Assistant Director - GDS Meetings and Events

At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

Job Description: GDS Meetings & Events

Job Title: Assistant Director – GDS Meetings & Events

Key Responsibilities

Team Supervision and Event Portfolio Oversight

• Supervise, coach and guide Event Managers, setting clear delivery expectations, priorities and quality standards.
• Assign meetings to event managers, based on complexity, capacity, capability, geography and business need.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews, identify delivery risks and remove operational barriers or escalate them promptly.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, standard ways of working and continuous capability development across the team.
• Provide practical support and direction during peak periods, complex negotiations and critical onsite delivery.

High-profile and complex event management

• Lead the end-to-end planning and execution of high-profile, leadership, client-facing, large-scale or otherwise complex events.
• Clarify eventobjectives, audience, scope, budget, experience expectations and success measures with sponsors and requestors.
• Develop and control project plans, critical paths, run sheets, production schedules, risklogsand decision points.
• Oversee venue, accommodation, transportation, catering, room setup, security, branding, communications, AV,productionand event technology requirements.
• Act as the senior operational lead for priority events, resolving issues in real time and ensuring effective pre-event, onsite and post-event management.

Stakeholder management andService excellence

• Maintain strong day-to-day liaison with the GDS Meetings & Events Program Manager onprogrampriorities, pipeline, governance, reporting,escalationsand improvement opportunities.
• Build trusted relationships with business stakeholders, event sponsors,requestorsand cross-functional partners.
• Monitor delivery quality, stakeholder feedback, participant experience,timelinessand operational performance.
• Establish and reinforce consistent service standards across the Event Manager team and event portfolio.

• Provide clear,timelyand commercially informed advice on event strategy, delivery options, risk,costand attendee experience.
• Identifyrecurring issues, rootcausesand opportunities to simplify,standardizeor improve event processes.

Supplier management,sourcingand negotiation

• Work closely with M&E sourcing manager for commercial negotiations and value-add opportunities while protecting delivery quality.
• Oversee engagement with venues, hotels, event agencies, AV and production partners, destination managementcompaniesand other suppliers through approved channels.

• Monitor supplier performance against agreed requirements, service levels, contractualcommitmentsand event outcomes.

• Support the M&E teams with sourcing exercises, RFPs, supplier onboarding and renewals whenever required.

Governance,policyand compliance

• Ensure to have all appropriate event documentation, approvals, decisions, financialrecordsand audit-ready evidence.
• Ensure use of approved intake process,standardizedcontracts, addenda, framework agreements andrequiredinternal controls.

• Identifynon-compliance or control gaps, implement correctiveactionsand escalate significant matters.

• Reinforce protocols and guidelines consistently while balancing service, risk,costand businessneed.

Financial oversight,systemsand reporting

• Oversee the preparation and control of event budgets, expenditure tracking, purchase orders, invoice validation,reconciliationand closeout.

• Drive cost efficiencies and ensure negotiated savings or value opportunities are documented where applicable.

• Ensure event information is accurately and promptlymaintainedin Cvent, Ariba and other approved systems or reporting channels.

• Review event KPIs, portfolio data, supplierperformanceand stakeholder feedback, highlighting trends,risksand opportunities.

• Ensure post event invoice submissions and event closures are done according to the prescribed timeline.
• Coordinate with the finance operations team to ensure timely POs and payments are processed.
• Provide concise operational updates and insights to the GDS Meetings & Events Leader and Program Manager.

Qualification and Experience

• Graduate in hospitality, event management or equivalent stream.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in corporate event management, preferably in the corporate sector
• 5+ years’ experience in managing a team of event managers
• Min 5 years’ experience in managing corporate meetings, events, conferences or leadership programmes.
• Proven experience managing large-scale in-person, virtual and hybrid events.
• Experience managing AV production, event technology and onsite event operations.
• Strong understanding of participant management platforms such as Cvent.

Skills & Competencies

• End-to-end event planning and execution expertise.
• Strong AV production, event technology and branding knowledge.
• Excellent project management, organisation and multitasking abilities.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and presentation skills.
• Budget management, supplier coordination and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and successfully manage complex events.
• High attention to detail and a customer-focused mindset.

What We Look For

A highly organised and proactive event professional with a passion for delivering exceptional event experiences. The ideal candidate will be comfortable managing multiple events simultaneously, engaging with senior stakeholders, leading onsite execution and ensuring flawless delivery from planning through post-event closeout.

EY | Building a better working world

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.