Senior Event Planner

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Responsibilities

The Senior Event Planner provides dedicated executive-level event support, leading the end-to-end planning and delivery of high-profile internal and offsite meetings and events for senior leaders and key stakeholders. The role manages project plans, venue, vendor, and supplier sourcing, contract negotiations, budgets, stakeholder consultation, supplier coordination, and onsite execution to ensure executive programs are delivered with professionalism, attention to detail, and alignment to business objectives.Executive-Level Meeting and Event PlanningLead planning and logistical coordination for executive-level meetings and events, serving as the primary liaison among senior-level stakeholders, Duke Energy service providers, and external suppliers.Consult with executive stakeholders and their teams to define event objectives, requirements, timelines, roles, deliverables, and measures of success.Ensure executive-level events reflect the expected standards for confidentiality, protocol, stakeholder experience, and leadership visibility.Provide planning and coordination support for external nonprofit and association meetings held in Duke Energy meeting spaces.Manage multiple concurrent events, coordinating schedules, resources, dependencies, and risks to support successful delivery.Subject Matter Expertise, Stakeholder Management, and Event ExecutionServe as the subject matter expert for executive-level internal meetings and offsite events, ensuring leadership expectations, audience needs, protocol considerations, and business priorities are reflected in the planning approach.Advise stakeholders on venue selection, facilities, logistics, event procedures, risk considerations, and delivery options.Coordinate planning activities across concurrent events to ensure responsibilities, timelines, resources, and deliverables are clearly defined and completed.Lead onsite event execution, including supplier coordination, service integration, issue resolution, and stakeholder support.Conduct final readiness reviews to verify that event details, assignments, contingency plans, and deliverables are accurate and complete.Participate in recurring meetings with internal service providers to coordinate integrated support and strengthen delivery partnerships.Partner with Enterprise Protective Services on event safety, access requirements, executive movement, emergency readiness, and issue escalation.Vendor Sourcing and Contract NegotiationTranslate stakeholder requirements into clear requests for proposals, supplier specifications, scopes of work, and contractual terms.Source and evaluate venues and suppliers based on service, cost, capacity, risk, and alignment with event requirements.Negotiate pricing, concessions, service levels, deposits, cancellation terms, and other commercial provisions.Review contracts to confirm that requirements, deliverables, pricing, responsibilities, and commercial terms are accurately documented before execution.Maintain productive supplier relationships and industry connections to support competitive pricing, service quality, and market awareness.Financial ManagementEvaluate event requirements and available funding to recommend venues, services, and delivery options aligned with stakeholder needs.Develop accurate event estimates and budgets, and track and report expenditures throughout the planning and execution lifecycle.Advise stakeholders of payment schedules, cutoff dates, cancellation terms, and financial risks.Review supplier invoices for accuracy and resolve discrepancies in coordination with stakeholders and suppliers.Identify cost-saving opportunities, including shared resources, negotiated concessions, and penalty reductions, when appropriate.NoRequirements

Strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with stakeholders at all organizational levels.Demonstrated accountability, sound judgment, and organization, with the ability to manage complex projects, competing priorities, and deadlines.Strong collaboration and customer service skills, including the ability to resolve issues, influence outcomes, and remain professional under pressure.Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications and other tools used for communication, presentations, collaboration, budget tracking, reporting, and document management.Ability to learn new systems quickly and use technology to improve accuracy, productivity, workflow efficiency, and reporting quality.Exceptional attention to detail and sustained accuracy across complex, high-volume, and routine work.Ability to work independently, exercise appropriate discretion, and escalate risks or decisions when necessary.Flexibility to support early-morning, evening, travel, and other event-related business needs as required.Candidates must meet one of the following education and experience pathways:Bachelor’s degree and seven years of relevant experience in event planning, hospitality, project management, or a related field; ORHigh school diploma or equivalent and ten years of relevant experience in event planning, hospitality, project management, or a related field.Significant experience planning and delivering executive-level meetings, offsite events, leadership forums, or other complex event portfolios requiring high-touch stakeholder support.Experience with venue and supplier sourcing, proposal processes, supplier negotiations, and contract administration.Experience managing event budgets, supplier performance, and cross-functional delivery partnerships.Experience providing customer service in a fast-paced environment, coordinating complex logistics, and resolving challenging issues.Experience with event technology, registration platforms, reporting tools, dashboards, or data analysis used to support operational decision-making.Participation in a relevant professional association or possession of an event-industry credential.5-15%PrivacyDo Not Sell My Personal Information (CA)Terms of UseAccessibility