Senior Manager, Events

Job Summary

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

Based in New York or Los Angeles, the Senior Manager, Events will be responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of complex, multi-day internal conferences, as well as select client-facing engagements and smaller scale demands. This role provides strategic oversight and execution leadership for a diverse portfolio of programs.

As a key leader within the events function, the Senior Manager, Events will balance logistical mastery with a focus on institutional consistency. This individual will directly manage a team of coordinators and work in strategic partnership with the Sr. Manager, Client Events to refine operational playbooks, ensuring all event outcomes align with the firm’s global business objectives.

This role reports to the Sr. Director, Events.

 

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the lifecycle of a varied program slate, applying high-level expertise to manage intricate, multi-day conferences while maintaining the agility to support smaller-scale, localized events with equal precision and standard of care.
• Managing all phases of event planning, from initial site visits and contracts negotiation to on-site execution and post-event analysis.
• Developing and overseeing comprehensive budgets, ensuring cost-effective practices and financial transparency without compromising the firm’s high standards.
• Partnering with event leadership team to align operational practices. Collaborate with the Sr. Manager, Client Events to audit and upgrade existing process manuals as necessary, ensure that the operational standards remain agile, reflect current industry trends and scale with the firm’s needs.
• Implementing operational playbooks, templates, process manuals and execution standards to ensure consistency in event delivery for internal and external events across all firm offices and event types.
• Directly managing event coordinators and synchronize leadership efforts with the Sr. Manager, Client Events to streamline team workflows and foster a culture of cross-functional collaboration.
• Maintaining and expanding a global network of high-end vendors and venues that align with the firm’s brand positioning.
• Overseeing the utilization of existing systems to track RSVPs, managing attendee data, and ensuring data integrity.
• Collaborating with Accounting to track expected event charges, ensuring timely invoice processing, and managing expense documentation in accordance with firm policy.
• Using performance data to evaluate and optimize event effectiveness and engagement, and to inform future strategies.
• Creating KPI reporting for leadership insight.
• Continuously experimenting and iterating on event design and delivery using data, feedback, and trend insights to develop fresh, impactful approaches.
• Conducting ongoing market and competitive analysis to provide business intelligence that informs event strategy to identify opportunities for service-level enhancements.
• Maintaining an expert-level knowledge of current event technology and industry trends to modernize the firm’s approach to engagement.
• Integrating AI into workflows to optimize efficiency.

Qualifications

• Exhibit willingness and aptitude for identifying and implementing AI-driven tools to enhance event planning, programming, and/or measurement and analytics.
• Exceptional ability to interact with all levels of internal leadership, including partners and executive staff.
• Proven track record of managing high-stakes, multi-day events with competing deadlines and shifting priorities.
• Strong experience in budget creation, expense tracking, and negotiating complex vendor contracts.
• High level of responsiveness and flexibility to travel and work outside standard business hours as required by event schedules.

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 15+ years of professional event planning experience, ideally within a legal or professional services environment.
• 5+ years of direct management experience, with a focus on coaching tenured or junior teams.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with CRM platforms (e.g., Interaction).

 

 

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Compensation & Benefits:

The annual compensation range for this position is $200,000-240,000. The salary offered within this range will depend upon qualifications and other operational considerations. 

Benefits offered for this position include health care; retirement benefits; paid days off, including sick time and vacation time; parental leave; basic life insurance; Flexible Spending Accounts; as well as discretionary, performance-based bonuses

Locations:

Los Angeles, New York

EEO Statement

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity for all partners, employees and applicants and, in accordance with the applicable federal and state laws, does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, color, religion, matriculation or political affiliation, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, age, marital status or partnership status, family responsibilities, disability, medical condition, personal appearance, genetic information, predisposing genetic characteristics, sexual orientation, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, stalking and sex offenses, arrest or conviction record, or on any other basis prohibited by law.