Event Programming Director (E6106)

Overview

The Event Programming Director will lead the strategic development and execution of speaker-centric content as well as delivery formats. This role is responsible for shaping the intellectual and narrative arc of assigned IEEE events: guiding speaker selection, program design, session formats, and talent development to ensure each convening delivers memorable experiences and compelling content. Activities will range from advice and guidance to full programming responsibilities. Equal parts content architect and speaker strategist, this leader will work closely with event producers and planners, subject matter experts, marketing, and external partners to translate IEEE's mission, achievements, and future-facing work into high-impact live programming in a variety of formats, both established and emerging. This role will help incubate a speaker development and training ecosystem: preparing technologists, engineers and researchers to become powerful storytellers for live and recorded formats. Expertise and insight into speaker related collaterals and correspondence will be required. This position sits at the intersection of intellectual content, production, and audience engagement, and will serve as the connective tissue between vision and execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the programming vision for select events in IEEE’s CEE portfolio, ensuring events have a clear narrative throughline, intellectual rigor, and strong audience relevance.
• Design session formats, forums, and speaker mixes that translate complex technical and scientific ideas into accessible, engaging experiences. This includes repeatable prototypes that can be implemented by volunteer event organizers globally.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (History Center, awards teams, technical societies, marketing, CEE peers and leadership) to identify themes, stories, and voices that advance IEEE’s goals.
• Develop high programming standards across all IEEE CEE-owned events and experiences.
• Speaker Identification, Development & Speaker Relationship Management
• Identify, cultivate, and secure speakers, moderators, and contributors from leading engineers and researchers to industry leaders, historians, media players, and cultural figures.
• Build and maintain a robust speaker ecosystem, including contact databases, topic expertise, prior appearances, and performance clips.
• Oversee speaker preparation processes, including briefings, content development, narrative shaping, rehearsals, and presentation coaching. Ensures proper protocol, etiquette and relationship management standards are developed and operationalized.
• Serve as a senior relationship steward for key speakers, ensuring a thoughtful, high-touch, and professional experience before, during, and after events.
• Partner closely with event producers and production teams to translate programming vision into executable run-of-shows. Works with event planning team to ensure excellence in hospitality and experience.
• Oversee development of programming materials, including speaker briefs, prep documents, schedules, talking points, and session outlines.
• Ensure programming elements align with technical production realities, budgets, timelines, and audience experience goals.
• Support on-site execution as needed, including speaker management, run-of-show adjustments, and stage flow.

Travel Information

• 20% International

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