Director Logistics

The 2024 ADWEEK Experiential Awards Winner: Experiential Brand of the Year, ForbesLive produces premium conferences and experiences that connect influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. Our events combine thought leadership, networking opportunities, and exclusive content to create memorable experiences.

Forbes seeks a strategic, highly motivated events professional to join our ForbesLive team as Director of Logistics, reporting directly to the Executive Director, ForbesLive. This individual brings deep expertise in event logistics and operations, a strong command of vendor and budget management, and the leadership presence to drive flawless execution across a dynamic portfolio of live events produced virtually, in person, and in hybrid formats—both domestically and internationally. The Director of Logistics will serve as a key operational leader on the ForbesLive team, ensuring every event is executed at the highest standard while building scalable systems and processes that support the team's continued growth.

This role operates in a fast-paced, live event environment where adaptability, responsiveness, and a team-first mindset are critical to success.

Responsibilities:

Logistics & Operations Leadership

•   Lead end-to-end logistics planning and execution across ForbesLive's portfolio of events, ensuring seamless operational delivery from pre-event planning through on-site execution and post-event wrap
•   Establish and maintain scalable logistics systems, processes, and best practices that support a growing event portfolio
•   Serve as the primary operational point of contact on-site at assigned events, overseeing and managing external and internal event staff, vendors, and day-of logistics
•   Build and maintain relevant event documents not limited to event timelines, security plans, floor plans, and run-of-show documents; ensure all logistics documentation is current and accessible across the team

Vendor & Budget Management

•   Lead vendor strategy and selection across all event categories (venues, catering, florals, A/V, staffing, transportation); negotiate partner contracts (in partnership with legal)  and manage vendor relationships throughout the event lifecycle
•   Own and maintain a comprehensive vendor database including contacts, capacity, budget benchmarks, and availability
•   Manage overall logistics budgets and expense tracking; submit and route invoices for approval; ensure budgets are reconciled accurately and on time

Cross-Functional Partnership

•   Establish position as a key leader on the ForbesLive team; liaise with internal stakeholders working across the events to ensure operational alignment
•   Lead cross-departmental planning meetings for assigned events; tracking next steps and follow through on action items with a high degree of accountability
•   Collaborate with the Design team on event collateral timelines, ensuring logistics and creative workstreams stay in sync
•   Contribute to the strategic expansion of ForbesLive's event offerings by bringing scalable and innovative ideas to the forefront  
•   Stay current on industry trends, emerging event technologies, and competitor activity; bring proactive recommendations to the team
•   Support other team leads onsite at events as needed 

The ideal candidate:

• Bachelor's degree
• 6+ years of experience in live event logistics, operations, or event management
• Technical understanding of event production and logistics operations, including vendor management, budget oversight, and on-site execution
• Proven ability to manage multiple events simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Thrives in a fast-paced, live event environment; able to make decisions quickly and lead teams effectively under real-time pressure
• Excellent organizational, documentation, and communication skills, both internally and externally
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-departmentally and in a client-facing capacity with composure and professionalism
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, as well as Google Workspace and any relevant management software 
• Proactive, highly organized, and extremely detail-oriented; a self-starter who brings new ideas and solutions to the team
• Strong solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to anticipate challenges and proactively resolve issues before they impact execution
• Maintains composure under pressure and adapts quickly to changing priorities
• Willingness to travel and work nights and weekends as needed, including periods of intensive travel with back-to-back events and sustained on-site leadership during peak seasons
• Must be able to stand/walk for long periods of time
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds

The annual base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $110,000

Forbes has estimated the compensation range set forth above in good faith.  The compensation range is what we believe we will offer, and ultimately pay, a successful candidate.  In determining this range, we consider the experience, level of education (if applicable to the role), knowledge, skills, and abilities required to be had by a successful candidate as well as the budget and the company’s pay rates, generally. This said, we may have to make changes to our compensation estimates and job descriptions from time to time and we expressly reserve the right to do so.  Should we make any such changes, this advertisement will be revised to reflect such revisions.  We encourage you to occasionally re-visit this advertisement to ensure that you are abreast of any changes.  Thank you for your interest in joining Forbes!

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