Event Program Manager Jobs in Ames, IA (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview

Autodesk is seeking a Director, Event Operations to lead the operational strategy, governance, and delivery model that powers Autodesk's most visible customer, partner, employee, and executive experiences.

This role is responsible for establishing the operational foundation that enables Autodesk's strategic events portfolio to scale efficiently, execute consistently, and deliver exceptional experiences. From flagship customer conferences and executive programs to employee events, incentive experiences, and future strategic initiatives, this leader ensures operational excellence across the entire event ecosystem.

The Director, Event Operations serves as the operational backbone of the Events & Experiences organization, partnering closely with Event Technology, Experience Design, Content, Marketing, Security, Procurement, Finance, Legal, and executive stakeholders to drive alignment, reduce risk, optimize investments, and elevate execution quality across all programs.

This role requires a highly strategic operator who can balance long-term planning with real-time decision making, create structure in complex environments, and build scalable systems that enable teams to perform at their best.

Success in this role requires exceptional judgment, operational rigor, financial acumen, stakeholder management skills, and the ability to bring clarity and calm to highly dynamic environments.

Key Responsibilities

Event Operations Strategy & Portfolio Leadership

• Define and evolve Autodesk's event operations strategy, operating model, standards, and governance framework across the strategic events portfolio
• Establish scalable operational processes, playbooks, and delivery models that create consistency across flagship events, executive programs, and future experiences
• Partner with program leads to translate business objectives into executable operational plans
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and drive operational excellence across programs
• Serve as a strategic advisor to Events & Experiences leadership on operational priorities, risks, resource allocation, and organizational effectiveness

Portfolio Planning, Governance & Program Delivery

• Oversee operational planning and execution across Autodesk's strategic event portfolio
• Establish program governance models, readiness reviews, decision frameworks, escalation paths, and operating rhythms
• Lead portfolio-level planning efforts including master timelines, critical path management, dependency tracking, and milestone governance
• Ensure operational consistency across venue strategy, registration operations, housing, transportation, food and beverage, staffing, production operations, executive experiences, and attendee services
• Drive continuous improvement through post-event reviews, lessons learned, benchmarking, and operational maturity assessments

Vendor Strategy, Procurement & Contract Management

• Own Autodesk's event operations vendor ecosystem, including agency partners, production vendors, housing providers, transportation partners, staffing agencies, destination management companies, and operational suppliers
• Lead vendor selection strategies, RFP processes, contract negotiations, and supplier evaluations
• Identify opportunities for consolidation, standardization, preferred partnerships, and cost savings
• Establish performance standards, service-level expectations, and accountability frameworks for vendor partners
• Partner with Procurement and Legal to negotiate favorable commercial terms, concessions, rebates, and risk protections

Financial Stewardship & Budget Governance

• Oversee operational budget planning and financial management across Autodesk's strategic events portfolio
• Establish forecasting models, budget governance processes, and financial reporting standards
• Identify efficiencies, cost optimization opportunities, and investment recommendations
• Ensure responsible stewardship of company resources while maintaining exceptional attendee experiences
• Partner with Finance and leadership teams on funding strategies, business cases, and investment decisions
• Monitor portfolio financial performance and provide executive-level reporting and recommendations

Risk Management, Safety & Operational Readiness

• Establish operational risk management frameworks across all strategic events
• Partner closely with Security, Legal, Risk Management, Travel, and executive stakeholders to ensure appropriate planning and mitigation strategies
• Lead contingency planning, crisis management preparation, and business continuity efforts
• Ensure operational readiness across all programs through structured reviews, testing, and validation processes
• Create scalable frameworks for health, safety, accessibility, compliance, and duty-of-care requirements

Team Leadership & Organizational Excellence

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of event operations professionals
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, operating rhythms, and development plans across the organization
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Drive workforce planning, contractor strategy, resource allocation, and organizational scalability
• Foster an environment where teams can move quickly, solve problems effectively, and deliver exceptional work without unnecessary complexity

Executive Partnership & Business Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on operational strategy, event investments, risks, and execution planning
• Lead executive briefings, operational reviews, and decision-making forums
• Present recommendations, trade-offs, risks, and opportunities with clarity and confidence
• Build strong cross-functional relationships across Marketing, Sales, Customer Success, Finance, IT, Security, Procurement, and executive offices
• Represent Event Operations in executive planning forums, steering committees, and organizational initiatives

Qualifications & Experience

• 10-15+ years leading large-scale event operations, experiential marketing operations, or enterprise program delivery
• Experience overseeing complex event portfolios including customer conferences, executive programs, sales meetings, incentive experiences, and employee events
• Proven experience managing multimillion-dollar budgets and driving financial accountability
• Deep expertise in venue strategy, operational planning, supplier management, and large-scale event execution
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing executive stakeholders
• Demonstrated success managing complex vendor ecosystems and negotiating commercial agreements
• Strong understanding of operational governance, risk management, and organizational effectiveness
• Experience supporting high-profile events with significant executive visibility and business impact

Who You Are

• You thrive in complexity and instinctively bring order, structure, and clarity to ambiguous situations.
• You know how to zoom out and think strategically while still being willing to dive into the details when needed.
• You build trust quickly and understand that strong relationships are often just as important as strong processes.
• You know how to influence without creating unnecessary friction and can navigate competing priorities with diplomacy and confidence.
• You are proactive, resourceful, and solutions oriented.
• When you identify a problem, your instinct is to come with options and recommendations, not just escalation.
• You have high standards and care deeply about operational excellence, but you also know how to be practical, flexible, and adaptable.
• You leave your ego at the door, assume positive intent, and genuinely enjoy helping teams succeed.
• You are the person others look to during high-pressure moments because you bring calm, perspective, and a sense of partnership to the work.
• You care about building great experiences, developing great teams, and having fun along the way.

About Autodesk

Welcome to Autodesk! Amazing things are created every day with our software - from the greenest buildings and cleanest cars to the smartest factories and biggest hit movies. We help innovators turn their ideas into reality, transforming not only how things are made, but what can be made.

We take great pride in our culture here at Autodesk - it's at the core of everything we do. Our culture guides the way we work and treat each other, informs how we connect with customers and partners, and defines how we show up in the world.

When you're an Autodesker, you can do meaningful work that helps build a better world designed and made for all. Ready to shape the world and your future? Join us!

Benefits

From health and financial benefits to time away and everyday wellness, we give Autodeskers the best, so they can do their best work. Learn more about our benefits in the U.S. by visiting https://benefits.autodesk.com/

Equal Employment Opportunity

At Autodesk, we're building a diverse workplace and an inclusive culture to give more people the chance to imagine, design, and make a better world. Autodesk is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected characteristic. We also consider for employment all qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with applicable law.

Belonging

We take pride in cultivating a culture of belonging where everyone can thrive. Learn more here: https://www.autodesk.com/company/global-belonging

In-Person Onboarding and Identity Verification

This role may require in-person onboarding and/or in-person ID verification.

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