Manager, Meeting & Travel Services

Mastercard's Corporate Meeting Services team delivers strategic, high-impact meetings and events that support business priorities, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful experiences for internal and external audiences.

The Manager, Meeting Planning plays a key role in delivering Mastercard's meeting and event strategy, serving as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders and leading a diverse portfolio of complex, high-profile meetings and events.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to business owners and senior leadership, understanding business priorities and translating objectives into effective meeting strategies, program designs, and attendee experiences.
• Independently lead the strategy, planning, and execution of a high-volume portfolio of internal and external meetings and events, including large-scale conferences, executive leadership meetings, incentive programs, and other complex, high-profile experiences.
• Manage multiple programs simultaneously, balancing competing priorities, demanding timelines, stakeholder expectations, and varying levels of complexity while maintaining exceptional quality and service.
• Provide strategic guidance and recommendations on meeting format, destination and venue selection, attendee engagement, program design, and overall event approach to ensure alignment with business objectives and organizational priorities.
• Own the end-to-end management of assigned programs, including project plans, timelines, budgets, risk mitigation, stakeholder communications, onsite execution, and post-event evaluation.
• Demonstrate strong financial and commercial acumen through budget development, financial oversight, supplier negotiations, cost optimization, and recommendations that maximize the value of meeting and event investments.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners, including sourcing, production, registration, travel, technology, and other specialized services, ensuring accountability and alignment throughout the planning process.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders, providing proactive consultation, managing expectations, and influencing decisions to deliver successful business outcomes.
• Anticipate challenges, assess risks, and develop solutions while demonstrating sound judgment and the ability to make informed decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Evaluate program effectiveness through stakeholder feedback, financial performance, attendee experience, and other relevant measures to identify opportunities for improvement and demonstrate business impact.
• Provide guidance and share best practices with fellow meeting planners, contributing to knowledge sharing, collaboration, and a high-performing team environment.
• Leverage meeting technology, data, and AI-enabled tools to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, improve decision-making, and support more efficient and effective event delivery.
• Contribute to broader Corporate Meeting Services initiatives focused on process optimization, supplier strategy, innovation, technology adoption, and operational efficiencies.
• Ensure all meetings and events are delivered in accordance with Mastercard policies, governance requirements, and established meeting management standards.

Requirements:

• Extensive experience in corporate meeting and event management, with a proven ability to independently lead large-scale, complex, high-visibility programs from strategy through execution.
• Demonstrated success managing a high volume of concurrent meetings and events, with the ability to prioritize effectively, manage competing deadlines, and consistently deliver exceptional results.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to understand organizational priorities, challenge assumptions, and translate business objectives into effective meeting strategies.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders and business stakeholders, influence decisions, and provide thoughtful recommendations that drive business value.
• Exceptional project and portfolio management skills, with the ability to oversee multiple complex programs, budgets, timelines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budget development and management, supplier negotiations, contract management, cost optimization, and investment recommendations.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and external partners in a matrixed organization, driving collaboration, accountability, and successful program outcomes.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, anticipate risks, and develop solutions in a fast-paced environment with changing business needs.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills, with the confidence to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, demonstrating strong attention to detail, operational excellence, and a commitment to delivering exceptional attendee experiences.
• Working knowledge of meeting and event management platforms, such as Cvent, and familiarity with project management tools used to support planning, registration, reporting, and operational efficiency.
• Familiarity with AI-powered tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, and an interest in leveraging emerging technologies to streamline workflows, improve productivity, support data-driven decision-making, and enhance the meeting planning process.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, with the ability to identify opportunities for process optimization, automation, innovation, and more effective ways of working.
• Collaborative leadership approach, with a willingness to share expertise, mentor colleagues, and contribute to the development of a high-performing team.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required to support meetings and events.

Benefits:

• Insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance)
• Flexible spending account and health savings account
• Paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave)
• 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time
• 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire
• 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays
• 401k with a best-in-class company match
• Deferred compensation for eligible roles
• Fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities
• Eligibility for tuition reimbursement