Events Manager

About YPO

YPO is an international leadership network of more than 35,000 chief executives across over 140 countries. The community is designed for leaders who want to strengthen their leadership, grow personally and professionally, and build meaningful relationships through shared experiences and learning opportunities.

Behind this community is a global team of more than 450 associates working across 25+ countries. With headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and many team members operating remotely, the organization aims to deliver a distinctive member experience worldwide.

Role Overview

The Events Manager will oversee the complete delivery of curated in-person and virtual events for the YPO community. This role requires a highly organized, proactive professional who can coordinate with members, spouses/partners, internal teams, vendors, and speakers to ensure events are executed to a high standard and aligned with YPO’s global events strategy.

Work Location and Travel

This is a remote, work-from-home consulting contract based in the United Arab Emirates. The role involves approximately 25% to 40% travel within the country and internationally. The right candidate should be adaptable to different time zones when working with global stakeholders, and preference is given to applicants living within about one hour of a major airport.

Contract Terms

This is an international consultant contract, as YPO is not an employer in the UAE. The first contract term runs through September 2026, after which it may be renewed on an annual basis subject to continuation of the contract cycle.

Key Responsibilities

The Events Manager will own event planning and delivery from concept through close-out, while maintaining strong communication, budget discipline, and operational control.

• Work with stakeholders and YPO members or spouses/partners to design engaging events that support member needs and organizational priorities.
• Manage the full event lifecycle, including ideation, budgeting, logistics, execution, and post-event evaluation across multiple programs; serve as virtual producer when needed.
• Help ensure planning teams understand their roles and that overall progress is tracked effectively.
• Support early member involvement through workshops, recurring planning meetings, and guidance that helps create successful programs.
• Partner with finance teams to forecast budgets, account for VAT, and complete reconciliations within 60 days after events.
• Independently manage event budgets from USD 50K to 3M while avoiding overspend and using any surplus to improve attendee experience.
• Work with the contracts team to negotiate and finalize agreements in line with organizational policies and legal requirements.
• Coordinate with marketing and communications teams to share event information and support registration-driving campaigns.
• Source, negotiate, and oversee suppliers for venues, hotels, catering, audiovisual support, transport, and event materials using preferred standards and directories.
• Identify and reduce event risk in collaboration with security and compliance teams, including safety and contingency planning.
• Create and maintain Master Event Plans to support execution and keep all contributors aligned.
• Run discovery calls, planning meetings, and site visits, and provide onsite or virtual support to ensure smooth delivery.
• Lead event operations, including onsite coordination, vendor oversight, and staff support.
• Gather participant feedback, lead internal debriefs, and document lessons learned and best practices.
• Assess future program needs, identify improvement opportunities, and capture feedback from champions on what worked well.
• Complete all close-out tasks and reporting within 60 days of the event, following standard procedures.
• Follow internal event processes, procedures, toolkits, and applicable learning/event guidelines.
• Take on additional duties as needed and contribute to process improvements and operational excellence.

Experience and Background

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in event management, especially in environments that serve senior executives or association members.

• At least 5 years of experience in event design or event management, preferably in an association setting serving C-suite audiences.
• Minimum 2 years of experience handling virtual events.
• Exposure to Cvent, Zoom, Adaptive, Salesforce, and related online tools is preferred.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office and database management.
• Experience with luxury or incentive events is an advantage.

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification is required.
• Preferred certifications include Cvent certification, Virtual Event certification such as Digital Event Strategist, Event Management System certification, CMM, CMP, and PMP.

Working Requirements

The position calls for flexible or extended working hours to accommodate international time zones. The candidate must also be able to spend long periods working at a computer and travel freely for domestic and international assignments.

Equal Opportunity

YPO is committed to fair hiring and an inclusive workplace. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

Additional Information

This role is designed for a self-directed professional who can operate across cultures, balance multiple priorities, and help deliver exceptional experiences for a global leadership community.