Meeting and Event Planner

**Job Description**: **We are looking for an experienced event planning professional to join our Canada Life Meeting and Event Management team.** Reporting directly to the Manager, Meeting and Event Management, this role is accountable for planning and executing various meetings for Canada Life. Programs are business focused and generally occur in Canada or the continental USA. You are crucial in delivering our value proposition to the organization: _We are an innovative team of Meeting and Event professionals who deliver "best in class" experiences that generate meaningful connections to propel the business._ **What you will do**: - Plan and execute complex meetings that include multifaceted agendas, business content, recreation programming, complex registration, and promotional communication schedules. - Lead, develop and support program project management by managing logistics and timelines related to the destination, hotel, audio-visual, speakers and other outside vendors and partners during the planning. - Keynote speaker management, including consultative selection, coordination, contracting and speaker onboarding. - Ensure due diligence and risk management for all programs as well as associated event partners and attendees. - Manage meeting budgets, ensuring cost accountability, approval, reconciliation to Company's financial system, and relevant reporting for stakeholders. - Play a coaching role within the Meeting & Event Management planning team by maintaining a positive mindset and motivating environment, sharing knowledge, focusing on collaboration at all levels and supporting change. - Regular travel (sometimes with little notice) and over weekends. **What you will bring**: - ** Event Industry Experience** - 5-7 years of experience in meeting and event planning, focused on corporate event planning. The CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) designation is a requirement for the role. - ** Excellent written and oral communication skills (French is an asset) -** You research and present concepts and options and articulate meeting experience/details to partners, stakeholders, and senior officers. You require the ability to deal with conflict and strong personalities. - ** Collaboration and relationship building** - You will break down silos and be highly communicative and collaborative, given the size of the team and the wide range of clients we support. Collaboration is essential, especially at the Meeting and Event Management team and leader level. - **Strong expense management**: - Creation of event budgets and financial management, including reporting to the client, leaders, and executive teams. Accurate real time reconciliation, auditing, and reporting of expenses to stakeholders is essential. - ** Superior organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills - **Handling conflicting priorities and managing time with fluctuating workloads. You will work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented team environment. You require project management experience, including direction of workflow, assignments, and monitoring of tasks within the project team. - ** Experienced with building productive relationships** - You must establish strong relationships with internal business clients to ensure best meeting practices, economies of scale and positive collaboration and communication style is essential. Strong collaboration skills with clients and internal team members/leadership are important. Work to elevate our brand by providing concierge-level service and experience to attendees and partners. - ** Innovative and creative mindset**: - We strive to deliver best-in-class events and experiences; you must be able to deliver strategic, innovative meeting design and consultative event planning by providing creative meeting and event ideas, communicating a vision for the overall program, and providing researched program proposals. - ** Strong technical abilities** - You must be proficient in Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Possess a willingness to embrace new technologies. Experience with SAP and Smartsheet are an asset. **_ Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be located in the following head office locations: Regina, Toronto, London, Winnipeg._** **Be your best at Canada Life Being a part of Canada Life means you have a voice. This is a place where your unique background, perspectives and talents are valued, and shape our future success. You can be your best here. You’re part of a diverse and inclusive workplace where your career and well-being are championed. You’ll have the opportunity to excel in your way, finding new and better ways to deliver exceptional customer and advisor experiences. *** Together, as part of a great team, you’ll deliver on our shared purpose to improve the well-being of Canadians. It’s our driving force. Become part of a strong and successful company that’s trusted by millions of Canadians to do the right