[Hiring] Senior Events Manager @Blackboard

Role Description

The Sr. Manager, Events owns Blackboard’s global events strategy and execution from end to end. This is not a logistics coordination role. It is a pipeline-accountable, commercially-oriented function responsible for translating Blackboard’s GTM priorities into event programs that generate measurable business outcomes across the full customer lifecycle — from new logo acquisition to retention and expansion.

Sitting within GTM Marketing and reporting directly to the VP, GTM Marketing, you will own the global events calendar, budget, and execution infrastructure. You will set the strategic prioritization framework for where Blackboard shows up, why, and with what goals — and you will build the pre-, during-, and post-event engagement systems that make each investment convert.

You work in close partnership with Revenue Marketing to ensure events contribute directly to new logo pipeline, and with Customer Marketing to ensure customer-facing events accelerate retention, adoption, and cross-sell. You partner with GTM Marketing’s PMM function to ensure every event tells a coherent, market-focused story.

This is a senior individual contributor role. You will not manage a standing internal team, but you will direct local and contract staff as needed to execute events at scale. More importantly, you will build and manage the Sales, CSM, and Sales Enablement relationships that determine whether events convert — and you will be accountable for that conversion.

Responsibilities

• Global Events Strategy & Portfolio Prioritization
  • Own the global events calendar and prioritization framework.
  • Build and maintain a structured events taxonomy.
  • Partner with VP, GTM Marketing to set annual events strategy.
  • Maintain a living prioritization model for events.
• Budget Ownership & Financial Management
  • Own the global events budget with full accountability.
  • Build and manage vendor relationships and contract negotiations.
  • Track cost-per-opportunity and cost-per-customer-engagement metrics.
  • Report budget status and forecast variance to VP, GTM Marketing.
• Event Logistics & Execution
  • Own all logistics for global events.
  • Build scalable execution playbooks.
  • Manage and direct local and contract staff as needed.
  • Ensure every event delivers a brand-consistent experience.
• Pre-, During-, & Post-Event Communications & Planning
  • Build and own the full communications infrastructure surrounding every event.
  • Partner with Revenue Marketing on pre-event demand generation.
  • Work with Customer Marketing to design post-event nurture tracks.
  • Ensure all event-related communications are aligned with current GTM positioning.
• Sales, CSM & GTM Team Engagement
  • Build and own the operational relationship with Sales, CSMs, Sales Enablement, and Solution Engineering.
  • Design and deliver event-specific Sales and CSM enablement materials.
  • Create structured feedback loops with Sales and CSM teams.
  • Partner with Sales Enablement to embed events into broader Sales readiness programs.
• Goal Setting & Measurement
  • Set quantitative goals for every event in the portfolio.
  • Build and maintain an events performance dashboard.
  • Conduct structured post-event debriefs.
  • Present events performance and ROI analysis to VP, GTM Marketing.
• Cross-Functional Alignment
  • Partner with GTM Marketing’s PMM team to ensure all events reflect current market positioning.
  • Collaborate with Revenue Marketing to align events to new logo pipeline goals.
  • Work with Customer Marketing to connect events to customer lifecycle goals.
  • Coordinate with Marketing Operations for accurate event attribution.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years of event marketing experience.
• Demonstrated experience building and managing events that generate new logo pipeline.
• Deep familiarity with the Higher Ed market calendar.
• Proven ability to build and manage structured working relationships with Sales, CSM, Sales Enablement, and Solution Engineering teams.
• Budget ownership experience.
• Strong project management instincts.
• Data-driven approach to events measurement.
• Experience directing contract and local event staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience marketing to both Higher Education institutions and Business & Government audiences.
• Familiarity with EdTech or SaaS competitive event landscapes.
• Background working within a centralized marketing model.
• Experience integrating events into ABM programs.
• Exposure to AI-assisted event tools.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range: $105,200 - $130,000.
• Additional compensation such as company bonus, sales incentives, or benefits.