Conference Planning Manager Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

Kiewit's water market is seeking a Events Specialist to support marketing managers with conference planning, client events, pursuit-related touchpoints and market-facing experiences. This role is ideal for someone who can think beyond logistics and help connect events to business development priorities, client engagement and broader marketing strategy. The Events Specialist will work closely with marketing managers who guide event strategy, messaging, sales collateral and how Kiewit's water capabilities are presented in the market. This role will also interact with business development teams, subject matter experts and project teams to help support events that strengthen relationships, create visibility and align with pursuit or account goals.

This is a strategic support role, not a traditional event planning role focused only on logistics. The right person should be organized, intuitive and able to understand why an event matters, who it needs to reach and how it supports the larger water market strategy.

Kiewit's marketing, creative and proposal team provide get-work services to water/wastewater and industrial. Individuals in this department get exposure to a mix of high profile, complex pursuits across North America valued from $5M-$6B. This incredibly profitable, competitive, fun group focuses on winning more work with high-quality, client-focused sales strategies through creative communication techniques. Our rapidly growing team, which includes graphic designers, proposal professionals, writers, marketers and data analytics brings vast experience, communication expertise, innovative concepts, and best practices to all projects we support across the company.  

This position will be based out of our Lenexa, KS office. Opportunities for flexible work are available. 

• Support business development leaders and marketing managers with event planning tied to conferences, client meetings, ribbon cuttings, sponsorships, industry events and pursuit-related engagement. This includes everything from helping define the purpose of each event, key audiences, messaging needs and how the event supports broader water market goals, to actual execution of said event.
• Assist with conference planning, sponsorship deliverables, booth needs, attendee coordination, signage, giveaways, speaker support and event deadlines. This person should be able to help organize the details while keeping the larger strategy in mind.
• Support marketing managers by helping track conference abstracts, speaker submissions, technical session deadlines and related requirements. This may include monitoring abstract portals, gathering bios and headshots, coordinating with subject matter experts, tracking review deadlines and helping ensure presentation or session requirements are organized well ahead of the event.
• Support events that connect to client accounts, business development efforts and active or upcoming pursuits. This may include helping coordinate client-facing meetings, pre-conference planning, project milestone events, tours, receptions or other touchpoints that help keep Kiewit visible and engaged in key markets.
• Work with marketing managers, business development, operations, subject matter experts and external vendors to help keep event needs organized and moving forward. This role should be comfortable gathering information, tracking decisions and making sure the right people are aligned before, during and after an event.
• Manage event budget and vendor contacts throughout year.
• Partner with marketing managers and the Marketing Specialist to help ensure event materials, talking points, signage, presentations, booth messaging and follow-up content are aligned. This role helps connect the event experience with the content and marketing materials that support it.
• Support follow-up after events, including attendee notes, content opportunities, lessons learned, photos, lead or relationship tracking and recommendations for future improvements. This role should help ensure events do not end when the room is packed up, but continue supporting business development and marketing goals afterward.

• Experience in event planning, conference and tradeshow coordination, client engagement or related marketing support
• Experience supporting business development, account-based marketing, sponsorships or pursuit-related events
• 5+ years of experience
• Ability to connect event planning with broader marketing and client relationship goals
• Comfort coordinating with multiple stakeholders, vendors and internal teams
• Experience managing event timelines, budgets, deadlines, sponsorship deliverables and logistics
• Familiarity with conferences, trade shows, client receptions, project milestone events or industry events
• Familiarity with Monday.com, Asana or similar project management tools
• Interest in water, wastewater, infrastructure, construction or engineering-related industries
• Comfortable initiating conversations with clients and industry partners, building rapport, and connecting them with the appropriate Kiewit subject matter experts and resources (key skills include communicating confidently, asking thoughtful questions, and ensuring that each conversation leads to the right Kiewit contact)
• Willingness to travel up to 20-40% of the year
• Comfortable working with multiple contributors (i.e., business development, operations and technical teams, etc.) while relying on marketing managers for direction, prioritization and strategy

A successful Strategic Events Specialist will help marketing managers plan and support events that are organized, intentional and connected to Kiewit's water market strategy. This person does not need to know every detail of the water industry on day one, but should bring a strategic mindset, strong organization and the ability to understand how events support client relationships, market visibility and pursuit goals.
This role does not require someone to have every event, pursuit and water-market detail figured out immediately, but it does require someone who is intuitive, proactive and able to connect logistics back to the broader purpose of the event. Success will come from being flexible, collaborative and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where event needs, pursuit priorities and market opportunities can shift quickly.

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