AEO Level Definitions
IMPORTANT
In order to identify and account for the varying degrees of responsibility within the specified areas of employment, the AEO Salary Survey assigns 4 levels to the Sales, Marketing and Operations categories and 3 levels Event Management. The higher the level, the more senior the position of employment.
We have provided examples of how these levels could apply to an AEO member company. These definitions are guidelines only, and are not mandatory; the employment levels can and should be adapted to suit your company when you are completing the survey (for example, if you only employ one sales person, who carries all of the company’s sales responsibilities, then these salary details should be entered into the Sales Level 4 section, and all of the other levels in this category should be left blank).
Sales
Level 1: The most junior sales role
Possible job title: Sales Executive / Sales Coordinator
Selling one small event, almost exclusively by telephone, or selling a section of a larger event. Reporting to an event manager. A position usually occupied by a graduate or someone with minimal sales experience.
Level 2:
Possible job title: Senior Sales Executive
Selling small to medium sized events by telephone and face-to-face, or a large section of a big event. Some budget responsibility and involvement with the marketing of the event/section. Typically this job would only be available to someone with sales experience.
Level 3:
Possible job title: Sales Manager/Senior Sales Manager
Overall responsibility for the sales of a medium/large event, or a number of small events. May have a sales team reporting in. Responsible for some key account sales and for delivering the event on budget (unlikely to have any expenditure responsibility).
Level 4: The most senior sales role
Possible job title: Head of Sales / Sales Director
Responsible for a group of events (will have a level three employee reporting in). Responsible for bottom line, performance delivery and people development.
Marketing
Level 1: The most junior marketing role
Possible job title: Marketing Coordinator / Marketing Executive
Marketing one small event or a section of a larger event. Largely office based, reporting to the Marketing Manager or Marketing Director. A position usually held by a graduate or someone with minimal marketing experience.
Level 2:
Possible job title: Senior Marketing Executive
Marketing a medium event or a number of small events. Probably reporting to the Marketing Director. Budget & implementation responsibilities. Typically someone with marketing experience.
Level 3:
Possible job title: Marketing Manager / Group Marketing Manager
Overall marketing responsibility for a medium/large event, or a number of small events. May have a marketing executive reporting in. Responsible for on target budget and performance delivery.
Level 4: The most senior marketing role
Possible job title: Marketing Director
Responsible for the marketing of a group of events with a number of marketing managers and executives reporting in. Responsible for bottom line, performance delivery and people development.
Operations
Level 1: The most junior operations role
Possible job title: Operations Coordinator / Operations Executive
Responsible for one small event or a section of a larger event. Reporting to an Operations Manager or Director. A position often held by a school leaver or graduate or someone with minimal experience.
Level 2:
Possible job title: Senior Operations Executive
Operations responsibility for a medium sized event or a number of small events. Reporting to the Operations Director. Budget responsibility and some contractor negotiations. Typically available to someone with experience.
Level 3:
Possible job title: Operations Manager / Senior Operations Manager
Overall responsibility for a medium/large event or a number of small events. May have an operations executive reporting in. Negotiations with contractors. Responsible for on target budget and performance delivery.
Level 4: The most senior operations role
Possible job title: Operations Director
Responsible for the whole operations department with a number of operation managers reporting in. Responsible for all contractors and hall negotiations. Overall responsibility for the bottom-line, performance delivery and people development.
Event Management
Level 1: The most junior event/show management role
Possible job title: Event / Show Manager
Supporting the high level event management officials in envisaging the event plans, conceiving and producing the events under the supervision of the event / show director. Position often held by a school leaver or graduate or someone with minimal experience.
Level 2:
Possible job title: Event / Show Director
Responsible for ensuring all events and shows go on smoothly. Handle the practicalities of the event from scheduling to catering and decoration under the supervision of the Portfolio Director. Typically available to someone experienced.
Level 3: The most senior event/show management role
Possible job title: Portfolio Director
The first coordinating level, to which the upper levels of sales, operations and marketing report; likely to be handling a number of key brands or one large brand. In some companies, this may be the same as Level four.
Conference Management
Level 1: The most junior conference management role
Possible job title: Conference / Show Manager
Supporting the high level conference management officials in envisaging the conference plans, conceiving and producing the conferences under the supervision of the conference / show director. Position often held by a school leaver or graduate or someone with minimal experience.
Level 2:
Possible job title: Conference / Show Director
Responsible for ensuring all conferences and shows go on smoothly. Handle the practicalities of the event from scheduling to catering and decoration under the supervision of the Portfolio Director. Typically available to someone experienced.
Level 3: The most senior conference management role
Possible job title: Portfolio Director
The first coordinating level, to which the upper levels of sales, operations and marketing report; likely to be handling a number of key brands or one large brand. In some companies, this may be the same as Level four.