How to hire a lead event specialist

How to hire a lead event specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lead event specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a lead event specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new lead event specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a lead event specialist job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the lead event specialist you need to hire. Certain lead event specialist roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A lead event specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, lead event specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of lead event specialists.

   Type of Lead Event Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Lead Event Specialist	Meeting, convention, and event planners coordinate all aspects of events and professional meetings. They arrange meeting locations, transportation, and other details.	$11-23
   Site Coordinator	A site coordinator is responsible for organizing special events and programs based on a client's specifications or a business's needs. Site coordinators ensure that the plan will go well by monitoring their resources, coordinating with third-party services, researching the best settings, finalizing the list of attendees, and managing the budget goals... Show more	$12-26
   Meeting Planner	A meeting planner makes professional decisions in all areas of meeting preparation and presentation. They plan meetings, establish meeting objectives, schedule meetings, budget expenses, inspect meeting sites, negotiate with suppliers, and create a speaker lineup... Show more	$19-37

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Food Safety Guidelines
   • Facebook
   • Product Demonstrations
   • Event Planning
   • Food Preparation
   • Event Logistics
   • Expense Reports
   • Store Management
   • Corporate Events
   • Product Knowledge
   • Event Execution
   • Product Sales
   • Fryers

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage all FOH operations of a consistently busy, tourist destination restaurant.
   • Manage all aspects of these events and act as onsite manager to ensure meeting are delivered effectively and professionally.
   • Represent major brands in the gifting suite distributing gift bags to celebrities and VIP guests.
   • Leverage corporate partnerships and trade accounts to create VIP client experiences to help foster those relationships and increase YOY revenue.
   • Reviewed/Revise current technical methodologies, coordinate validations of new assays, independently troubleshoot problems relating to routine operations of the laboratory.
   • Prepare and serve food samples using small appliances such as microwaves, fryers, skillets, coffee makers and knives

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lead event specialist job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A lead event specialist can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, lead event specialists' average salary in arkansas is 49% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level lead event specialists 52% less than senior-level lead event specialists.
   • Certifications. A lead event specialist with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a lead event specialist's salary.

   Average lead event specialist salary

   $16.38hourly

   $34,064 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level lead event specialist salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a lead event specialist job description

   A job description for a lead event specialist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a lead event specialist job description:

   Lead event specialist job description example

   • You are at least 18 years of age.
   • One-year certificate from college or technical school; or three to six months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
   • Valid Driver's License
   • You possess effective social and oral communication skills.
   • You are available to work flexible hours, mostly consisting of graveyard shifts, also including evenings, weekends, and occasionally holidays.
   • You can perform tasks on your feet, climbing stairs, kneeling, bending, and working on concrete floors for extended periods.
   • You demonstrate the ability to work effectively as a team with people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

   Offers of employment are conditional upon proof of COVID-19 vaccination or approval of a medical or religious exemption and accommodation from the company along with the successful results of an individual background check. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories and review results on an individual basis.

   The Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Quarter embraces diversity and inclusion. We celebrate individual expression and uniqueness on our campus. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination. We are committed to hiring individuals that reflect the community we serve without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics. We are an equal opportunity employer.

   We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

   Perks We Offer You:

   • Discounted tickets to Blazer games, Rose Quarter events, and Regal Cinema.
   • Opportunities for bonuses.
   • Wellness initiatives including our Employee Assistance Program and insurance options with dental and vision coverage.
   • 50/50 TriMet Discount Program - 50% off monthly TriMet passes.
   • Flexible scheduling, working with your availability.

   Not ready to apply? Contact us for general consideration.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find lead event specialists for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lead event specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit lead event specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with lead event specialist candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new lead event specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lead event specialist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new lead event specialist. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a lead event specialist?