Sr. Planner, Conferences Vendor Partnerships

The Senior Planner, Vendor Partnerships role is essential to the successful delivery of Gartner’s conference services sourcing strategy. This role involves collaborating with internal conference team members to determine scope requirements, negotiate cost effective solutions and project manage vendor sourcing activities. The focus is on securing favorable contract terms, building foundational vendor relationships and contributing to the successful delivery of conference services.

Primary Responsiblities:

• Partner cross-functionally with internal stakeholders (i.e. logistics, exhibitor operations, financial management and procurement stakeholders) to understand business needs. Take the time to understand the business context, market dynamics, and vendor landscape before helping define complex requirements and identify vendors with the scale to support Gartner’s Conferences strategy. 

• Support the analysis to aid in the management and selection of the best vendors for our conferences by assessing capabilities, commercial models, service quality, pricing, risks, and strategic fit. 

• Abide by Gartner’s contract processes and policies, negotiate vendor pricing and business terms that minimize the risk, improve value, and reflect the operational realities of the relevant market while delivering increased value to the business. 

• Coordinate the end-to-end contract management process, driving timelines, deliverables, and approvals to support timely contract execution. 

• Develop strong relationships with contacts to ensure high-quality standards are maintained, company expectations are met, and lines of communication are open by listening patiently to different perspectives, and building trust both internally and externally. 

• Support global conference services vendor consolidation initiatives by helping streamline the vendor base and identify opportunities to better leverage Gartner’s spend, purchasing power, and vendor relationships. 

• Contribute to continuous improvement through ongoing contract governance and vendor management. Collaborate with onsite planners and conference teams to gather vendor performance feedback, identify recurring issues, and follow up to ensure practices are adjusted where necessary. 

• Gather and synthesize complex business, financial, operational, and vendor data into compelling recommendations and executive materials that facilitate leadership alignment and approval of vendor partnership strategies. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, preferred
• 3+ years event management experience incl. end-to-end event management 

• Extensive conferences onsite experience 

• Basic understanding of contract negotiation, vendor management, and the overall procurement life cycle 

• Experience analyzing cost drivers, pricing changes, and scope impacts to support business decisions 

• Broad experience managing vendor relationships, preferably including experience with Requests for Proposal (RFPs) 
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, and drive results 

• Strong time management skills and ability to multitask - high sense of urgency and prioritization 

• Collaborative mindset with an eagerness to build relationships  

• Developing project management, problem solving and analytical skills 

• Strong financial management skills  

• Fully competent in Microsoft office, especially PowerPoint and Excel
• Ability to travel as needed, approx. 10-15% annually domestically & internationally

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At Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT), we guide the leaders who shape the world.

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In our hybrid work environment, we provide the flexibility and support for you to thrive — working virtually when it's productive to do so and getting together with colleagues in a vibrant community that is purposeful, engaging and inspiring.

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Gartner believes in fair and equitable pay. A reasonable estimate of the base salary range for this role is 55,000 USD - 83,000 USD. Please note that actual salaries may vary within the range, or be above or below the range, based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, professional achievement, business need, and location. In addition to base salary, employees will participate in either an annual bonus plan based on company and individual performance, or a role-based, uncapped sales incentive plan. Our talent acquisition team will provide the specific opportunity on our bonus or incentive programs to eligible candidates. We also offer market leading benefit programs including generous PTO, a 401k match up to $7,200 per year, the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount, and more.

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Job Requisition ID:115130

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