Director of Events and Experiences

Career Guide

A Director of Events and Experiences leads the strategy and delivery of live and digital events that strengthen brand reputation, deepen customer loyalty, and support revenue goals. This role blends creative direction, operational planning, budget ownership, and cross functional leadership to deliver consistent, high quality experiences.

Key Responsibilities

Set the events and experiences strategy aligned to company goals
Build the annual events calendar and prioritize programs by impact
Own event budgets, forecasting, and cost control
Lead event concept development and attendee journey design
Oversee planning timelines, production schedules, and run of show
Manage vendor selection, contracts, and service quality
Partner with Marketing, Sales, Product, and Customer teams to align messaging
Lead team hiring, coaching, and performance management
Create measurement plans and report outcomes to leadership
Manage risk planning including safety, accessibility, and contingency plans

Top Skills for Success

Strategic Planning

Stakeholder Management

Leadership

Budget Management

Vendor Management

Contract Negotiation

Event Production

Experience Design

Project Management

Marketing Strategy

Brand Management

Data Analysis

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Events Manager

Senior Events Manager

Head of Events

Director of Events and Experiences

Transition Opportunities

Vice President of Events

Head of Experiential Marketing

Director of Field Marketing

Director of Brand Marketing

Director of Community

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Event MeasurementForecastingSales AlignmentExecutive CommunicationSponsorship StrategyRisk ManagementAccessibility PlanningTeam Scaling

Development SuggestionsBuild a simple measurement framework that ties each event to clear goals, define the metrics before planning starts, and review results within two weeks of each event. Practice executive updates that focus on outcomes, budget performance, and key learnings. Strengthen revenue impact by partnering with Sales on lead follow up plans and by creating sponsor packages with clear benefits and pricing.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 90,000 to 120,000

Mid LevelUSD 120,000 to 170,000

Senior LevelUSD 170,000 to 240,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand. Hiring rises in organizations investing in community building, field marketing, customer conferences, and brand experiences. Strong preference for leaders who can prove event impact on pipeline, retention, and brand lift.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

SalesforceGoogleMicrosoftAmazonAppleMetaAdobeHubSpotServiceNowShopifyMarriottLive Nation

Industry Sectors

TechnologyBusiness servicesConsumer brandsHospitalityMedia and entertainmentHealthcareFinancial servicesNonprofit

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one page events strategy that links programs to brand, pipeline, and retention goals

Build a portfolio with two to three case studies showing budget, plan, and results

Standardize templates for timelines, run of show, vendor scorecards, and post event reporting

Strengthen negotiation skills by leading venue and production bid processes

Add a measurement dashboard with clear targets and a consistent reporting cadence

Network with venue partners and production agencies to benchmark pricing and best practices

Prepare interview stories that show crisis handling, cost control, and stakeholder influence