Manager, Trade Shows & Events

Job description

Position Details: Title: Manager, Trade Show & Events Department: Marketing Reports to: Sr. Manager, Marketing - CCG Location: Dearborn Job Classification: Remote FLSA Status: Exempt Job Band: Manager Job Summary The Manager, Trade Shows & Events is responsible for developing and executing the enterprise-wide event marketing strategy across trade shows, partner events, and consumer activations and experiential marketing programs. This role leads the strategic direction, planning, and performance measurement of Carhartt’s external event portfolio, ensuring all activations drive a premium execution of the brand and meet business objectives. This role oversees a multi-million-dollar budget, manages our event trade show agency partnership, and leads a team responsible for planning, execution, and attendee experience. The Manager will be responsible for partnering across Marketing, Sales, and mid-level leadership to ensure a consistent and impactful brand presence across all event touchpoints. Inspired by Hard Work At Carhartt, the values of hard work—dependability, honesty, and trust—are rooted in the legacy of our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. His commitment to serving hardworking people continues to inspire everything we do. Guided by his legacy and our mission—We serve and protect all hardworking people by building durable products—we remain dedicated to upholding these principles in every decision we make and every product we create. Associate Responsibilities • Coach, mentor and develop a high-performing events team, providing strategic direction, prioritization, and professional growth opportunities for direct reports • Develop and lead the enterprise-wide event marketing strategy across industry trade shows, partner events, customer activation and facing events • Own the end-to-end planning and governance of all event programs, ensuring consistent processes, timelines, stakeholder alignment and execution excellence • Lead the development of innovative event experiences and brand activations that create meaningful customer engagement and differentiate the brand in market • Manage and optimize a multi-million-dollar annual event budget, including forecasting, resource allocation, contract negotiations, and ROI accountability • Serve as the primary relationship owner for the company’s event agency, directing strategic planning, creative development, production, and performance management • Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Product Marketing, Brand and CCG Marketing, and leadership to align even strategies with business priorities • Define event success metrics and establish measurement frameworks to evaluate pipeline contribution, customer engagement, brand impact, attendee & partner satisfaction, and return on investment (ROI) • Deliver executive-level reporting, insights, and recommendations that inform future event investments, portfolio decisions, and strategic priorities • Drive continuous improvement across the event function by identifying opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, attendee experience, agency performance, and overall program effectiveness Required Education • BA in Event Activation or Experience, Marketing, Communications or related field Required Skills & Experience • 8+ years of progressive experience in event marketing, experiential marketing, trade show management, or brand activation including: ◦ 3+ years of people leadership experience managing direct reports and cross-functional teams • Proven experience developing and executing complex and large-scale event strategies across multiple event types • Experience managing external agencies and vendor partnerships • Demonstrated ownership of significant marketing or event budgets • Strong understanding of event measurement, ROI analysis, and pipeline attribution • Strong written and verbal skills to communicate across leadership and enterprise-wide business needs Physical Requirements and Working Conditions • Ability to work effectively in both office and event environments • Significant travel within both the U.S. and Canada with up to 50% travel • This position has a Remote location: Associate will have no regular requirement to be on-site. Travel on-site is limited to special events. • Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace. #LI-REMOTE We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All associates are required to understand and act in accordance with the Carhartt Core Values. Carhartt reserves the right to change, modify, suspend, interpret or cancel in whole or in any part, the job duties outlined above at any time and without advance notice to the employee.