Director of Conferences and Meetings

SYTA is seeking a detail-oriented and highly organized association meeting planner to join a small and engaged staff to coordinate and execute one annual conference (1100 attendees), Leadership Summit (150) Board meetings (2), Golf tournament tailored to the student and youth travel industry. This is a remote position supporting an association based in Virginia. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in meeting planning, vendor/supplier management, logistics, registration and sponsor ships, ensuring the successful execution of events that engage and educate members.

SYTA has a highly engaged membership and the ideal candidate must enjoy engaging with members and being part of a small but "hands on" team.

• Plan, coordinate, and execute association conference, virtual and in-person meetings, appointment tradeshow, events and educational sessions.
• Manage event logistics, including venue selection, contract negotiation, accommodations, and transportation.
• Develop and oversee event budgets, ensuring cost-effective planning and adherence to financial guidelines.
• Manage and fulfill sponsor and exhibitor needs and services.
• Market conference and meetings including website, mobile app, printed and email solicitations and brochures.
• Manage registration and appointment system with outsourced vendor.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, safety guidelines, and association policies.
• Coordinate speaker engagements, session programming, and educational content for meetings.
• Identify opportunities to enhance member experiences through innovative event planning strategies.
• Stay up to date on industry trends and best practices in student and youth travel.
• Utilize collaboration tools (Zoom, Slack, Basecamp, etc) to coordinate with team members, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Travel for site selection and on-site management as required.

• Bachelor's degree in event management, hospitality, business administration or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in meeting planning, conference management or event coordination.
• CMP or related certification is a plus.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to multi task in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in event management software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Self motivated with the ability to manage projects independently in a remote environment.