Senior Event Marketing Manager

Opportunity is not evenly distributed. Shopify puts independence within reach for anyone with a dream to start a business. We propel entrepreneurs and enterprises to scale the heights of their potential. Since 2006, we’ve grown to over 8,300 employees and generated over $1 trillion in sales for millions of merchants in 175 countries.

This is life-defining work that directly impacts people’s lives as much as it transforms your own. This is putting the power of the few in the hands of the many, is a future with more voices rather than fewer, and is creating more choices instead of an elite option.

About the role

As our Senior Event Marketing Manager, Japan you will be responsible for bringing Shopify to life through sponsored and rented events and experiences that engage and connect Shopify with key audiences.

Your role is a part of the Global Event Marketing Team. Our team is responsible for the strategy and execution of high impact events that create and accelerate pipeline for our sales team. This is a key role that will work between many different teams to help define our local event strategy in Japan. You will work closely with various functions, including but not limited to: Regional Marketing, Partner Marketing, Sales and Business Development, Creative, Marketing Ops, PR, Technical Services & Merchant Success.

You’re comfortable working in a cross-functional and fast-paced environment. You thrive on change and can navigate ambiguity, in order to move our team vision and company mission forward. You will have a unique opportunity to build and execute a portfolio of creative and impactful events and experiences in Japan that will help Shopify merchants and prospects succeed.

Your focus will be to:

● Develop and implement the overall event marketing strategy for Shopify in Japan to support local business objectives

● Own project management and execution of event programs end-to-end including development of strategy briefs, schedules, production, logistics, budget, procurement and reporting

● Plan, organize and execute the Japan event strategy that aims to drive Shopify leads for our sales team. This includes but is not limited to: Large Scale Industry Events (e.g. Trade shows, Vertical-specific events, Conferences) and Targeted/Curated experiences for our highest value prospects (e.g. Executive Briefings, High Value Hosting Experiences, Webinars, Workshops)

● Understanding of market positioning and how to work within brand guardrails while catering to the local Japan market. This includes staying informed by building relationships with marketing, sales, business development, partnerships and merchants to better inform your decisions

● Lead internal cross-functional project teams (regional marketing, partner marketing, creative, PR, sales) and maintain consistency in strategic direction through planning and execution

● Work with our event agency to lead on-site event management, including setup, staff coordination, troubleshooting and ensuring a seamless and immersive attendee experience

● Conduct thorough market research to identify key industry events and opportunities for Shopify’s participation

● Negotiate contracts and manage 3rd-party vendors including event agencies, off-site venues, AV suppliers, caterers and others

● Manage external vendor relationships including agencies and freelancers as needed

● Work with content and regional marketing to develop event-specific content, presentations and collateral to effectively communicate Shopify’s value proposition to attendees

● Find and work with speakers and panelists to be involved across local events

● Assess the effectiveness of your events – reporting on success metrics, insights, acquisition progression and recommendations

● Maintain accuracy and accountability of event marketing budget, manage final billing and reconciliation, evaluate results against goals, deliver wrap-up reports, and generate learnings for improvement

● Stay up-to-date with industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging event marketing tactics to ensure Shopify remains at the forefront

About the role

As our Senior Event Marketing Manager, Japan you will be responsible for bringing Shopify to life through sponsored and rented events and experiences that engage and connect Shopify with key audiences.

Your role is a part of the Global Event Marketing Team. Our team is responsible for the strategy and execution of high impact events that create and accelerate pipeline for our sales team. This is a key role that will work between many different teams to help define our local event strategy in Japan. You will work closely with various functions, including but not limited to: Regional Marketing, Partner Marketing, Sales and Business Development, Creative, Marketing Ops, PR, Technical Services & Merchant Success.

You’re comfortable working in a cross-functional and fast-paced environment. You thrive on change and can navigate ambiguity, in order to move our team vision and company mission forward. You will have a unique opportunity to build and execute a portfolio of creative and impactful events and experiences in Japan that will help Shopify merchants and prospects succeed.

Your focus will be to:

● Develop and implement the overall event marketing strategy for Shopify in Japan to support local business objectives

● Own project management and execution of event programs end-to-end including development of strategy briefs, schedules, production, logistics, budget, procurement and reporting

● Plan, organize and execute the Japan event strategy that aims to drive Shopify leads for our sales team. This includes but is not limited to: Large Scale Industry Events (e.g. Trade shows, Vertical-specific events, Conferences) and Targeted/Curated experiences for our highest value prospects (e.g. Executive Briefings, High Value Hosting Experiences, Webinars, Workshops)

● Understanding of market positioning and how to work within brand guardrails while catering to the local Japan market. This includes staying informed by building relationships with marketing, sales, business development, partnerships and merchants to better inform your decisions

● Lead internal cross-functional project teams (regional marketing, partner marketing, creative, PR, sales) and maintain consistency in strategic direction through planning and execution

● Work with our event agency to lead on-site event management, including setup, staff coordination, troubleshooting and ensuring a seamless and immersive attendee experience

● Conduct thorough market research to identify key industry events and opportunities for Shopify’s participation

● Negotiate contracts and manage 3rd-party vendors including event agencies, off-site venues, AV suppliers, caterers and others

● Manage external vendor relationships including agencies and freelancers as needed

● Work with content and regional marketing to develop event-specific content, presentations and collateral to effectively communicate Shopify’s value proposition to attendees

● Find and work with speakers and panelists to be involved across local events

● Assess the effectiveness of your events – reporting on success metrics, insights, acquisition progression and recommendations

● Maintain accuracy and accountability of event marketing budget, manage final billing and reconciliation, evaluate results against goals, deliver wrap-up reports, and generate learnings for improvement

● Stay up-to-date with industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging event marketing tactics to ensure Shopify remains at the forefront

Qualifications:

● Experience in events, experiential and field marketing with clear and significant business impact

● Exposure to B2B, SaaS and Technology Platforms

● Ability to work collaboratively across global teams, functions and timezones

● Comfortable driving strategy with senior leaders while executing in the trenches with the rest of the team

● Proven track record in planning and executing successful events, from small-scale roundtables to large-scale conferences

● Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines

● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborative effectively with internal and external stakeholders

● Demonstrates strong brand instincts, versatility and point of view

● A passion for IRL experiences and brand building

● A quick learner, self-motivated, ambitious and detailed-oriented

● Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in an incredibly fast-paced environment

● Proficient in switching between high-level strategic thinking and detail-oriented work

● Flexibility in being able to travel interstate (potentially overseas) and work across time zones

● Fluent in Japanese, Proficient in English

Bonus if you have:

● Experience in reaching and engaging Enterprise audiences

● Experience working in retail and/or eCommerce

● Experience with Shopify as a product and/or Shopify merchants

Qualifications:

● Experience in events, experiential and field marketing with clear and significant business impact

● Exposure to B2B, SaaS and Technology Platforms

● Ability to work collaboratively across global teams, functions and timezones

● Comfortable driving strategy with senior leaders while executing in the trenches with the rest of the team

● Proven track record in planning and executing successful events, from small-scale roundtables to large-scale conferences

● Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines

● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborative effectively with internal and external stakeholders

● Demonstrates strong brand instincts, versatility and point of view

● A passion for IRL experiences and brand building

● A quick learner, self-motivated, ambitious and detailed-oriented

● Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines in an incredibly fast-paced environment

● Proficient in switching between high-level strategic thinking and detail-oriented work

● Flexibility in being able to travel interstate (potentially overseas) and work across time zones

● Fluent in Japanese, Proficient in English

Bonus if you have:

● Experience in reaching and engaging Enterprise audiences

● Experience working in retail and/or eCommerce

● Experience with Shopify as a product and/or Shopify merchants

The role will require frequent travel primarily through Japan and occasionally internationally. This is a remote position, the hire needs to be based in Japan.

The role will require frequent travel primarily through Japan and occasionally internationally. This is a remote position, the hire needs to be based in Japan.