Events Director
Description
About IGN
IGN Entertainment, a division of Ziff Davis, Inc., is one of the world’s largest gaming and entertainment media platforms and the go-to destination for fans to explore and celebrate games, film, TV, comics and much more. Across its 16 digital properties, IGN Entertainment reaches more than 490 million monthly users in 110 countries and engages with 73 million fans on social media. Its portfolio includes favorites such as IGN, Eurogamer, Digital Foundry, Rock Paper Shotgun, and MapGenie, delivering daily content across 46 platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and connected TV. Through its online digital store Humble Bundle, IGN Entertainment has donated over $250 million to more than 38,000 charities worldwide, underscoring its commitment to making a positive impact. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IGN Entertainment's content is localized in 20 languages. Learn more at corp.ign.com.
The Opportunity
Come join IGN Entertainment as an Events Director! We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced individual to lead our event planning and execution portfolio-wide. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational and communication skills, ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast paced work environment, and a passion for creating premium, unforgettable experiences for our fans and partners. As the Events Director, you will have the opportunity to work with a variety of departments throughout the business and collaborate with our advertising partners to create awesome events. The Events Director will be responsible for all facets of bringing events to life: from concepting imaginative and fun experiences to managing the budget, working closely with Sales to monetize the events and ensure profitable bookings, negotiating and reviewing contracts, working alongside our content and production teams to ensure their needs are met, and managing relationships with our external vendors all while making sure the original vision for the event remains intact.
If you have a proven record of success in event management, strong communication skills, and are excited about the gaming and the entertainment industry, we want you to join us!
Key Responsibilities
- Lead IGN Entertainment’s events from both a strategic and execution perspective, working cross-departmentally to do so:
- You will work on IGN Entertainment’s custom and tentpole events including IGN’s Fan Fest, Summer of Gaming, IGN LIVE, gamescom latam/cologne, San Diego Comic Con, Red Carpets, GamesIndustry’s Best Place to Work Awards, and more
- Work with Pricing & Packaging/ Creative Solutions/ Sales to provide weekly reports to the President/Finance on event sales, partnerships, event recaps and department productivity
- Lead weekly meetings to keep departments/employees informed, assess/ set goals, establish a taskforce, provide project updates manage and create and discuss strategies, and where needed establish and lead cross-departmental taskforces for big events
- Provide a positive and productive working environment - amongst your team of direct reports and cross functional teams.
- Assist the Sales team with RFP responses by working closely with Creative Solutions & Sponsorships teams to provide accurate pricing to execute and implement successful event activations that achieve client KPIs
- Act as the main point of contact on-site at IGN Entertainment-led events and client events
- Clearly communicate deadlines and hold internal/external teams accountable in order to activate and execute successful events
- Work closely with Content teams including editorial, video, and social to promote IGN Events and also work externally with PR to drive as much awareness and press as possible
- Manage budgets, associated administration, and reporting:
- Responsible for overall budget management and profitability involved in planning and executing IGN Entertainment and bespoke client events/ activations
- Create and implement reports to forecast, track, and reconcile the marketing events budget
- Submit monthly reports to President/Finance and SVP Sales including, but not limited to: Event Revenue Report, Forecast, Revenue Pipeline, Vendor Costs, etc.
- Oversee and track all Marketing Events accounting paperwork and associated events revenue
- Develop and maintain relationships with third parties, venues, and vendors:
- Negotiate and close contracts to ensure we are working with the best vendors and external partners.
- Research and identify venues and external vendors; meet with these partners on a regular basis to ensure IGN has a good understanding of available options in market
- Keep external vendors informed and accountable - so they are producing mocks, sales materials, and responses to client questions in a timely manner
- Oversee and coordinate vendors to fulfill client proposal and event needs
- This position is based in Los Angeles, CA.
Job Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent Experience
- 8+ years of experience including managing a small team of direct reports
- Ability to delegate, follow up, provide excellent customer service and relate to employees and partners in a positive effective manner
- Experience with PR/ press functions
- Knowledge of video production is a plus; most of our IRL events also include digital video components and require coordination with our video production teams
- Passion for the gaming and entertainment industry is a plus but not required
- Strong relationships with external vendors/ production companies is a plus
- Must be willing to travel for work as needed (including international travel)
- Portfolio of past work/ experiential projects is required.
Work Environment:
- Work Schedule: Full time, M-F. Due to the nature of the role, there is an expectation for this role to work hours outside of typical business hours based on the needs of clients and events management.
- Travel Requirements: Travel to events, event locations, as needed. International travel as needed. May be required to work weekends due to events and load in/ load out schedules.
- Physical Requirements: This role involves standard office-based activities, including extended periods of sitting, standing, and working at a computer. Event planning and related activities require the ability to bend and lift up to 25 lbs.
- Work Model: This role will be required to go into our Los Angeles office on a hybrid basis, Tuesday - Thursday.
Our Culture and Values
At IGN, we believe diversity stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of new ideas, and enriches our personal and professional lives. We are committed to championing diversity in all that we do, weaving fairness and equity into the fabric of our organization, and achieving a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and antiracist culture where everyone belongs and everyone can thrive.
Here’s the good stuff about us…
- You’ll make an impact. We reach 490MM monthly unique users. We’re big time, but we’re not afraid to give you real opportunities to be epic and make a difference immediately.
- We’ve got a big presence, but a small team.
- We have fun. It’s all about games and games are fun. Anyone can offer a casual work environment, flexible hours, and benefits. We can offer that and a place where you can squad up with your coworkers in the arcade/game room.
- We’re passionate about what we do. IGN employees understand our users, because they are our users. We have a personal interest in providing the best possible product.
IGN offers competitive salaries in addition to robust health and wellness focused benefits including medical, dental, vision, life and disability benefits; Flexible Spending accounts, 401(k) with company match, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Pregnancy and Parental leave, Family Planning Support via Maven, Flexible Time Off, Volunteer Time Off, Fitness Reimbursement as well as employee-focused engagement and education programs, including Employee Resource Groups and company-sponsored events. If you’re seeking a dynamic work environment where you can see the direct impact of your performance, then IGN is the place for you.
IGN is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Salary Disclosure: Ziff Davis provides a range for the base pay. Factors that may be used to determine your actual pay may include your specific job related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. The base pay for this position ranges from $120k to $140k, plus incentive compensation (for eligible roles only), 401K with company match, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, short and long-term disability, and a flexible time off policy.