Meeting And Event Planner

We are looking for an experienced event planning professional to join our Canada Life Meeting and Event Management team.

Reporting directly to the Manager, Meeting and Event Management, this role is accountable for planning and executing various meetings for Canada Life. Programs are business focused and generally occur in Canada or the continental USA.

You are crucial in delivering our value proposition to the organization: We are an innovative team of Meeting and Event professionals who deliver "best in class" experiences that generate meaningful connections to propel the business.

What you will do:

• Ensure due diligence and risk management for all programs as well as associated event partners and attendees.
• Manage meeting budgets, ensuring cost accountability, approval, reconciliation to Company's financial system, and relevant reporting for stakeholders.
• Plan and execute complex meetings that include multifaceted agendas, business content, recreation programming, complex registration, and promotional communication schedules.
• Regular travel (sometimes with little notice) and over weekends.
• Play a coaching role within the Meeting & Event Management planning team by maintaining a positive mindset and motivating environment, sharing knowledge, focusing on collaboration at all levels and supporting change.
• Lead, develop and support program project management by managing logistics and timelines related to the destination, hotel, audio-visual, speakers and other outside vendors and partners during the planning.
• Keynote speaker management, including consultative selection, coordination, contracting and speaker onboarding.

What you will bring:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills (French is an asset) - You research and p resent concepts and options and articulate meeting experience/details to partners, stakeholders, and senior officers. You require the ability to deal with conflict and strong personalities.
• Collaboration and relationship building – You will break down silos and be highly communicative and collaborative, given the size of the team and the wide range of clients we support. Collaboration is essential, especially at the Meeting and Event Management team and leader level.
• Innovative and creative mindset - We strive to deliver best-in-class events and experiences; you must be able to deliver strategic, innovative meeting design and consultative event planning by providing creative meeting and event ideas, communicating a vision for the overall program, and providing researched program proposals.
• Superior organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills – Handling conflicting priorities and managing time with fluctuating workloads. You will work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented team environment. You require project management experience, including direction of workflow, assignments, and monitoring of tasks within the project team.
• Strong expense management - Creation of event budgets and financial management, including reporting to the client, leaders, and executive teams. Accurate real time reconciliation, auditing, and reporting of expenses to stakeholders is essential.
• Strong technical abilities – You must be proficient in Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Possess a willingness to embrace new technologies. Experience with SAP and Smartsheet are an asset.
• Event Industry Experience - 5-7 years of experience in meeting and event planning , focused on corporate event planning. The CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) designation is a requirement for the role.
• Experienced with building productive relationships – You must establish strong relationships with internal business clients to ensure best meeting practices, economies of scale and positive collaboration and communication style is essential. Strong collaboration skills with clients and internal team members/leadership are important. Work to elevate our brand by providing concierge-level service and experience to attendees and partners.

Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be located in the following head office locations: Regina, Toronto, London, Winnipeg.

Be your best at Canada Life- Apply today !

Being a part of Canada Life means you have a voice. This is a place where your unique background, perspectives and talents are valued, and shape our future success.

You can be your best here. You’re part of a diverse and inclusive workplace where your career and well-being are championed. You’ll have the opportunity to excel in your way, finding new and better ways to deliver exceptional customer and advisor experiences.

Together, as part of a great team, you’ll deliver on our shared purpose to improve the well-being of Canadians. It’s our driving force. Become part of a strong and successful company that’s trusted by millions of Canadians to do the right thing.

Canada Life serves the financial security needs of more than 13 million people across Canada, with additional operations in Europe and the United States. As members of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies, we’re one of Canada’s leading insurers with interests in life insurance, health insurance, investment and retirement savings. We offer a broad portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions for individuals, families, businesses and organizations.

We are committed to providing an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live, and to creating an environment where every employee  has the opportunity to  reach their potential.

Canada Life would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted .