Director of Experiential Marketing, OpenTable
$180-200k
This role is eligible to be considered for an annual bonus and equity grant
More information about location
2 days a week in office (Empire State Building, New York)
Online restaurant reservation service
Be an early applicant
Online restaurant reservation service
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$180-200k
This role is eligible to be considered for an annual bonus and equity grant
More information about location
2 days a week in office (Empire State Building, New York)
1001+ employees
Company mission
To bring together people and the restaurants they love in the moments that matter.
Role
Who you are
- 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
- 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
What the job involves
- 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
- 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
Application process
- Please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this role
Our take
OpenTable was one of the earliest innovators in the online reservation space, setting up shop in 1998 as a tool to enable restaurants to take bookings online. Rather than charging consumers for the service, OpenTable generates revenue via a monthly subscription and reservation fee from businesses.
Today, the platform is used by tens of thousands of restaurants around the world and seats over 1 billion diners per year. The company was acquired by Booking Holdings – the world's largest travel company – for $2.6 billion in 2014, and remains a subsidiary of the group to this day.
OpenTable is the dominant player in the restaurant reservation software category, with an impressive 45% market share, but does face increasing competition from platforms like Resy, Tock, TableAgent, and many more. Nonetheless, this market leader has garnered an impressive reputation, and there is nothing to say it won't hold on to the dominance it has earned into the future.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
4% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 3 rounds)
Oct 2000
$36m
SERIES C
Jan 2000
$10m
SERIES B
Total funding: $48.2m
Company benefits
- Work from (almost) anywhere - wherever you do your best work
- Mental health and well-being - company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth, company-paid subscription to HeadSpace, and company-wide weeks off a year so the whole team can recharge
- Generous parental leave
- Generous paid vacation + time off for your birthday
- Paid volunteer time
- Enriched learning and development opportunities - leadership development & access to thousands of on-demand e-learnings
Company HQ
Union Square, San Francisco, CA
Leadership
Debby Soo
(CEO, not founder)After graduating from Stanford with a liberal arts major, Debby started their career in investment banking. Thereafter they worked in Google’s Strategic Partnerships Group and then spent a decade at KAYAK, eventually becoming CCO.
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