WorldatWork is a global non-profit organization dedicated to serving, educating, and inspiring those who reward and engage the workforce. Our members include business professionals who are accountable for the critically important practices of compensation, well-being, benefits, development, and recognition programs within their companies around the world. Over 93% of the global 500 organizations are among the many customers we have served over the last 70 years.
Position Purpose:
The Senior Specialist, Exhibit & Sponsorship Operations is responsible for planning and executing all operational aspects of exhibitor and sponsorship fulfilment across WorldatWork events. This role serves as the primary project manager for exhibitor operations, sponsorship activation, fulfilment, and trade show logistics—from pre-event planning through onsite execution and post-event reporting.
Working as part of the Events team, this individual partners closely with Sales, Marketing, Creative, Finance, and external vendors to ensure sponsors and exhibitors receive exceptional service while delivering a seamless experience for attendees. The role also leads administration of the Exhibitor Resource Centre (Map Your Show) and continuously identifies opportunities to enhance sponsorship and exhibit offerings, improve operational efficiency, and elevate the exhibitor experience.
Primary Responsibilities:
Sponsorship & Exhibitor Fulfillment
- Manage the end-to-end exhibitor and sponsorship fulfilment process for assigned events.
- Serve as the primary operational contact for exhibitors and sponsors throughout the event lifecycle.
- Administer and maintain the Exhibitor Resource Centre (Map Your Show), including exhibitor portals, floor plans, online listings, and sponsor deliverables.
- Coordinate sponsorship fulfilment including signage, branding, digital assets, registration allotments, promotional opportunities, sponsored sessions, lead retrieval, and other contracted benefits.
- Collect, review, and manage exhibitor and sponsor assets including logos, company descriptions, speaker information, session details, and other content for event websites, mobile apps, directories, signage, and digital platforms.
- Track sponsorship deliverables and provide fulfilment reporting to the Sales team.
- Develop clear exhibitor and sponsor communications that drive engagement and ensure successful participation.
Exhibit Operations
- Partner with the Events and Sales teams to develop and maintain exhibit floor plans that maximize attendee engagement and sponsor value.
- Coordinate exhibitor logistics including booth assignments, move-in/move-out schedules, service kits, exhibitor registration, contractor coordination, and onsite support.
- Collaborate with decorators, convention centres, hotels, and other vendors to ensure smooth exhibit hall operations.
- Support development and execution of exhibit hall activations, networking experiences, and traffic-driving programs.
- Monitor exhibitor participation and recommend enhancements to improve the exhibitor experience and event ROI.
Event Logistics
- Coordinate operational logistics for sponsorships and exhibit-related activities, including signage, audio-visual, catering, staffing, security, and onsite production.
- Support onsite event execution, troubleshooting, sponsor management, and exhibitor services.
- Participate in site visits and planning meetings as needed.
- Assist with event registration operations and attendee support related to sponsorship and exhibit programs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Creative, Content, Finance, and Operations to ensure accurate execution of sponsorship deliverables.
- Collaborate on exhibitor prospectuses, sponsorship materials, marketing assets, and event communications.
- Analyse sponsorship and exhibitor metrics and recommend improvements to processes, offerings, and customer experience.
- Research industry trends and benchmark sponsorship and trade show best practices to support continuous innovation.
*Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to contribute to the organization when needed.
*Provide outstanding customer service both internally and external, while performing other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
- Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a customer-service mindset.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships across multiple departments and with external partners.
- Willingness to travel for conferences, site visits, and other event-related activities.
Preferred
- Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM).
- Five or more years of experience managing exhibits, sponsorship fulfillment, or trade show operations for conferences or large-scale events.
- Experience with Map Your Show or similar exhibitor management platforms.
- Experience with Salesforce, event registration systems, and mobile event applications.
- Experience working with conferences featuring 100+ exhibitors.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
- Ability to interpret sponsorship agreements and ensure accurate fulfillment of contractual deliverables.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced event environment.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize competing demands.
- Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
- Demonstrated customer service mindset with a commitment to delivering a high-quality sponsor and exhibitor experience.
- Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and knowing when to escalate issues.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams to achieve shared event goals.
Preferred
- Knowledge of trade show and conference operations, exhibitor best practices, and sponsorship fulfillment processes.
- Knowledge of exhibit hall operations, floor plan management, and onsite event logistics.
- Familiarity with event budgeting, fulfillment reporting, and process documentation.
- Ability to identify opportunities to improve operational processes and enhance the exhibitor and sponsor experience.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
n/a
At WorldatWork, we offer a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package. The hiring range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000 plus eligibility for an annual discretionary bonus with a target of 7.5% of base salary. This position may be worked remotely. The benefits for this position include ongoing professional development training opportunities, health, dental, vision, well-being, health savings, flexible spending, retirement, and annual discretionary bonus. For a further description of our benefits please go to https://worldatwork.org/careers.
Disclaimer - The above information on this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Nothing in the job description constitutes an express or implied contract of employment or warranty of any benefits. Employment at WorldatWork is a voluntary employment-at-will relationship for no definite period of time.