponsorship agreements and delivery for our customers in the US, ensuring teams are aligned, projects remain on track, and our events are delivered to an exceptional standard.
The successful candidate will be an outstanding people leader and project manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment. They will bring structure and clarity to complex projects, develop high-performing teams, build strong cross-functional relationships, and continually improve how we plan and deliver our events.
Key Responsibilities
Project & Event Management

• Lead the Sponsor Operations team for Shoptalk and Groceryshop events in the USA, from initial planning through onsite execution and post-event review.
• Manage the sponsor operations budget and profit margin reporting and updating the relevant departments
• Manage the event floorplan development to ensure that revenue targets are achievable 
• Own and maintain integrated event project plans, ensuring key milestones, dependencies, responsibilities and deadlines are clearly defined and communicated.
• Establish effective project management rhythms, including planning meetings, status reporting, action tracking, risk management and escalation.
• Develop bespoke packages and opportunities for sponsors and clients within budget and execute them onsite
• Manage 121 meetings fulfilment as part of sponsor contracts and work with the Attendee Experience team to ensure timely communications are shared with sponsors. 
• Ensure operational decisions balance attendee and customer experience, commercial objectives, budget, feasibility and delivery timelines.
• Lead onsite operational delivery for sponsorship, ensuring teams are well briefed, responsibilities are clear and issues are resolved quickly and effectively.
• Lead post-event reviews and ensure learnings and actions are incorporated into future planning cycles.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, manage and develop members of the US Event Operations team, creating a high-performing, accountable and collaborative team culture.
• Set clear objectives, responsibilities and expectations for team members and provide ongoing coaching, feedback and support.
• Build individual and team capability through development planning, stretch opportunities, knowledge sharing and structured feedback.
• Support team members in developing strong project management, stakeholder management and Sponsor operations capabilities.
• Ensure workloads and responsibilities are appropriately allocated across the team, identifying resource requirements and capacity risks.
• Create an environment where team members feel empowered to take ownership, make decisions and proactively solve problems.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and retention of strong operational talent as the portfolio evolves.
• Work closely with the Director of Event Operations to build cohesive Ops team, working in partnership across all events 

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as a senior operational partner to teams across the RetailTech portfolio, building strong relationships with Sales, Marketing, Content, Customer Experience, Finance and other key functions.
• Ensure operational requirements, deadlines and dependencies are understood across stakeholder groups.
• Facilitate effective decision-making by bringing the right stakeholders together and providing clear recommendations, options and implications.
• Communicate confidently with senior stakeholders, providing concise updates on progress, risks, priorities and decisions required.
• Champion a collaborative, solutions-focused approach across functions and help teams navigate competing priorities.

Operational Excellence

• Develop and improve processes, tools and ways of working that make event planning more efficient, scalable and consistent.
• Establish clear operational standards, documentation and best practices across the US portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, improve communication and strengthen project governance.
• Use event feedback, operational data and team insights to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Support the Head of Sponsor Operations & Head of Growth in developing the longer-term operational strategy and capabilities required to support the growth of Shoptalk and Groceryshop.
• Help ensure operational knowledge and best practices are shared effectively across events and teams.

Commercial & Supplier Management

• Partner with the Head of Sponsor Operations and Finance teams to support effective event budget management and forecasting.
• Ensure operational decisions demonstrate strong commercial judgment and value for money.
• Build productive relationships with venues, contractors and key event partners.
• Support supplier selection, negotiations and performance management where required.
• Ensure external partners understand expectations, timelines and standards of delivery.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience in event operations, particularly exhibition or trade show management, project management or a related field, ideally within large-scale conferences, exhibitions or live events.
• Proven experience leading the planning and delivery of complex, sponsor or partner  projects with multiple stakeholders and immovable deadlines.
• Strong people management experience, with a track record of developing individuals and building high-performing teams.
• Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to create structure, establish priorities and maintain momentum across complex projects.
• Strong commercial acumen. Able to identify and develop sponsorship opportunities at a high margin. 
• Strong leadership presence and the ability to influence and align stakeholders across different functions and levels of seniority.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to make complex information clear and actionable.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to remain calm, pragmatic and decisive in a fast-moving live event environment.
• A proactive mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Commercial awareness and experience managing or contributing to significant event budgets.
• A continuous-improvement mindset and an interest in developing better, smarter and more scalable ways of working.
• Comfortable operating in an environment where priorities can change quickly and where successful delivery requires flexibility and collaboration.
• Ability to travel within the US and work onsite at events and over weekends as required. 

Leadership Profile

• The Director of Sponsor Operations USA will be expected to demonstrate:
• People leadership: Builds trust, sets clear expectations, gives constructive feedback and actively invests in the growth of others.
• Project leadership: Creates clarity from complexity, establishes strong plans and keeps teams focused on the critical path.
• Commercial Success: identify, develop, and execute profitable sponsor opportunities to hit the required sales targets
• Ownership: Takes accountability for outcomes and proactively addresses issues rather than waiting for them to escalate.
• Collaboration: Builds effective relationships across teams and understands that successful events require strong cross-functional partnership.
• Communication: Communicates clearly, directly and appropriately for different audiences, particularly when priorities or decisions need to be clarified.
• Judgment: Makes thoughtful, timely decisions while balancing customer experience, commercial considerations, operational realities and risk.
• Continuous improvement: Challenges existing ways of working constructively and looks for opportunities to make the team and operation more effective.

What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means Shoptalk and Groceryshop sponsor contracts are exceptionally well planned and delivered; teams understand what they need to do and when; risks are identified and managed early; cross-functional stakeholders have confidence in Event Operations; and the US Operations team continues to grow in capability, confidence and performance.
Above all, this role will create the people, project management discipline and operational structure that enable our teams to consistently deliver outstanding events at scale.
Benefits

• The salary band for this position ranges from $120,000- $130,000 based on experience
• This position will be eligible for a competitive bonus structure
• Full medical, dental, and vision package to fit your needs
• Retirement plan with company match (401K)

• Competitive vacation policy 
• Hybrid work