Conference Director Jobs
Conference Director jobs are open across associations, trade shows, tech, healthcare, and higher education, from senior program manager to VP of events, with specializations in corporate conferences, nonprofit summits, and hybrid event production. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
Find Conference Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 8+ Conference Director jobs
Live. Work. Explore. as a part of our team at Custer State Park Resort!
Custer State Park Resort is located in one of South Dakota's most iconic destinations in the heart of the Black Hills. Spanning nearly 71,000 acres, the park is home to nearly 1,400 bison, breathtaking granite formations, scenic drives, abundant wildlife and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.
We’re hiring a Director of Sales & Conference Services to Live. Work. Explore. in Custer State Park!
Job Summary:
The Director of Sales & Conference Services leads group sales, catering, conference services, weddings, and special events across Custer State Park Resorts. This role drives revenue growth through proactive sales, strong client relationships, and collaboration with operations teams to deliver Legendary Hospitality and exceptional experiences across the Park’s lodging, dining, and event venues.
The Details:
Position Type: Full-Time
Sales Strategy & Business Development
- Develop and execute annual sales and catering plans to grow group room, banquet, wedding, and event revenue.
- Proactively pursue corporate, association, incentive, wedding, tour, and leisure group business through targeted prospecting strategies.
- Establish and maintain a qualified sales pipeline through consistent prospecting, relationship development, and account management.
- Build and maintain relationships with key accounts, meeting planners, tour operators, destination management companies, tourism organizations, regional businesses, and event partners.
- Conduct site visits, prepare proposals, negotiate contracts, and represent the property at trade shows, sales calls, and industry events.
- Develop repeat business strategies, referral programs, and account-retention initiatives to maximize long-term customer value.
Revenue Management & Financial Performance
- Manage annual group sales, catering, wedding, and event revenue budgets and goals in collaboration with resort leadership and Corporate Revenue Management.
- Establish and monitor booking pace, sales activity, pipeline forecasts, response times, conversion rates, average group rates, and overall sales performance.
- Partner with Revenue Management to develop group pricing strategies, packages, seasonal promotions, and need-period initiatives that maximize occupancy and profitability.
- Evaluate group opportunities based on total revenue contribution, profitability, operational requirements, and impact on lodging, food and beverage, meeting space, event capacity, and ancillary experiences.
- Monitor catering and event profitability through strategic pricing, package development, and effective cost management.
Catering & Event Oversight
- Oversee catering and conference services from initial inquiry and contracting through event planning, operational coordination, execution, and post-event follow-up.
- Partner with Culinary and Operations teams to develop banquet menus, event packages, and distinctive guest experiences.
- Ensure accurate contracts, room blocks, group resumes, banquet event orders (BEOs), departmental communication, and consistent service standards.
- Coordinate group and event needs across multiple venues, including outdoor locations, while accounting for seasonal conditions and park requirements.
Lead Management & Communication
- Establish and maintain standardized sales processes for lead distribution, prospecting, timely responses, proposals, contracting, deposits, attrition, cancellations, event planning, and post-event follow-up.
- Oversee lead distribution, response times, follow-up procedures, and conversion performance to maximize revenue opportunities.
- Maintain accurate client records and develop sales activity reports, book pace reports, pipeline forecasts, and other performance metrics that support operational staffing and resource planning.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination among Sales, Catering, Revenue Management, Reservations, Culinary, Marketing, and Operations so commitments align with property capabilities.
Cross-Selling & Corporate Collaboration
- Collaborate with Xanterra’s Corporate Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, and Tour & Travel teams to align property-level strategies with broader organizational objectives.
- Participate in corporate sales initiatives, strategic account development, company-wide programs, and cross-property business opportunities.
- Identify and pursue opportunities to cross-sell Xanterra destinations to existing and prospective clients.
Seasonal Programming & Experiences
- Develop seasonal group packages, corporate retreat experiences, and special-interest programs designed to generate incremental lodging and event revenue.
- Work with Marketing and Operations to create compelling packages that increase shoulder-season and off-peak demand.
- Collaborate with resort leadership and local partners to develop unique group experiences that showcase the natural beauty, recreation, history, and cultural heritage of Custer State Park.
- Identify opportunities to incorporate outdoor recreation, guided experiences, educational programming, and team-building activities into group offerings.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop the Sales & Conference Services team, establishing clear responsibilities, goals, and performance expectations.
- Build a collaborative team culture centered on guest service, accountability, and results.
- Partner with resort leadership to support property priorities and successful group and event operations.
- Five or more years of progressive hospitality sales, catering, and conference services experience, including team leadership.
- Demonstrated success in proactive business development, group sales, key account management, market expansion, and achieving revenue goals.
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-property or multi-venue sales and catering operations preferred.
- Experience developing and managing corporate meetings, destination weddings, conferences, and special events.
- Experience working in destination resorts, national or state parks, or seasonal hospitality operations preferred.
- Working knowledge of conference, wedding, and special event planning; catering operations; contracts; budgets; and group pricing.
- Strong communication, negotiation, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with corporate departments and property-level operational teams.
- Proficiency with CRM and sales and catering management systems.
- Ability to travel as needed for sales calls, trade shows, industry events, and company meetings.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as business demands require.
- Retail, Lodging and Travel Discounts
- Planned employee trips and activities
- $350 Referral Bonus Program
- Xanterra offers competitive benefit programs and services for eligible employees. For more information, click here.
Live. Work. Explore. as a part of our team at Custer State Park Resort!
Custer State Park Resort is located in one of South Dakota's most iconic destinations in the heart of the Black Hills. Spanning nearly 71,000 acres, the park is home to nearly 1,400 bison, breathtaking granite formations, scenic drives, abundant wildlife and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure.
We’re hiring a Director of Sales & Conference Services to Live. Work. Explore. in Custer State Park!
Job Summary:
The Director of Sales & Conference Services leads group sales, catering, conference services, weddings, and special events across Custer State Park Resorts. This role drives revenue growth through proactive sales, strong client relationships, and collaboration with operations teams to deliver Legendary Hospitality and exceptional experiences across the Park’s lodging, dining, and event venues.
The Details:
Position Type: Full-Time
Sales Strategy & Business Development
- Develop and execute annual sales and catering plans to grow group room, banquet, wedding, and event revenue.
- Proactively pursue corporate, association, incentive, wedding, tour, and leisure group business through targeted prospecting strategies.
- Establish and maintain a qualified sales pipeline through consistent prospecting, relationship development, and account management.
- Build and maintain relationships with key accounts, meeting planners, tour operators, destination management companies, tourism organizations, regional businesses, and event partners.
- Conduct site visits, prepare proposals, negotiate contracts, and represent the property at trade shows, sales calls, and industry events.
- Develop repeat business strategies, referral programs, and account-retention initiatives to maximize long-term customer value.
Revenue Management & Financial Performance
- Manage annual group sales, catering, wedding, and event revenue budgets and goals in collaboration with resort leadership and Corporate Revenue Management.
- Establish and monitor booking pace, sales activity, pipeline forecasts, response times, conversion rates, average group rates, and overall sales performance.
- Partner with Revenue Management to develop group pricing strategies, packages, seasonal promotions, and need-period initiatives that maximize occupancy and profitability.
- Evaluate group opportunities based on total revenue contribution, profitability, operational requirements, and impact on lodging, food and beverage, meeting space, event capacity, and ancillary experiences.
- Monitor catering and event profitability through strategic pricing, package development, and effective cost management.
Catering & Event Oversight
- Oversee catering and conference services from initial inquiry and contracting through event planning, operational coordination, execution, and post-event follow-up.
- Partner with Culinary and Operations teams to develop banquet menus, event packages, and distinctive guest experiences.
- Ensure accurate contracts, room blocks, group resumes, banquet event orders (BEOs), departmental communication, and consistent service standards.
- Coordinate group and event needs across multiple venues, including outdoor locations, while accounting for seasonal conditions and park requirements.
Lead Management & Communication
- Establish and maintain standardized sales processes for lead distribution, prospecting, timely responses, proposals, contracting, deposits, attrition, cancellations, event planning, and post-event follow-up.
- Oversee lead distribution, response times, follow-up procedures, and conversion performance to maximize revenue opportunities.
- Maintain accurate client records and develop sales activity reports, book pace reports, pipeline forecasts, and other performance metrics that support operational staffing and resource planning.
- Ensure effective communication and coordination among Sales, Catering, Revenue Management, Reservations, Culinary, Marketing, and Operations so commitments align with property capabilities.
Cross-Selling & Corporate Collaboration
- Collaborate with Xanterra’s Corporate Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, and Tour & Travel teams to align property-level strategies with broader organizational objectives.
- Participate in corporate sales initiatives, strategic account development, company-wide programs, and cross-property business opportunities.
- Identify and pursue opportunities to cross-sell Xanterra destinations to existing and prospective clients.
Seasonal Programming & Experiences
- Develop seasonal group packages, corporate retreat experiences, and special-interest programs designed to generate incremental lodging and event revenue.
- Work with Marketing and Operations to create compelling packages that increase shoulder-season and off-peak demand.
- Collaborate with resort leadership and local partners to develop unique group experiences that showcase the natural beauty, recreation, history, and cultural heritage of Custer State Park.
- Identify opportunities to incorporate outdoor recreation, guided experiences, educational programming, and team-building activities into group offerings.
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop the Sales & Conference Services team, establishing clear responsibilities, goals, and performance expectations.
- Build a collaborative team culture centered on guest service, accountability, and results.
- Partner with resort leadership to support property priorities and successful group and event operations.
- Five or more years of progressive hospitality sales, catering, and conference services experience, including team leadership.
- Demonstrated success in proactive business development, group sales, key account management, market expansion, and achieving revenue goals.
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-property or multi-venue sales and catering operations preferred.
- Experience developing and managing corporate meetings, destination weddings, conferences, and special events.
- Experience working in destination resorts, national or state parks, or seasonal hospitality operations preferred.
- Working knowledge of conference, wedding, and special event planning; catering operations; contracts; budgets; and group pricing.
- Strong communication, negotiation, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with corporate departments and property-level operational teams.
- Proficiency with CRM and sales and catering management systems.
- Ability to travel as needed for sales calls, trade shows, industry events, and company meetings.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as business demands require.
- Retail, Lodging and Travel Discounts
- Planned employee trips and activities
- $350 Referral Bonus Program
- Xanterra offers competitive benefit programs and services for eligible employees. For more information, click here.
See All 8 Conference Director Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Conference Director JobsConference Director Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in conference director jobs.
- Five or more years of end-to-end conference or large-scale event management experience
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex multi-track program schedules and speaker logistics
- Proficiency with event management platforms and registration software
- Experience developing and managing six-figure event budgets with P&L accountability
- Strong vendor negotiation and contract management skills for venues and AV
- Bachelor's degree in communications, hospitality, marketing, or a related field
Tips for Your Conference Director Job Search
Quantify attendance and budget on your resume
Conference directors are hired to deliver results at scale. Replace vague descriptions with concrete figures: total attendees managed, number of concurrent sessions, and operating budgets you controlled. Hiring managers use these numbers to benchmark you against other candidates instantly.
Highlight vendor and venue contract experience
Many job descriptions for conference directors require demonstrated experience negotiating hotel blocks, AV contracts, and catering agreements. Call this out explicitly in a dedicated accomplishments section so it doesn't get lost in a general events background.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists conference director openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing without sorting through unrelated postings.
Target postings by event format and industry
A role at a medical association conference demands different expertise than a tech summit or government policy forum. Use industry and format filters when searching so your application lands on a team where your specific conference type experience reads as an exact match, not a stretch.
Prepare a scenario answer on crisis management
Interviewers for conference director roles almost always ask how you handled a last-minute speaker cancellation, venue failure, or major tech outage. Prepare two detailed examples with timelines, decisions you made, and outcomes. Vague answers here are a consistent disqualifier.
Negotiate start date around your event calendar
If you're mid-cycle on a large conference, counter a rushed start date by offering a specific transition date tied to your current event close-out. Hiring teams in this field understand production cycles and often respect candidates who protect their current employer's program.
Conference Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most conference directors?
Doceree, Xanterra, and Keenfinity are hiring the most conference directors right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, Georgia, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Associations, publishing and media companies, and professional development organizations are consistently among the most active employers for this role.
How many conference director jobs are remote?
About 50% of conference director openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though the share varies significantly by employer type. Strategy, programming, and sponsorship functions are most likely to be performed remotely, while roles with heavy on-site production responsibility during live events typically require a physical presence at the venue.
How do you become a conference director?
Most conference directors start in event coordinator or event manager roles, building hands-on experience with logistics, vendor management, and attendee operations before moving into program leadership. Gaining budget ownership early is key. Many directors also develop a niche in a specific industry, such as healthcare or technology, which makes them more competitive for senior roles in that sector.
Can I get a conference director job without a lot of experience?
Moving directly into a conference director title without substantial event management experience is uncommon, but you can position yourself as a strong candidate by taking on program leadership within your current role, volunteering to run organizational events end-to-end, or pursuing a certified meeting professional credential. Demonstrating ownership of a complete event cycle, even a smaller one, matters more than years on a resume.
What does the conference director interview process look like?
Most conference director interview processes include an initial screening call with HR, followed by a competency-based interview with the hiring manager focused on past event outcomes and budget decisions. A panel interview with cross-functional stakeholders such as marketing, sales, or program staff is common at later stages. Some employers request a brief presentation on how you would approach planning a flagship event, so prepare a structured example from your portfolio.
Where can I find and apply to conference director jobs?
You can find and apply to conference director jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your industry background and event format experience, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 8 Conference Director Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Conference Director Jobs