Event Planner

We’re in the business of Good

Lions International is the largest service club organization in the world. Our 1.4 million members are serving locally and globally to help take on some of the biggest challenges facing humanity.

Every Lion and club are supported by our international association. More than 300 Lions International staff members are constantly working on tools and technology to enhance Lions’ service. When caring people join together, roll up their sleeves and take action to make their community better, it’s an incredible feeling for everyone involved.

Here's how you can help. We are currently looking for an Event Planner to join our team and rise to the challenge of empowering service.

Position Highlights:

The Event Planner is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all logistical elements of the annual international convention, educational seminars, and key organizational meetings. This role blends creativity with operational excellence, overseeing convention center and arena operations, catering, AV production, freight management, exhibit hall services, temporary staffing, and special projects. The Event Planner brings large-scale experiences to life and helps shape meaningful global moments that connect Lions from around the world.

What You’ll Do:

• Drives major event planning efforts with confidence and creativity, using strong independent judgment while working collaboratively with others and independently as needed.
• Drives the planning and logistical execution of the annual international convention, welcoming 12,000–18,000 attendees across six dynamic days, partnering with the team to create an exceptional global experience.
• Develops and maintains detailed RFPs for essential services such as AV, general service contractors, translation, freight logistics, and printing. Evaluates bids and negotiates effectively to help determine the most suitable vendor partners.
• Evaluates convention center and arena venues to determine the optimal use of space for official convention events, including general sessions, seminars, catered functions, registration, and exhibit halls.
• Leverages an understanding of large-scale catering needs to support menu planning that appeals to a global audience and addresses diverse dietary requirements.
• Demonstrates solid contracting experience, including reviewing, negotiating, and managing agreements with vendors and service providers to support successful event execution.
• Ensures event project timelines are clearly communicated to internal and external partners and kept accurate and up to date year over year.
• Keeps projects running on time and within budget, regularly checking in on team tasks and workload to support successful delivery.
• Delivers thoughtful, responsive support to Senior Leaders, ensuring they are well-informed and supported during event planning and execution.
• Conducts and attends status meetings from early planning through event operations and ongoing programs, fostering strong communication with client and project teams.
• Conducts and attends pre- and post-event briefings with suppliers and facility providers, including calls that may occur outside normal business hours due to the international nature of the convention.

We’re Looking for Someone With:

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, public relations, business, event planning or equivalent experience
• Experience managing international events with more than 10,000 attendees. • Experience working in a convention center or convention hotel setting.
• Five to seven years’ experience in meeting planning or equivalent combination of education and experience; international convention and trade show experience is a plus.
• CEM or CMP designation a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Domestic and International travel required ; approximately 10% travel time or 30 days per year.
• Availability to work regularly from our Oak Brook, IL office.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

Lions International has excellent benefits for you and your family. We believe in a balanced work-life and have programs and benefit plans to support our employees, such as:

• Three weeks paid time off
• Flexible and hybrid work schedules
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
• Flex spending accounts for medical and dependent care.
• 401K with employer match
• Reimbursable training
• Casual dress

Compensation: Exempt, $80,000- $85,000

Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of who we are. Diverse and inclusive teams have a positive impact on the work we do, and we know that having varied perspectives helps generate innovative ideas to solve complex problems in an ever-changing world.

Lions International is an Equal Opportunity Employer