Senior Event Manager

About The Company

At Smartness, we are building the future of hospitality tech. Our SaaS helps lodging providers boost revenues by 30%+ and get more direct bookings. We are the fastest-growing B2B SaaS in the industry, trusted by 4,000+ clients across 40+ countries, with billions of euros in bookings processed. Backed by top international investors and named one of Italy's Top 10 LinkedIn Startups, we are on a mission to scale globally.

Want to grow with us? Let's go

About The Role

What Will You Do?

We're looking for a Senior Event Manager to take ownership of our events strategy and execution, helping Smartness strengthen its brand presence, build meaningful relationships with customers and prospects, and generate new business opportunities across international markets.

From major international trade fairs to exclusive customer events, you'll be responsible for bringing our brand to life through memorable experiences.

This isn't just about organizing events. We want someone who can think strategically, bring creative ideas to the table, and turn every event into a measurable business opportunity.

You’ll manage approximately 30/40 events per year, working closely with Marketing, Sales, and external partners, with a particular focus on Italy and the DACH region.

Your Main Responsibilities Will Include

• Event strategy & planning: define and execute an events strategy aligned with Smartness' marketing and business objectives, identifying the right opportunities to increase brand awareness, customer engagement, and lead generation.
• End-to-end event management: take full ownership of trade fairs, industry conferences, customer events, and smaller initiatives with industry associations, from initial planning and logistics to on-site execution and post-event follow-up.
• Creative concept development: go beyond traditional event management by developing original, engaging concepts that make Smartness stand out. From booth design and branding to staff experience, presentations, and event activities, you'll make sure every detail reflects our identity.
• Budget & supplier management: manage event budgets of varying sizes, from smaller initiatives to major international trade fairs, ensuring efficient resource allocation, negotiating with suppliers, and delivering high-quality experiences within budget.
• Cross-functional coordination: work closely with Marketing, Sales, speakers, sponsors, and external partners to ensure everyone is aligned, prepared, and working towards the same objectives.
• International trade fairs & events: coordinate Smartness' participation in major industry events, including TTG, BIT, and international trade fairs, particularly in Germany and Austria. You'll also attend selected events to oversee execution and identify opportunities to improve our presence.
• Owned events & special projects: lead the organization of Smartness' own events, such as Momentum, contributing to the creative concept, speaker engagement, sponsorship coordination, and overall attendee experience.
• Performance analysis & ROI: track event KPIs, evaluate results, and continuously optimize our approach. You'll help ensure our events generate measurable business impact, including a target of at least 2× ROI on trade fair investments.

What are we looking for?

• Experience in event management: You have at least 7 years of experience managing corporate events, trade fairs, conferences, or B2B events, ideally within a SaaS company.
• Strategic & creative thinking: You're not just an excellent organizer. You know how to develop compelling event concepts, challenge traditional approaches, and create experiences that make a brand memorable.
• Strong project management skills: You're highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple events, stakeholders, and deadlines simultaneously without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Budget ownership: You're comfortable managing significant budgets, negotiating with suppliers, and making decisions that balance creativity, quality, and financial efficiency.
• Data-driven mindset: You understand that successful events aren't just about attendance or aesthetics. You know how to measure performance, analyze results, and translate insights into improvements.
• Stakeholder management: You can effectively coordinate internal teams, external agencies, suppliers, speakers, and business partners, keeping everyone aligned even in complex situations.
• Ownership & problem-solving: You take responsibility from start to finish, anticipate challenges, and find practical solutions when things don't go according to plan.
• Language skills: You're fluent in Italian and English. Knowledge of German is a significant plus, given our presence in the DACH market.