Director, Experiential Marketing

Norwalk

With millions of diners, 60,000+ restaurant partners and 25+ years of experience, OpenTable, part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), is an industry leader with a passion for helping restaurants thrive. Our world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion. 

Every employee at OpenTable has a tangible impact on what we do and how we do it. You’ll also be part of a global team that includes and its portfolio of metasearch brands. Hospitality is all about taking care of others, and it defines our culture.

OpenTable is seeking a highly experienced and visionary Director of Experiential Marketing to lead our strategy for how our brand shows up in brick and mortar moments and amplify those moments, digitally. This is a Director of Marketing level role, responsible for a mature function with significant opportunity to elevate it to the next level. You will oversee all aspects of our B2C (diners), B2B (restaurants, specific focus on key accounts), and Partner (Uber, Visa, technology partners) events, play a critical role in strengthening our brand, engaging our communities, and driving business growth.  This team is evolving from an events focused role to support thought leadership within our digital platforms e.g. webinars or PR amplification. Additionally, the team is newly responsible for pitching brand partners alongside the Partnership team and connecting strategies with restaurants and key industry talent. 

We are looking for a senior leader who is not only detail-oriented and capable of hands-on execution when needed, but also possesses the strategic foresight to simplify complex initiatives and effectively communicate at the executive level. This individual will be a master at managing up, streamlining and simplifying operations, managing budget scenarios, translating event goals into tangible business impact, and inspiring a high-performing team.

This is a hybrid role with the expectation to work from our Norwalk, CT office 2 days per week.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Global Event Strategy & Vision: Develop and execute a comprehensive global events strategy that aligns with OpenTable's overall marketing and business objectives across diner, restaurant, and co-marketing with industry partners and other brands. Identify new and innovative in-person opportunities to enhance brand presence, drive engagement, and generate leads.

  • Connect brand partnership dollars to industry icons within OpenTable events and other merchandisable moments. 

  • Build digital platform for brand moments: Leverage newly created programs like Notes from the Table and All on the Line webinar series to bring the boldest voices in the industry together on our platform to tell stories and inspire digitally and in person. 

  • Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team of event professionals. Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team and across the organization (in partnership with Sales and Account Management). Oversee team structure and professional development.

  • B2C Event Management: Strategize, plan, and execute engaging events for OpenTable diners (e.g., experiential dining events, culinary festivals, consumer activations) that enhance brand loyalty and drive platform usage.

  • B2B Event Management: Oversee the strategy and execution of events for restaurant partners (e.g., industry conferences, webinars, workshops, product launches, hospitality summits) that support restaurant acquisition, retention, and product adoption.

  • Partner Event Management: Develop and manage joint event initiatives with key technology providers and other partners to leverage co-marketing opportunities, expand reach, and deliver shared business outcomes.

  • Budget Management & ROI: Own the global events budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and maximizing return on investment. Develop clear KPIs and measurement frameworks for all events, demonstrating their impact on business goals. Determine methodology for tracking attribution and impact of each event category and manage the associated storytelling internally. 

  • Vendor & Agency Management and top Customer / Prospect engagement: Identify, onboard, and manage relationships with external vendors, agencies, and venues to ensure high-quality execution and cost-effectiveness.  Additionally, act as face of brand with prospect and customer restaurants.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely across Marketing, Sales/ Account Management (Restaurant Sales and Service), Product, PR, and Legal teams to ensure seamless event integration and maximize overall impact. Serve as a key liaison to executive leadership, providing clear, concise, and compelling updates on event strategy and performance.

  • Brand & Messaging Consistency: Ensure all event activities consistently reflect OpenTable's brand identity, voice, and key messaging.

  • Industry Trends & Innovation: Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in event marketing. Proactively identify and implement innovative approaches to enhance event effectiveness and attendee experience. Identify opportunities for newsjacking and stay abreast of industry conversations and participate in them with our Chefs. 

  • Problem Solving & Adaptability: Exhibit strong problem-solving skills, able to navigate complex challenges and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

 

Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of progressive experience in event marketing, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing a global or multi-faceted events function.

  • Proven track record of successfully planning, executing, and measuring the impact of a wide range of events, including large-scale conferences, experiential activations, B2B summits, and partner events.

  • Ability to pitch strategies and menu of strategies to Brands and co-create series or experiences for target audience; ability to work with highly influential industry icons and sell events and activations to them. 

  • Demonstrated experience managing both B2C and B2B event portfolios. 

  • Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with a proven ability to motivate, develop, and retain top talent.

  • Strong financial acumen and experience managing significant event budgets with a focus on ROI.

  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and concisely to diverse audiences, including executive leadership.

  • Proven ability to manage up effectively, providing strategic recommendations and clear updates to senior executives.

  • Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

  • Strategic thinker with a strong bias for action and a creative approach to problem-solving.

  • Experience in the technology, hospitality, or online marketplace industries is a plus.

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.

  • Ability to travel as required for events and meetings (domestic and international).

 

Why Join OpenTable?

This is an incredible opportunity to shape the future of events at a globally recognized brand. You will lead a talented team, drive significant impact, and work alongside passionate individuals dedicated to connecting diners with incredible dining experiences. We offer a dynamic work environment, competitive compensation, and excellent benefits.

 

To Apply:

Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this role.

 

Benefits and Perks:

  • Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year
  • Focus on mental health and well-being:
    • Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth
    • Company-paid subscription to Headspace
    • Annual company-wide week off a year - the whole team fully recharges (and returns without a pile-up of work!)
  • Paid parental leave
  • Generous paid vacation + time off for your birthday
  • Paid volunteer time
  • Focus on your career growth:
    • Development Dollars
    • Leadership development
    • Access to thousands of on-demand e-learnings
  • Travel Discounts
  • Employee Resource Groups

There are a variety of factors that go into determining a salary range, including but not limited to external market benchmark data, geographic location, and years of experience sought/required. The range for this United States based role is $180,000-200,000.

We offer a competitive base salary and benefits including: health benefits; flexible spending account; retirement benefits; life insurance; paid time off (including PTO, paid sick leave, medical leave, bereavement leave, floating holidays and paid holidays); and parental leave benefits. This role is eligible to be considered for an annual bonus and equity grant.

 

Work Environment & Flexibility

At OpenTable, we pride ourselves on fostering a global and dynamic work environment. As a team member with us, you will benefit from a schedule tailored to accommodate a global workforce operating across multiple time zones. While the majority of your responsibilities may align with conventional business hours, there will be instances where you are expected to manage communications - via calls, Slack messages, or emails - outside of regular working hours to effectively collaborate with international colleagues, respond to restaurant partners, and/or address urgent matters. OpenTable will always abide by and consider local laws and regulations.

 

Inclusion

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. We know the best ideas come when we bring different voices to the table, so we're building a team as dynamic as the diners and restaurants we serve—and fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome to be themselves.

If you need adjustments during the application or interview process, or on the job, we’re here to support you. Please reach out to your recruiter to request any accommodations.

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