Specialist, Brand and Communications

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken’s curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

POSITION TITLE

Specialist, Brand and Communications (Tradeshows and Trademarks)

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Milliken Marketing Service (MMS) Tradeshow Shared Service is a key contributor to demand generation, business sales efforts for Milliken’s divisions, global brand building of Milliken & Company, and customer engagement. Reporting into the Senior Specialist of Trademarks and Tradeshows, you will be an active, key position for successful tradeshow execution as well as renewal of specific trademarks.

In this role, you will be responsible for helping grow the Tradeshow Shared Service function for our North American and European regions. Specifically, you will work with our businesses to develop strategy and project manage related deliverables due from internal teams, agencies, and other outside vendors to ensure a successful and on-time show. Activities related to this will include developing and executing against project plans, conducting meetings, ordering services, shipping, invoice management, scheduling and assigning appropriate follow-ups, and taking ownership of projects to move them forward in accordance with deadlines. You will be measured against goals and metrics set by your manager that are aligned to the overall marketing agenda and divisions’ tradeshow briefs.

Additionally, this role is responsible for maintaining Milliken’s identified trademarks. This includes processing of timely infringement and renewal of international trademarks in coordination with division marketing leads and internal and external legal teams.

This role is fast paced, complex, and requires a high-level of self-awareness, drive, good communication, and ability to multitask. To be successful in this role, you must be able to determine what success looks like, be a self-starter with the know-how and willingness to initiate action required to accomplish tasks, be a collaborative member of the team, and be excited by the challenge of each show.

RESPONSIBILITIES

TRADESHOWS

• Ability to partner and build strong relationships with division partners.
• Fully manage projects from concept to completion against tradeshow briefs.
• Anticipate and meet deadlines that deliver project or program success

• Ability to quickly, creatively, and proactively problem solve when issues or obstacles arise and offer viable solutions.

• Develop and update briefs, as applicable, for all partners to retain a single source of truth on agreements and direction of show plan.  
• Work with agencies to secure booth design, graphics, show services, rentals, hospitality stations, or other related show services.
• Order booth assets and manage inventory on agency portal.
• Ensure invoices are reconciled correctly and on time.
• Collaborate with creative team to develop and print materials to support show activities as defined in the show plan
• Provide on-site show days support to Division teams, as requested.
• Maintain an accurate global calendar of tradeshows that reflects proactive updates from divisions.
• Organize and curate an historical record of show activities, including planning materials, invoices, briefs, and post-show surveys.

• Other duties as assigned by Manager.

TRADEMARKS

• Responsible for overall day-to-day process of managing updates to identified trademarks
• Monitor and manage inbox for trademark requests and needs in collaboration with legal team.
• Collaborate with businesses to assess trademark renewal requirements and collect specimens for trademark documentation and renewal.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate's degree or Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with 3+ years of relevant tradeshow or event planning experience required. 
• Experience project managing complex deliverables across multiple teams with set deadlines.
• Familiarity with various Marketing functions which support tradeshow execution such as digital automation campaigns, social media campaigns, lead nurturing, creative development processes.
• Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills with the capability to manage multiple large-scale events simultaneously.
• Excellent communication with all partners and team members is critical.
• Ability to problem solve, provide solutions and demonstrate good judgement to obstacles which may arise.
• Experience working independently with manager oversight and input.
• Firm knowledge of fundamental accounting concepts and financial reconciliation as it relates to tradeshows.
• Understanding of tradeshow organization relationship management, tradeshow planning, internal team management, and tradeshow execution. International tradeshow management knowledge a plus.
• Vendor management experience preferred.
• Experience interacting with cross-functional teams including sales, product management, finance, and sourcing.
• Basic knowledge of Salesforce, SAP, or another CRM platform, is a plus.
• Demonstrate skills to prioritize and drive initiatives forward.
• Be an engaging, collaborative member of Team Milliken.
• Travel Requirement: Up to 20% travel during peak periods.

#LI-AF1

Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.