Description
Director of Events, Crain Communications
Location: Open (Detroit, NYC, or Remote U.S. Preferred)
Department: Events & Experiences
Reports to: VP, Corporate Events
Position Summary
Crain Communications is seeking a visionary and results-driven Director of Events to lead the evolution of our B2B events portfolio - beginning with the flagship Automotive News brand and scaling across other verticals, including Modern Healthcare, Ad Age, and Pensions & Investments.
This role will be responsible for defining and executing a long-term strategy that enhances audience value, deepens client relationships, and drives revenue growth through best-in-class in-person and virtual event experiences. A major focus will be on customer journey optimization - including registration strategy, Cvent flow design, and seamless onsite/offsite engagement.
This individual will partner across editorial, marketing, sales, and product teams to deliver impactful tentpole events, executive gatherings, and new scalable formats. Ideal candidates bring a mix of strategic thinking, event lifecycle expertise, and a passion for delivering measurable results.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Brand Expansion
Develop and execute a multi-year events roadmap for Automotive News, with a clear path to scale across additional Crain brands.
Identify opportunities to launch new formats (e.g., regional summits, executive dinners, micro-events) aligned to brand and audience goals.
Translate editorial and audience insights into compelling event products.
Audience & Customer Experience
Design the full attendee journey - from pre-event registration to on-site experience - with a focus on conversion, simplicity, and satisfaction.
Oversee registration strategy and execution, including optimization of Cvent builds, ticketing tiers, group pricing, workflows, and reporting.
Event Success & Business Growth
Develop long-term strategic plans and roadmaps for event growth across key Crain brands, starting with Automotive News.
Identify and test new event formats and audience engagement models (e.g., micro-events, regional summits, hybrid formats).
Optimize the registration experience across platforms with a focus on ease, mobile experience, and conversion, including the on-site app experience.
Drive pricing strategy and campaign planning to increase audience reach and registration yield. Partner with marketing on deployment.
Continuously evaluate event performance and industry trends to inform growth decisions and future planning.
Content & Production Integration
Partner with programming teams to ensure content strategy aligns with audience expectations and editorial positioning.
Collaborate with technical production teams on stage design, A/V experience, run-of-show flow, and brand presence.
Maintain a strong working knowledge of event operations, vendors, and on-site execution.
Stakeholder & Team Leadership
Act as the central cross-functional lead for all Automotive News events, managing timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables.
Oversee direct reports and collaborate with centralized functional teams (registration, sponsorship, operations, tech production).
Implement strong planning tools, workflows, and performance reporting to drive accountability and visibility.
Qualifications
10+ years of B2B event experience, with a focus on large-scale conferences, summits, and awards programs
Proven ability to scale event portfolios across multiple brands or business units
Strong expertise in Cvent (registration, build logic, reporting) and attendee experience design
Ability to build high-trust relationships with editorial, marketing, and sales leaders
Exceptional communication, time management, and project leadership skills
Team-oriented mindset with experience managing direct reports and cross-functional initiatives
Understanding of event production, show flow, and on-site execution - but not required to lead logistics directly
Strong collaboration expected with partner event directors focused on operations and client services.
Preferred
Background in B2B media, publishing, or vertical industries such as automotive, healthcare, or marketing
Exposure to executive-level programming and audience development strategies
Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Asana) and data platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Google Analytics)
Brand Overview:
Since 1925,Automotive Newshas been the go-to place for all the news that is happening among automotive retailers, suppliers and manufacturers. Whether it is breaking news sent to a phone, digital editions and web products delivered to a desktop, or stories in the award-winning print edition,Automotive Newscovers the news everywhere it happens around the world. Breaking news, data, daily newscasts, webinars, conferences and events are just some of the offerings.AutomotiveNews,Automotive News EuropeandAutomotive News Chinaare created locally and are backed by a global team of 50 editors and reporters, as well as a commitment to journalistic... For full info follow application link.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor s legal duty to furnish information.
