Senior Trade & Industry Events Manager

Overview

Since its inception in 2009, Square has evolved alongside the dynamic world of commerce. Initially focused on providing simple payment processing, Square now offers integrated omnichannel solutions that help merchants manage online sales, inventory, financing, appointments, loyalty programs, and payroll — all embedded within intuitive financial service tools. Square supports sellers ranging from startups to enterprise-scale businesses, fueling their growth through innovative technology products.

The Senior Trade & Industry Events Manager will lead Square's presence across key trade shows and industry events within the retail and food & beverage sectors. As part of the Square Events Team, this role is responsible for executing strategy that drives lead generation, strengthens seller partnerships, and effectively showcases Square’s product offerings at major events such as the National Restaurant Association, Bar & Restaurant Expo, and World of Coffee.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage comprehensive planning and execution of Square's primary trade show events, including booth conceptualization, production, logistics, and staffing coordination.
• Collaborate with the Trade Show Event Manager to formulate the annual trade show strategy covering event selection, budgeting, ROI assessments, and strategic investment suggestions.
• Develop and negotiate valuable experiential sponsorships with industry partners to enhance brand visibility and consideration.
• Spot and assess new event opportunities to broaden Square's footprint across important vertical markets.
• Work in partnership with sales teams to optimize lead capture methods and guarantee timely follow-up actions.
• Engage cross-functional teams — including creative, product, sales, and partnerships — to design impactful event experiences aligned with messaging and product demos.
• Oversee relationships with vendors and service providers such as agencies, warehouse operators, fabricators, audiovisual suppliers, and event contractors.
• Establish systems for inventory control, shipping logistics, booth asset management, and maintain detailed documentation of booth standards and vendor contacts.
• Travel as needed to attend key trade shows and industry events, estimated up to 25% of the time.

Candidate Profile and Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 years’ experience in trade show management, event marketing, or experiential marketing.
• Demonstrated expertise managing large-scale trade shows encompassing booth design, production, and on-site logistics.
• Exceptional project management capabilities managing multiple substantial events concurrently.
• Proven history of generating and effectively tracking qualified leads from trade show engagements.
• Experience handling event budgets ranging between $500,000 and $1,000,000.
• Strong skills with vendor negotiation and management supported by established relationships within event contracting services.
• Excellent communication and ability to manage stakeholder expectations, including conveying ROI metrics to leadership.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% for event participation.
• Preferred background includes retail or food & beverage industries, as well as familiarity with national field event programs.

Additional Information

Square is committed to providing an inclusive employment environment and is an equal opportunity employer. Employment considerations are made without regard to protected characteristics such as race, religion, gender identity, or veteran status, among others. The company also practices fair hiring processes and offers reasonable accommodations during recruitment for qualified candidates with disabilities.

Salary varies by location within U.S. zones based on cost of labor indices, with ranges from approximately $135,800 to $245,400 per year depending on zone and qualifications.