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Contract Event Planning Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

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Contract Event Planning information

What is contract event planning?

Contract event planning involves organizing and coordinating events on a freelance or contractual basis, rather than as a full-time employee of a company. Contract event planners are hired for specific events, such as weddings, conferences, or corporate functions, and are responsible for managing logistics, vendors, budgets, and timelines. They often work independently or as part of an agency, providing flexible services tailored to each client's needs. This role requires excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills to ensure successful event execution.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract event planner?

To thrive as a Contract Event Planner, you need strong project management, organizational abilities, and experience in logistics, often supported by a background in hospitality or event management. Familiarity with event management software (like Cvent or Eventbrite), budgeting tools, and vendor management systems is typically required. Exceptional interpersonal skills, creativity, and problem-solving aptitude help you stand out in this role. These skills ensure seamless event execution, client satisfaction, and the ability to handle unexpected challenges efficiently.

What are common challenges contract event planners face when managing multiple clients simultaneously?

Contract event planners often juggle multiple clients and events at once, which can present challenges in prioritizing tasks, managing deadlines, and maintaining clear communication. Staying organized is critical, as each client may have unique requirements, budgets, and timelines. Effective time management and the ability to quickly adapt to last-minute changes are essential skills. Building strong relationships with vendors and leveraging project management tools can help streamline processes and ensure all events run smoothly.

What is the difference between Contract Event Planning vs Event Coordinator?

AspectContract Event PlanningEvent Coordinator
CredentialsExperience in event management, certifications like CMP or CSEP often preferredSimilar credentials, often with event planning or hospitality background
Work EnvironmentTypically project-based, working with multiple clients on different eventsUsually employed by a specific organization or venue, coordinating internal events
Employer & Industry UsageFreelance or contracted roles across various industriesHotels, corporations, non-profits, and event venues
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding freelance or temporary event planning rolesManaging ongoing or internal events within an organization

Contract Event Planning involves managing events on a temporary, project basis, often as a freelancer or contractor, focusing on client-specific needs. Event Coordinators typically work within organizations or venues, overseeing internal event execution. Both roles require similar skills and credentials but differ mainly in employment structure and scope.

How to become a contract event planner?

To become a contract event planner, gain experience in event coordination through internships or entry-level roles, develop strong organizational and communication skills, and familiarize yourself with event management tools. Building a portfolio of successful events and obtaining certifications like the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) can enhance credibility and job prospects in contract-based roles.

Is there a demand for contract event planners?

Contract event planning is a growing field driven by the need for specialized skills in organizing corporate, social, and virtual events. Demand varies by industry and location, but professionals with strong organizational, communication, and project management skills are often sought after for short-term and freelance projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Event Planning jobs in Kansas?

The most popular types of Event Planning jobs in Kansas are:

Contract Event Planning jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Event Planning job openings in Kansas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution.

Director, Event Strategy & Operations

Quality Technology Services, LLC

Overland Park, KS • On-site

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

The Director, Event Strategy & Operations will lead the company-wide events function for QTS, including executive-level meetings, customer and partner events, internal leadership events, industry engagements, tradeshows, site activations, and other high-visibility brand moments. This role is responsible for shaping event strategy, bringing forward fresh ideas, and translating business priorities into events that are thoughtful, well-run, and aligned to QTS goals.

This leader must be able to think strategically while also operating as a doer. They will own planning, logistics, run of show, vendor coordination, budget management, executive stakeholder communication, onsite execution, and post-event reporting. The role requires strong executive presence, high professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to build trusted relationships across the company.

What You Will Do:

Event Strategy and Creative Leadership

  • Lead the event strategy for QTS-hosted and attended events, ensuring each event has a clear purpose, audience, business objective, and desired outcome.

  • Bring forward creative, executive-ready event concepts that elevate QTS, support the brand, and create stronger engagement with customers, partners, employees, and communities.

  • Serve as the events thought partner to Brand, Marketing, Communications, Sales, External Affairs, and senior leadership teams.

  • Identify new approaches, industry trends, and experience opportunities that help QTS show up with more polish, consistency, and impact.

Executive and C-Level Event Ownership

  • Own planning and execution for high-profile, C-level, CEO, customer, partner, and board-facing events, including executive briefing needs, guest experience, run of show, and onsite readiness.

  • Interact directly with executives and senior stakeholders with confidence, clarity, professionalism, and appropriate urgency.

  • Anticipate executive needs, risks, sensitivities, and decision points before they become issues.

  • Ensure events reflect the right tone, level of quality, and business importance for the audience.

Operational Execution and Team Leadership

  • Lead the centralized event planning team and establish clear swim lanes, priorities, timelines, and standards for execution.

  • Administer all phases of the event process, including planning, logistics, registration, staffing, catering, transportation, audiovisual, signage, collateral, run of show, onsite execution, teardown, and post-event follow-up.

  • Operate as a hands-on leader who can both direct the work and step in to execute when needed.

  • Build strong team routines, including planning meetings, status updates, check-ins, decision logs, and issue escalation paths.

  • Coach, develop, and hold team members accountable for quality, professionalism, responsiveness, and follow-through.

Process, Reporting, and Measurement

  • Build repeatable pre-event and post-event processes that create consistency across event types and reduce last-minute fire drills.

  • Develop event intake, planning, reporting, and prioritization tools that help the organization understand workload, goals, outcomes, and resource needs.

  • Create an event ROI and impact model appropriate to the event type, including attendance, engagement, stakeholder feedback, budget performance, and business outcomes where available.

  • Use post-event learnings to improve future planning, vendor decisions, team resourcing, and executive reporting.

Budget, Vendor, and Risk Management

  • Manage event budgets, vendor relationships, contracts, negotiations, timelines, and invoice reconciliation in alignment with QTS policies and processes.

  • Partner with procurement, legal, accounting, security, facilities, and other teams as needed to support compliant event execution.

  • Identify risks and dependencies early, provide clear recommendations, and manage tradeoffs without losing momentum.

  • Ensure all events are delivered with strong attention to detail, cost discipline, and operational readiness.

What You Will Need to be Successful:

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

  • 10+ years of experience leading large-scale corporate events, executive meetings, customer or partner events, conferences, tradeshows, site activations, or similar high-visibility events.

  • 5+ years of people leadership experience directly supervising an event planning function or event team.

  • Demonstrated experience owning executive-level or C-level events from strategy through onsite execution and post-event follow-up.

  • Experience managing event budgets, vendor negotiations, contracts, timelines, logistics, and cross-functional stakeholders.

  • Ability to travel and work outside standard business hours as needed, approximately 40% travel.

Nice To Have:

  • 10+ years of management experience directly supervising an event planning function and team.

  • Experience supporting events in a fast-paced, high-growth, B2B, technology, infrastructure, real estate, data center, or similar business environment.

  • Experience with executive briefing, customer experience, partner engagement, community/site activation, or board-level event support.

  • Experience building event processes, intake models, calendars, reporting dashboards, ROI frameworks, or event playbooks.

  • Experience overseeing branded merchandise, fulfillment vendors, executive gifting, or promotional inventory programs.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • High level of professionalism, executive presence, tact, diplomacy, discretion, and judgment in sensitive or confidential matters.

  • Creative and innovative thinker who can bring new ideas while staying practical about budget, timing, resources, and execution.

  • Strong operator who is organized, detail-oriented, decisive, and able to manage multiple demands and changing priorities.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief executives and align stakeholders quickly.

  • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to build productive relationships across all levels of the organization.

  • Strong team leadership, coaching, performance management, and delegation skills.

  • Advanced project management skills, including timeline management, dependency tracking, issue resolution, and risk mitigation.

  • Ability to apply analytical and problem-solving skills to event planning, team workload, budget, and post-event measurement.

  • Commitment to customer service for internal and external audiences.

  • Ability to operate under pressure, deadlines, and the demands of a busy office environment.

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and related presentation, database, and spreadsheet applications.

We conform to all the laws, statutes, and regulations concerning equal employment opportunities and affirmative action. We strongly encourage women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply to all of our job openings. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, Genetic Information & Testing, Family & Medical Leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We prohibit retaliation against individuals who bring forth any complaint, orally or in writing, to the employer or the government, or against any individuals who assist or participate in the investigation of any complaint or discrimination claim.

The "Know Your Rights" Poster is included here:

Know Your Rights (English)

Know Your Rights (Spanish)

The pay transparency policy is available here:

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster-Formatted

QTS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to talentacquisition@qtsdatacenters.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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