Trade Show Manager in Fountain Valley, California at SureFire LLC

About the Company:

At SureFire, our mission is to build the best illumination tools, suppressors, and tactical products no matter the cost to enhance the safety and performance of those who go into harm's way on our behalf. We also provide these same, no-compromise products to our civilian customers who demand the ultimate in quality, innovation, and performance. We strive to continuously expand our business, product line, workforce, and expertise to preserve our place as the premier provider of these cutting-edge products. To achieve this, we will continually expand the depth and quality of the SureFire brand by refining, expanding, and enhancing our product line, and always aspiring to improve our service and professional relationships. We nurture this culture of excellence in everything we do, and treat everyone we deal with employees, customers, and vendors in a fair and ethical manner. We're proud of the quality we produce and the people who produce it, and we're looking for talented individuals who want to make a real impact.

About the Role:

The Trade Show Manager plays a pivotal role in representing our manufacturing company at industry trade shows and exhibitions across the United States. This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all aspects of trade show participation to maximize brand visibility, generate leads, and foster strong relationships with clients and partners. The Trade Show Manager will collaborate closely with marketing, sales, and product teams to ensure that the company’s presence aligns with strategic business objectives and effectively showcases our products and innovations. Success in this role requires meticulous attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines. Ultimately, the Trade Show Manager will drive measurable business growth by enhancing the company’s reputation and expanding its market reach through impactful trade show engagements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Develop and implement comprehensive trade show strategies that align with company goals and target audience.Coordinate logistics including booth design, shipping, staffing, and on-site management to ensure seamless event execution.Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to create compelling promotional materials and presentations tailored for each event.Manage budgets, negotiate contracts with vendors and venues, and track expenses to optimize cost efficiency.Analyze post-event performance metrics and feedback to continuously improve trade show effectiveness and ROI.Build and maintain relationships with industry partners, vendors, and event organizers to secure advantageous opportunities.Train and lead trade show staff to deliver consistent and professional brand messaging during events.Stay informed about industry trends and competitor activities to identify new trade show opportunities and innovations.Maintain good attendance and punctuality.Maintain a positive and respectful attitude; cooperate with co-workers, management, internal and external customers, etc.Execute daily process improvement using lean manufacturing methodologies.Maintain work area by the use of 6S principlesWork safely at all times and report any unsafe conditions or injuries to your supervisor or manager immediatelyOther duties, as assigned.

Competencies - To perform the job successfully, the candidate should demonstrate the following:

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.Written Communication / Oral Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information; Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback.Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Promotes a harassment-free environment.Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals. Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working within the manufacturing sector or a technical industry.
• Demonstrated success in budget management and vendor negotiations.
• Ability to travel 15-20% to manage on site logistics and show execution across multiple locations.
• Certification in event planning or project management (e.g., CMP, PMP) is a plus.
Minimum Qualifications
• Minimum of 3 years of experience managing trade shows or large-scale events, preferably within the manufacturing industry.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with internal teams and external partners.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Communication, or related field and/or up to 3 years relevant work experience preferred.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to perform calculations utilizing arithmetic such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division normally attained through elementary school education.

Computer Skills

Must be proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

On-site presence required for real-time equipment operation, hands-on production oversight, and safety supervisionThe employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Pay Range
The hiring range for this role is dependent upon experience. The hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements, and geographic location.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.In this position you will be exposed to following Environment conditions:
• Outdoor weather conditions