Event Marketing Specialist

Summary

The Event Marketing Specialist leads Action Target’s tradeshow and event program, managing everything from creative concept and spatial design to logistics, execution, and post-event analysis. This role creates intentional, engaging experiences that strengthen the brand and connect with target audiences.

Primarily focused on event planning, design, and execution, the position also supports broader graphic design initiatives, including marketing collateral, catalogs, and publications.

The ideal candidate combines strong spatial design instincts, creativity, and project management skills to develop compelling event experiences, coordinate vendors, execute successfully, and use results to drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Event Experience Design

+ Lead spatial and experiential design for all AT tradeshow booths and event environments, applying a designer's eye to layout, flow, material selection, lighting, and messaging hierarchy to create environments that feel intentional from the first step in.

+ Develop designs, models, and renderings of booth concepts, product displays, and event layouts; use these as the basis for vendor briefs, internal approvals, and on-site build direction.

+ Translate brand strategy and audience insights into spatial decisions, asking not just "what does this look like" but "what does this feel like and what does it communicate" to each specific audience segment in attendance.

+ Iterate on event concepts based on post-show data, stakeholder feedback, and industry trends, continuously improving the quality and impact of the AT event experience.

+ Collaborate with the Sr. Graphic Designer and Brand & Creative Specialist on booth graphics, large-format printing specs, signage systems, and AV/interactive elements to ensure visual and experiential consistency.

• Event Planning & Coordination

+ Manage the full event lifecycle: research, venue evaluation, contract negotiation, vendor management, logistics, shipping, travel coordination, registration, and on-site execution.

+ Maintain an annual event calendar and proactively flag scheduling conflicts, resource constraints, or lead-time risks to the Marketing Communications Manager.

+ Develop and track event budgets; monitor spending against allocated funds and deliver ROI reporting and post-event performance summaries after each event.

+ Manage and maintain the marketing asset inventory: printed collateral, branded merchandise, booth components, AV and interactive equipment, and structural display hardware.

+ Coordinate travel, accommodations, and logistics for Sales and other internal teams attending events, ensuring a smooth experience for staff on the show floor.

• Event Marketing & Promotions

+ Own event-specific marketing execution: pre-show promotions, email campaigns, and social content that builds anticipation, drives booth traffic, and extends reach beyond the show floor.

+ Ensure brand and messaging consistency across all event touchpoints including collateral, signage, digital promotions, and swag, in alignment with AT brand standards.

+ Manage event-driven social media content across relevant platforms, including pre-event buildups, live coverage, and post-event recaps.

+ Proactively cultivate relationships with industry associations, law enforcement agencies, range operators, and training organizations to identify collaborative event opportunities that expand AT's presence and credibility.

• Graphic Design Support

+ Support the graphic design team on publication collateral including trade catalogs, product brochures, booth graphics, and print advertising, contributing production-ready files built to brand standards.

+ Apply the same spatial and compositional thinking used in booth design to print layouts: understanding how a reader moves through a page, where the eye lands first, and how to guide attention through hierarchy and contrast.

+ Assist with asset production for promotional campaigns and marketing initiatives as capacity allows, functioning as a flexible creative resource within the MARCOM team.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, candidates should possess a blend of educational background, professional experience, and soft skills that align with event coordination, relationship building, press media, and social media engagement.

Personal Attributes and Work Style

• A designer who thinks spatially: able to walk into a room and immediately read what is working and what is not, and articulate why with enough precision to act on it.
• Obsessive attention to the quality of the finished experience, with the project discipline to actually get there on time and on budget.
• Equally comfortable sketching a concept in a booth planning meeting and running a logistics call with a freight vendor the same afternoon.
• Self-starter who manages time well across multiple concurrent projects without being told what to prioritize.
• Willing to travel to tradeshows and events 1–2 times per quarter to setup displays and product.
• Physical stamina to meet the demands of event environments: able to lift up to 75 lbs, stand for extended periods, work outdoors, and set up and move booth structures, product displays, canopies, and equipment as needed.
• Genuine interest in or familiarity with the firearms, law enforcement, or range industry is a meaningful differentiator.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Marketing, or a related creative field; or comparable professional experience demonstrating the same capabilities.
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in event design, exhibit design, tradeshow production, or a related field with a strong design component.
• Demonstrated experience managing event logistics, vendor relationships, and budgets across multiple concurrent events.
• Portfolio that shows spatial thinking: booth designs, event environments, 3D concepts, or experiential installations alongside print collateral work.

Technical and Professional Skills

• Proficiency in 3D modeling software (SolidWorks, SketchUp, Blender, AutoCAD, or similar) for booth and product visualization and vendor communication is a meaningful differentiator.
• Strong command of Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop) for collateral production, large-format graphics, and print-ready file preparation.
• Familiarity with large-format print specifications, materials, and production processes.
• Proficiency in project management tools (ClickUp, Asana, or similar) to manage event timelines, asset tracking, and team communication.
• Experience with show service portals, event registration platforms, and logistics management tools.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate creative concepts into clear briefs, vendor specifications, and internal presentations.
• Collaborative and low-ego working style: able to take direction, give constructive feedback, and align around a shared vision without losing their own creative perspective.
• Active listener who gathers feedback from stakeholders and attendees and uses it to make the next event better.