Senior Event Planner Jobs in Park Ridge, IL (NOW HIRING)

Position Overview

The Senior Event Designer is a senior-level, client-facing role focused on creative leadership, event design strategy, and sales generation, while working in close collaboration with Event Producers to ensure each event is executed seamlessly and in alignment with the approved vision.

This role leads the development of event concepts, design direction, and proposals for large-scale events, and is responsible for securing new and repeat business that aligns with Kehoe Designs’ brand and revenue goals. The Senior Event Designer remains actively engaged throughout the lifecycle of an event, partnering with the Event Producer during planning and execution to provide design clarity, creative guidance, and continuity for the client.

This role emphasizes leadership, shared ownership, and collaboration. For events where both a Senior Event Designer and an Event Producer are assigned, the Senior Event Designer owns the creative vision and client relationship during the sales and design phase and remains actively involved through execution, supporting the Event Producer to ensure the final event reflects the original intent and exceeds client expectations.

This position may cross sell/refer all brands to clients including: Kehoe Designs Décor, BlackOak Technical Productions, The Geraghty and Floral Exhibits. These positions use independent judgment and report to and take direction from the Director of Sales.

Mission Values Commitments

Each employee works together to strive to create the best design company by improving communication, showing genuine care for each other and the company, focusing on delivering quality, and demonstrating professionalism through personal excellence, with a shared passion, dedication, and commitment to providing exceptional value to our clients.

Title Designations

The following parameters explain what minimal benchmarks must be met in order to be promoted to Senior Event Designer. Promotion to Senior Event Producer is at the discretion of management as other factors may apply, including, but not limited to job performance and client satisfaction.

Senior Event Designer Designation:

• Minimum four (4) years in Event Producer roleor ten (10) years of outside event design/production experience
• Demonstrated sales performance with cumulative sales
• Proven ability to lead complex, high-budget event designs
• Consistent delivery of strong margins and client satisfaction

Essential Duties

Sales, Client, and Creative Leadership

• Lead sales and design efforts for large-scale events and strategic accounts as assigned by the Director of Sales
• Serve as a senior point of contact for high-value and repeat clients
• Seeks out and target new customers and sales opportunities to secure new business.
• Develop long-term client relationships that drive repeat business and referrals
• Lead client meetings to establish event vision, creative direction, and strategic objectives
• Writes, presents, and negotiates profitable proposals and sales presentations within accordance of company guidelines.
• Secures event business and client commitment with regard to down payment, signed contracts, and future payments according to department standards.
• Meet or exceed annual sales targets with a focus on quality, scale, and margin
• Collaborates with Creative Services and other Event Designers to develop event themes and designs.
• Develop cohesive design concepts that balance creativity, brand standards, and production realities
• Ensure design intent, scope, and priorities are clearly documented for production planning
• Partner with Production early to assess feasibility, budget alignment, and execution strategy
• Attends events as expected, needed, and directed at the discretion of management to ensure clients are satisfied and event is executed successfully and according to contract.
• Develops and maintain cooperative work relationships with all internal departments and external clients.
• Understands inventory components and pricing, how inventory components relate to each other, inventory quantities, and naming conventions.
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality, seamless event production and design.
• Develops and maintains work relationships with all internal departments and external clients.
• Follows all department and company safety policies and procedures.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Event Production Collaboration

• Provide creative leadership and design decision-making support throughout the production phase
• Work collaboratively with Event Producers from proposal development through event execution
• Participate in key production meetings to ensure design intent is understood and upheld
• Maintain shared visibility with clients during execution to ensure continuity and trust
• Support Event Producers in managing client expectations when production realities require adjustments
• Maintain open, proactive communication to ensure a seamless internal workflow and client experience

Qualifications

• Associates or Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• 10years’experience in event production (particularly in a creative or event décor industry).
• Strong Microsoft Word, Excelcomputer skills.
• Familiarity with event planning software helpful.
• Ability to compute costs and analyze pricing and contract specifications.
• Strong project management skills.
• Ability to deal effectively with diverse individuals at all organizational levels.
• Excellent customer service skills including tact and diplomacy.
• Proven ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced setting.
• Demonstrated ability to share skills and knowledge with others.
• Effective problem solving and mediation skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal communications and conflict management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, highly organized, with outstanding follow-up skills.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to use a computer75%thework day.
• Ability to sit up to 75% of the work day.
• Ability to walk 25% of the work day.
• Required to move throughout the buildings during the work day.
• Ability to travel to client and venue locations to preview events.
• Must be able to tolerate moderate noise.
• Must have 20/20 vision with correction.

Pay & Benefits | What You’ll Receive

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision insurance options available for full-time employees.
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with company matching.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): In compliance with Illinois State Law.
• Training & Development: Opportunities for leadership development and career growth.

Other Benefits

• Collaborative and creative team environment.
• Opportunity to work on high-profile events and large-scale productions.
• Flexible scheduling with occasional evening or weekend event support.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Kehoe Designs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.