Description
Organization: W M Symposia, Inc.
Position Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Reports To: Conference Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time (2080 hours/year), Exempt
Salary Range: Commensurate with experience
Competitive Benefits: Vacation, holidays, sick time, insurance, 401(k)
In-person Interview Target: Week of January 5, 2026
Target Start Date: January 12, 2026
About W M Symposia, Inc.
W M Symposia, Inc. (WM) is the premier non-profit organization dedicated to providing information exchange and education on global radioactive waste management. WM hosts the annual Waste Management Symposia in Phoenix, Arizona. Visit our website at wmsym.org.
Position Overview
The Lead Exhibits, Sponsorships & Advertising Planner position is an early to mid-career position with the individual being responsible for maximizing revenue through exhibit booth sales, corporate sponsorships, and conference-related advertising. This role owns the full lifecycle—from prospecting and custom package design to contract negotiation, fulfillment, and post-event Return On Investment (ROI) reporting—for a high-visibility exhibit hall and sponsorship portfolio. This individual is the main point of contact for all exhibitors and sponsors, and works closely with the Conference Manager, operations team, venue, and contractors, to ensure every sponsorship and exhibit deliverable is executed flawlessly while maintaining a high-quality, mission-focused experience for attendees.
Key Responsibilities
Revenue Generation & Sales
- Develop and execute annual sales strategy to meet/exceed exhibit, sponsorship, and advertising revenue targets.
- Prospect, qualify, and close deals with corporations, government agencies, and mission-aligned vendors.
- Design tiered sponsorship packages (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, etc.) and à la carte advertising opportunities (program ads, digital banners, session branding, etc.).
- Negotiate Exhibitor and Sponsorship contracts and pricing.
- Maintain pipeline with accurate forecasting and activity tracking.
Relationship Management & Fulfillment
- Serve as the single point of contact for all exhibitors and sponsors from contract signing through post-event follow-up.
- Coordinate logistics with operations team: booth assignments, load-in/out, signage, AV, lead retrieval, etc.
- Oversee sponsor benefit delivery (speaking slots, logos, VIP access, data reports) and resolve issues in real time.
- Conduct post-event surveys and ROI reports to demonstrate value and secure multi-year commitments.
Strategy & Cross-Functional Leadership
- Create compelling sales collateral, pitch decks, and digital prospectuses.
- Collaborate with WM team members to align sponsorship activations with conference content and attendee experience.
- Analyze competitor conferences and industry trends to innovate offerings (e.g., sustainability-focused pods, AI demo zones).
Why Join Us?
WM is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to providing educational assistance to support our value proposition of empowering minds. Here, you’ll work with a team of professionals who value excellence, integrity, and teamwork—delivering outstanding results while changing lives for the better.
Apply by December 15, 2025
Only experienced and qualified applicants need apply.
Send your resume and a concise 200-word pitch on why you’re the perfect fit to careers@wmsym.org, with subject line: Lead Exhibits, Sponsorships & Advertising Planner – [your name].
Requirements
Qualifications
Required
- 3+ years in B2B sales, preferably conference/trade show exhibits, sponsorships, or association fundraising.
- Exceptional negotiation, presentation, and written communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and virtual event platforms.
- Must be local to the Phoenix area and be able to travel out of state once per year.
- Ability to be on site before, during and after the annual conference each February/March.
Preferred
- Experience in delivering the Exhibit Hall conference experience.
- Familiarity with floor plan software (e.g., MapYourShow).
