Crain Communications
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 News has 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 News covers the news everywhere it happens around the world. Breaking news, data, daily newscasts, webinars, conferences and events are just some of the offerings. Automotive News Europe and Automotive News China are created locally and are backed by a global team of editors and reporters, as well as a commitment to journalistic excellence. www.AutoNews.com @Automotive_News About Crain Communications
Crain Communications is a leading business news and information company with a portfolio of 24 media brands that provide indispensable coverage and data for professionals globally across sectors, including advertising, automotive, finance, healthcare, staffing, and workforce solutions. Many Crain brands are influential media properties in the industries and communities they serve. For more than a century, our dedication to sector expertise and journalistic integrity enables trusted insights across all platforms. To learn more, visit crain.com. Environmental Demands
Where you work matters. The job posting provides information on where and when your work would be performed. Employee work location is determined by team needs and may include on-site, hybrid or remote. Employee work location is subject to change. An "in-office" role would require the employee to come into the office most days with occasional flexibility to work remotely if tasks can be performed elsewhere and if the manager approves. A "remote" role would allow an employee to work from a home office that is in one of the states Crain does business in. Remote workers must reside in one of the listed states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, and Washington, DC. A "hybrid" role would be a mix of in-office and remote work with schedules to come into the office or discretion of the employee with manager approval, subject to change. Employees who live within a reasonable commute distance from a Crain office are expected to work on-site 3 days per week. Many positions will also include work done in the field. This may include conducting in-person interviews, attending work-related events, meeting with sources or clients. Specifics will be noted in the job posting but are subject to change as a role evolves. Travel to cover news stories/events, meetings with clients, and to our offices may be required. Non-standard hours and on-call periods may be required. Work schedule and travel requirements are subject to change as a role evolves over time. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of many Crain jobs and are subject to change. Physical activities include frequent in-person or virtual interactions. For most positions, it is essential to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods, perform computer-related tasks, and create/maintain documents within filing systems. Must have close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing reports. The typical physical requirements are light work-exerting up to 25lbs of force occasionally and/or up to 10lbs of force frequently and may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion. Some positions may require exerting up to 50lbs of force to move and/or carry equipment, supplies, files, or other materials as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions and meet the environmental and physical demands of the role. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not 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 compensation information as part of their essential job functions cannot disclose that information to individuals who do not have access, unless the disclosure is in response to a formal complaint or charge, or as otherwise permitted by law. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
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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 News has 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 News covers the news everywhere it happens around the world. Breaking news, data, daily newscasts, webinars, conferences and events are just some of the offerings. Automotive News Europe and Automotive News China are created locally and are backed by a global team of editors and reporters, as well as a commitment to journalistic excellence. www.AutoNews.com @Automotive_News About Crain Communications
Crain Communications is a leading business news and information company with a portfolio of 24 media brands that provide indispensable coverage and data for professionals globally across sectors, including advertising, automotive, finance, healthcare, staffing, and workforce solutions. Many Crain brands are influential media properties in the industries and communities they serve. For more than a century, our dedication to sector expertise and journalistic integrity enables trusted insights across all platforms. To learn more, visit crain.com. Environmental Demands
Where you work matters. The job posting provides information on where and when your work would be performed. Employee work location is determined by team needs and may include on-site, hybrid or remote. Employee work location is subject to change. An "in-office" role would require the employee to come into the office most days with occasional flexibility to work remotely if tasks can be performed elsewhere and if the manager approves. A "remote" role would allow an employee to work from a home office that is in one of the states Crain does business in. Remote workers must reside in one of the listed states: AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MA, MI, MN, NV, NY, NC, OH, OR, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, and Washington, DC. A "hybrid" role would be a mix of in-office and remote work with schedules to come into the office or discretion of the employee with manager approval, subject to change. Employees who live within a reasonable commute distance from a Crain office are expected to work on-site 3 days per week. Many positions will also include work done in the field. This may include conducting in-person interviews, attending work-related events, meeting with sources or clients. Specifics will be noted in the job posting but are subject to change as a role evolves. Travel to cover news stories/events, meetings with clients, and to our offices may be required. Non-standard hours and on-call periods may be required. Work schedule and travel requirements are subject to change as a role evolves over time. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of many Crain jobs and are subject to change. Physical activities include frequent in-person or virtual interactions. For most positions, it is essential to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods, perform computer-related tasks, and create/maintain documents within filing systems. Must have close visual acuity to perform activities such as preparing and analyzing reports. The typical physical requirements are light work-exerting up to 25lbs of force occasionally and/or up to 10lbs of force frequently and may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion. Some positions may require exerting up to 50lbs of force to move and/or carry equipment, supplies, files, or other materials as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions and meet the environmental and physical demands of the role. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
The contractor will not 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 compensation information as part of their essential job functions cannot disclose that information to individuals who do not have access, unless the disclosure is in response to a formal complaint or charge, or as otherwise permitted by law. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)
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