Events & Experience Specialist (Toronto)
The Events & Experience Specialist supports Sun Life’s hospitality program, with a range of in-person meetings, hybrid events, and employee experience services. The specialist provides expert knowledge to meet our corporate objectives, quality standards and business goals for our employee experience program. A creative solutions expert with strong hospitality skills, the Specialist ensures the exceptional delivery of employee experiences, hospitality services and events while supporting the effective operation of onsite activities and services.
The specialist is based onsite at Sun Life's global headquarters, Toronto One York, and provides occasional support at Toronto Atria to help deliver seamless experiences across both locations.
The specialist serves as a trusted partner to business leaders, providing expertise and recommendations to design and deliver impactful meetings, events and employee experiences. Working collaboratively with stakeholders, vendors and internal partners, the specialist ensures seamless execution and exceptional participant experiences while continuously identifying opportunities for improvement.
Accountabilities
· Partner with business leaders to understand objectives and deliver meetings, events and experiences that support desired business outcomes.
· Manage hospitality services and food and beverage programs, working closely with service providers to maintain high-quality experiences and operational excellence.
· Lead the design and delivery of meetings, events and employee experiences that advance business objectives, strengthen engagement and create exceptional participant experiences.
· Partner closely with business leaders, vendors and internal stakeholders to align event strategies, coordinate execution and continuously improve outcomes through feedback and insights.
· Support the appearance, functionality and operational readiness of office environments and meeting spaces, partnering with Workplace Solutions and service providers to maintain a safe, organized and welcoming workplace experience.
· Partner with Audio Visual and Technology teams to support meeting and event technology, enabling successful experiences and facilitating resolution of technical issues as required.
· Onsite coordination of food and beverage programs, working closely with onsite vendors and stakeholders, processing invoices, reconciliations and making recommendations for service improvements.
· Manage event-related financial administration, including purchase orders, invoice processing, expense reconciliations, approvals and chargebacks. Support inventory management, operational resource planning and equipment lifecycle processes.
· Ensuring that the venue is run in a safe, orderly and professional manner in accordance with the conditions of all employment, health and safety, fire, and building regulations, as well as company procedures that include, but are not limited to: security, fire code/fire lane policy and health & safety requirements. Health and Safety representative, Fire Warden and able to provide onsite First Aid
· Present a professional image by adhering to established dress standards and any applicable uniform requirements.
· Commitment to continuous improvement with the aim of making processes as efficient as possible, while delivering quality results
· Other duties as required.
What you need to succeed
· A passion for corporate events, hospitality and workplace experiences, with a commitment to delivering exceptional employee and guest experiences.
· 2+ years of experience in hospitality environments, contributing to corporate events, employee experiences and/or workplace operations.
· Strong project management, organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple events, operational activities and deadlines simultaneously.
· Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new systems, technologies and ways of working.
· Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify opportunities, recommend solutions and implement improvements in a fast-paced environment.
· Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in planning, execution, reporting and financial administration.
· Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with business partners, vendors and cross-functional teams.
· Ability to use performance metrics, feedback and operational data to identify trends, improve processes and enhance event and workplace experiences.
· Experience managing budgets, processing invoices, reconciling expenses and supporting financial administration.
· Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and Outlook, and the ability to quickly learn new platforms and systems.
· Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment and proactively address issues while maintaining a high level of professionalism.
· Experience working in fast-paced, customer-focused environments with competing priorities and changing requirements.
· Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional early mornings or evenings, to support business events and operational requirements.
Required skills
· Familiarity of event technology, audiovisual equipment and industry terminology.
· Familiarity with project management methodologies and continuous improvement practices.
· Experience supporting corporate events, hospitality services, workplace experience programs or facility operations.
· Industry certifications related to hospitality, events, customer service or workplace operations are considered an asset.
· Involvement in industry-related associations and a commitment to ongoing professional development.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: $58,000.00-$63,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Toronto, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
