Head, Event Planning

Women in Payments is a global professional network uniting women across the payments ecosystem with a shared vision of gender parity. We are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we believe organizations are strongest when they intentionally build cultures that celebrate different perspectives, experiences, and voices.

We are seeing a Head of Event Planning to lead the end-to-end strategy and execution of a global portfolio of conferences and community events. This role owns venue sourcing and contracting, oversees delivery excellence across multiple countries and formats, manages a high-performing events team, and is accountable for an annual budget of approximately $1M.

This leader is responsible for delivering consistently high-quality, inclusive, and financially responsible events that create exceptional client experiences, grow community engagement, and maximize partner value.

What You’ll Do

Events & Budget Management

• Lead the event planning function and develop the firm’s global event strategy across conferences, community programs, and partner activations.

• Own annual and per-event budgets, including forecasting, cost control, variance reporting, and financial accountability.

• Plan, source, negotiate, and manage venue and supplier contracts globally.

• Partner with internal stakeholders to align sponsorship deliverables, exhibitor requirements, and revenue targets with event execution.

• Ensure all events meet the firm’s standards for quality, accessibility, inclusion, and client experience.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of event professionals to deliver consistently excellent experiences.

• Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.

• Oversee resource planning during peak delivery periods and ensure operational readiness.

Stakeholder & Partner Management

• Collaborate closely with marketing and program leaders to ensure seamless pre-event planning, onsite execution, and post-event reporting.

• Manage internal and external stakeholder expectations through clear communication, defined decision points, timelines, and escalation protocols.

• Serve as a trusted partner to sponsors, exhibitors, venues, and strategic partners.

Qualifications & Competencies

• 15–20 years of experience in conference and large-scale event management, including global venue sourcing and vendor management.

• Proven people leadership experience with a track record of building and leading high-performing teams.

• Strong financial acumen with ownership of six- to seven-figure budgets, forecasting, and variance discipline.

• Experience delivering global events across multiple regions and time zones.

• High level of contract literacy, including attrition, cancellation, service-level agreements, and risk management.

• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to remain calm and decisive under pressure.

Key Competencies

• Superb communicator with strong executive presence.

• Highly motivated, energetic, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Independent problem-solver with strong judgment and decision-making ability.

• Collaborative leader who thrives in team-based environments.

What sets you apart

• Exceptional planning, communication, negotiation, and time management skills.

• Deep commitment to delivering a superior client and attendee experience.

• Inspiring people leader who builds engagement, accountability, and professional growth across the team.

Work Model

• Remote / work-from-home with periodic travel for site visits and event execution.

• Peak travel weeks aligned to the annual event calendar (approximately 4-6 weeks annually).