Event Manager, Upper Bound

“Our next Event Manager is someone who loves supporting their peers and obsesses over the attendee experience. It’s an exciting time as we scale Upper Bound, and your sharp attention to detail will be key in sharing our mission of ‘AI for good and for all’ with a distinctly ambitious, approachable, and authentic touch”

- Stephanie Enders | Chief Delivery Officer

About the Role

Reporting to the Chief Delivery Officer, the Event Manager, Upper Bound owns the end-to-end planning and delivery of the Upper Bound conference. Working with a high degree of independence, this position builds and runs the conference plan, timeline, and budget, and makes day-to-day decisions to keep the event on track, escalating only decisions that require leadership input.

The Event Manager, Upper Bound collaborates closely with teams across Amii and with a network of external vendors, venues and partners to deliver a conference that runs smoothly, meets its goals, and produces clear insights that make each year’s Upper Bound better than the last.

The position focuses on achieving excellence in four main accountabilities:

• Conference Planning & Production: Lead the full planning cycle for Upper Bound, from venue and vendor management to run-of-show and on-site delivery, ensuring the conference meets its goals, timeline and budget.
• Speaker & Program Logistics: Manage the logistics, communication and on-site support that give every Upper Bound speaker a seamless experience, working with the program team to bring the agenda to life.
• Attendee, Sponsor & Partner Experience: Deliver a well-organized, welcoming and accessible experience for every attendee, sponsor, exhibitor and partner, from registration to the final session.
• Event Evaluation & Continuous Improvement: Measure the success of each Upper Bound, report results, and turn lessons learned into a stronger plan for the next conference.
  
  

Required Skills / Expertise

Key Responsibilities:

Conference Planning & Production

• Builds and owns the master plan, critical path and timeline for Upper Bound, keeping all workstreams on schedule from kickoff through post-event wrap-up
• Owns the conference budget, tracks spending against it, and oversees vendor sourcing, negotiation and contracting
• Secures venues, catering, audiovisual, production, décor, signage, security and other event suppliers, and obtains necessary permits, licenses and insurance
• Acts as the in-house Producer and On-Site Lead for Upper Bound, owning the run-of-show and making real-time decisions to resolve issues on-site
• Plans and coordinates conference staff and volunteers, including recruitment, scheduling, training and on-site direction
• Works with internal teams to select and manage event technology, including registration, ticketing, event apps and session streaming
• Executes attendee safety, accessibility and risk management contingency and emergency plans as provided by the Executive Management Team
• Supports the conference’s side events, receptions and networking activities

Speaker & Program Logistics

• Works with the program team to turn the confirmed agenda into a detailed session schedule, room plan and run-of-show
• Manages the framework for speaker logistics, presentation materials, technical requirements and on-site support
• Serves as the main point of contact for Theme Producers for speaker logistics, providing clear and timely communication before, during and after the conference
• Coordinates green room operations and session timing on-site

Attendee, Sponsor & Partner Experience

• Designs and manages the attendee journey, from registration and pre-event communications to check-in, wayfinding and post-event follow-up
• Collaborates on sponsor commitments, including logistics, branding placements and sponsor benefits, in collaboration with the Director of Partnerships
• Works with Marketing to provide accurate, timely event information for promotion and attendee communications
• Makes sure the conference is welcoming and accessible, coordinating accommodations requested by attendees and speakers

Event Evaluation & Continuous Improvement

• Sets the conference’s planning KPIs with leadership and tracks progress against them throughout the planning cycle
• Runs post-event surveys and debriefs with attendees, speakers, sponsors, vendors and internal teams
• Prepares a post-event report covering results, budget performance and recommendations for the next Upper Bound
• Maintains planning documentation, templates and vendor records so each year’s conference builds on the last
  
  

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary Diploma or Degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Production and Stage Management, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience planning and producing events, with demonstrated experience leading large-scale conferences from start to finish
• 3+ years of experience owning and managing event budgets
• Experience negotiating and managing contracts with venues and event vendors
• Experience coordinating and directing event staff, contractors or volunteers
• Experience with event registration platforms and event technology
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation is an asset
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA):

• Plans and delivers complex events independently, owning decisions and outcomes with minimal supervision
• Successfully manages multiple competing priorities and tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Pays exceptional attention to detail while keeping sight of the overall event experience
• Stays calm and decisive under pressure, solving problems quickly on-site
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written
• Builds strong working relationships with vendors, speakers, sponsors and internal teams
• Uses data and feedback to evaluate events and drive continuous improvement
• Leads with resilience, keeping the team and the event on track through challenges and change
  
  

What you'll love about us

• A professional yet casual work environment that encourages the growth and development of your skills.
• Participate in professional development activities
• Gain access to the Amii community and events
• A chance to learn from amazing teammates who support one another to succeed.
• Competitive compensation, including paid time off and flexible health benefits.
• A modern office located in downtown Edmonton, Alberta.
  
  

About Amii

One of Canada’s three main institutes for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, our world-renowned researchers drive fundamental and applied research at the University of Alberta (and other academic institutions), training some of the world’s top scientific talent. Our cross-functional teams work collaboratively with Alberta-based businesses and organizations to build AI capacity and translate scientific advancement into industry adoption and economic impact.

How to Apply

If this sounds like the opportunity you've been waiting for, please don’t wait for the closing November 27, 2026 to apply - we’re excited to add a new member to the Amii team for this role, and the posting may come down sooner than the closing date if we find the right candidate before the posting closes! When sending your application, please send your resume and cover letter indicating why you think you'd be a fit for Amii. In your cover letter, please include one professional accomplishment you are most proud of and why.

Applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of application.

Amii is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. Accommodations for disability-related needs throughout the recruitment and selection process are available upon request. Any information provided by you for accommodations will be kept confidential and won’t be used in the selection process.