Manager, Events and Brand Experience - Cargo

About the job

How you'll help us Keep Climbing (overview & key responsibilities)

Are you an experienced event leader with a passion for creating memorable customer experiences and bringing brands to life? The Delta Cargo MarComm team is looking for a Manager of Events and Brand Experience who brings creativity, precision, and passion to every project. You will lead the planning and execution of strategic meetings, events, tradeshows, and customer engagement initiatives that strengthen Delta Cargo’s brand image, elevate our visibility in the marketplace, and drive meaningful connections with our B2B customers.

You'll be part of a dynamic team that encourages collaboration, celebrates success, and achieves outstanding results. Join us if you are excited about creating memorable events, shaping customer experiences, translating brand strategies into real-world activations, and fostering connections with our customers and colleagues.

Summary of responsibilities (not comprehensive of all tasks):

Event Strategy, Leadership & Execution:

• Plan and execute Cargo-specific events, including tradeshows, customer meetings, internal conferences, special events, and executive programming, for audiences ranging from 10 to 1,000+ attendees.
• Develop and manage Delta Cargo's annual meetings, annual global cargo conference, events, and tradeshow portfolio, ensuring alignment with commercial priorities and customer engagement goals.
• Evaluate opportunities for participation in industry events, sponsorships, customer programs and executive engagements, providing recommendations to leadership.
• Establish event objectives, success measures and post-event evaluation frameworks to continuously improve program effectiveness and demonstrate business value.
• Oversee all aspects of event planning, including budget management, vendor coordination, contract negotiations, venue selection, branding, collateral development, transportation, lodging, audio-visual production, and event-related communications.
• Present event plans, budgets, and run-of-show briefings to senior leadership, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Develop and implement contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges, ensuring smooth execution and seamless attendee experiences.
• Manage registration databases and attendee communications, ensuring accuracy, clarity and professionalism throughout.
• Own the events and marketing budget, ensuring costs remain within approved limits while maintaining high-quality deliverables.
• Reconcile expenses, prepare financial reports, and forecast potential budget adjustments. Approve invoices and ensure compliance with financial policies.

Brand Experience & Customer Engagement:

• Serve as a steward of Delta Cargo’s brand across customer-facing events, tradeshows, sponsorships, and promotional merchandise.
• Lead the planning and execution of event branding elements, including promotional merchandise, signage, booth environments, customer gifts and other customer-facing event assets.
• Partner with Marketing & Communications resources to ensure customer-facing events, meetings and branded activations align with Delta Cargo's brand standards, messaging and commercial priorities.
• Identify opportunities to enhance Delta Cargo's visibility, differentiation, and customer experience through events and experiential marketing initiatives. Manage the strategy, sourcing, inventory, and distribution of promotional items and branded event materials, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with branding standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure customer engagement programs and event experiences support broader business objectives.

Team Leadership & Collaboration:

• Lead cross-functional event resources to successfully deliver meetings, events, and customer engagement initiatives.
• Provide direction, coaching and project oversight to supporting resources assigned to event-related initiatives.
• Support the onboarding, development and coordination of event support resources, including future full-time, contract or intern team members, as organizational needs evolve. Collaborate with other departments, including Procurement, Finance, and the Global Events team, to source, analyze, and negotiate vendor contracts.
• Maintain professional relationships with suppliers, partners, and stakeholders to ensure all services and materials meet Delta Cargo’s high standards and goals.

Event Analytics and ROI:

• Lead post-event evaluation activities, including attendee feedback collection, stakeholder debriefs, lessons learned and recommendations for future improvements.
• Track, consolidate and communicate event performance metrics, attendee feedback and key outcomes to leadership and stakeholders to demonstrate impact and support future planning efforts.

This role is based on site at Delta’s headquarters in Atlanta and will require some Domestic & International travel (15-25%). Will occasionally involve work during nights and weekends, based on event needs

What you need to succeed (minimum qualifications)

• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading meetings, events, customer engagement programs, experiential marketing initiatives or related project management functions, preferably in a B2B environment. Successful track record of managing events of different scales and complexities.
• Knowledge of corporate branding principles and experience applying brand standards across customer-facing events, physical environments and experiential marketing initiatives
• Organizational excellence: Proven ability to independently manage multiple projects simultaneously, demonstrating outstanding organizational and planning skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong time management skills: Prioritize effectively, work under tight deadlines, adapt quickly in dynamic, time-sensitive situations, and manage unexpected challenges to a successful resolution.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence others effectively and present complex plans, budgets, and proposals to senior leadership. Skilled in crafting concise, compelling narratives for both internal and external audiences.
• Problem-Solving Ability: Ability to navigate roadblocks through use of effective communication, strong relationships, and creative solutions.
• Executive Collaboration: Experience presenting recommendations to senior leadership, including on event plans, budgets, and marketing proposals. Demonstrated ability to provide strategic insights and influence decision-making.
• Leadership Skills: Experience leading and developing teams, encouraging collaboration, and providing constructive feedback to achieve high performance.
• Business Maturity: Demonstrates sound judgment, and the ability to identify and address issues with the appropriate sense of urgency. Consistently make decisions that align with strategic goals and priorities.
• Technical Proficiency: Highly proficient in the MS Office suite, particularly Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive. Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new software and tools as needed.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Embraces diverse perspectives, experiences, and working styles, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment.
• Safety Awareness: Consistently prioritizes safety and security for self and others.
• Current Performance: Performing satisfactorily in the current role.
• Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data.
• Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.
• Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.
• Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)

• Hands-on experience with event management software (e.g. Cvent).
• Familiarity with graphic design tools, such as Adobe Creative Cloud. Experience providing creative direction and constructive feedback to design professionals is highly valued.
• Familiarity with managing international events, including understanding cultural nuances, coordinating with global teams, and navigating international logistics.
• A proven track record of producing high-quality events and marketing campaigns, with examples or case studies available to showcase your expertise. Willingness to submit references from prior clients.
• MBA or advanced degree in Marketing, Business, Hospitality Management, or a related field.