Event Planning Specialist

The Opportunity: You build the groundwork that makes Techo-Bloc events possible. While our execution team runs events on the ground, you work a full season ahead: mapping the calendar, finding the right venues and lining up the contracts and vendors that set the team up for success. Our program includes two tours across about 40 cities, with a different venue in each, plus loyalty events and trade shows across Canada and the US. You do the planning, sourcing and negotiating, and the Events Manager signs off. By the time an event is ready to execute, your work is done and the team never has to scramble.
What You'll Do
Most of this job is venues: Finding them, negotiating them and keeping those relationships strong.
Map the route 9 to 12 months out for approved markets and find the right venue for every stop, sourcing, comparing and recommending options for brand fit, logistics, capacity and cost
Run RFPs and negotiate rates and terms with venues and key vendors (pricing, F&B minimums, attrition, BEOs, payment schedules, cancellation policies), with sign-off from the Events Manager
Build long-term relationships with venue partners and vendors so we have options when plans change, flexibility on dates and terms, and better pricing through early booking and multi-event agreements
You'll also:
Build and track event budgets from first estimate through reconciliation, including purchase orders, invoices, payment schedules and post-event financial reports
Maintain the master event calendar and track milestones in our project management tool so timelines, dependencies and resource needs are clear to everyone
Keep Marketing in sync: brief campaign managers, social, marketing automation and architects early so their work is built into the event, not added last minute
Spot risks early (venue availability, supplier constraints, budget pressure), bring solutions to the Events Manager and hand each event to the execution team with contracts, BEOs, logistics and supplier agreements finalized
Contribute to post-event reviews on venue performance, vendor quality and budget accuracy
A Day in the Life
Touring a venue to see if it fits next year's roadshow format
Negotiating terms with a hotel for an event eight months away
Comparing budget actuals to forecast and flagging a variance early
Briefing the content team six months out so campaign assets are planned alongside the event
Building a supplier comparison for a sourcing decision
Briefing the execution team on a venue's specific requirements
You'll Thrive Here If You
Like working months ahead
Enjoy negotiating and building good relationships with venues and vendors
Stay organized across many events and timelines at once
Catch problems before they reach the team
Like building checklists and templates that make next season easier
3 to 5 years in event planning or coordination, ideally in hotel sales or banquets, an event agency or trade shows
Hands-on experience negotiating with hotels or venues
Experience with BEOs, supplier agreements, quotes and payment terms
Experience tracking event budgets, purchase orders and invoices
Comfortable briefing creative, digital and marketing teams
Project management tools (Teamwork, Asana, Monday or similar) and Microsoft Office
Excellent French and English, written and spoken
Valid driver's license and passport. Occasional travel for venue scouting and site visits, mostly outside peak season.

Employment type
Full-time

Work arrangement
No