Deputy Country Manager - Vancouver

About us:

How did Web Summit become, in the words of Forbes, “the best tech conference on the planet”? Meaningful connections. Our tech events are unmissable because we make it easier for the right people to meet and connect. Everyone at Web Summit works towards this goal.

And we’re just getting started.

We’re always looking to build on the impact we have already made at Web Summit. In the coming years we’ll take Web Summit to new markets, promoting global connectivity, highlighting important issues and connecting global leaders – all while making a positive impact on the environment and communities we encounter.

To build a better company, we have to better ourselves. We do that by finding the most ambitious people to work with us.

Role:

Web Summit produces the best technology conferences in the world, with our latest event launching in Vancouver in 2025. As we expand our presence across Canada and North America, we now require a Deputy Country Manager in Vancouver, BC to help foster, manage, and cement a thriving and successful long-term partnership in the region.

This is a senior, externally focused role, with primary responsibility for government relations and stakeholder engagement, alongside selective involvement in partnership and speaker acquisition where it supports our strategic objectives.

What you’ll achieve::
• Support the development and implementation of a coherent strategy for Web Summit in Canada and North America.
• Advise on key stakeholder relations, including government, public sector, corporate, and community engagement.
• Foster and maintain senior relationships to ensure Web Summit’s long-term success in the region.
• Ensure Web Summit maintains smooth, professional, and coherent relationships with municipal, provincial, and federal stakeholders.
• Act as an internal resource and advisor for teams across Web Summit, utilising your specialised knowledge of Canada and North America.
• Increase political engagement, ensuring participation from senior decision-makers and delegations at Web Summit events.
• Advise on, and where appropriate support or lead, business engagement with partner companies and official delegations.
• Support the identification and engagement of strategic partners, working closely with Web Summit’s partnerships team.
• Contribute to the identification and engagement of world-class speakers, particularly from government, policy, enterprise, and institutional leadership, in coordination with the Speakers team.
• Contribute year-round to the Vancouver and broader Canadian technology ecosystem.

Skills we like to see::
• You’re capable of utilising your positive rapport to nurture constructive, strategic relationships with senior stakeholders.
• You have an extensive network of Canadian and North American contacts across government, enterprise, and media.
• You’re a clear communicator with the ability to network, secure referrals, and leverage relationships effectively.
• You’re comfortable working to agreed KPIs and reporting progress to senior management.
• You’re a problem solver, focused on delivering outcomes that benefit all parties.
• You are comfortable working with high-profile stakeholders and VIPs, handling sensitive matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Experience supporting partnership development or speaker engagement is an advantage, but not the primary focus of the role.

Benefits and perks:

- Subsidised healthcare, dental, employee assistance programme (EAP) and more.
- Pension contribution up to 6%(Irish based only)
- A dedicated in-house L&D department, with access to workshops, online learning and resources to help you excel in your career development.
- Company laptop, generous annual leave and flexible working arrangements.
- Our very own Tramway Team, which drives community and morale-boosting events for employees to participate in.
- Annual company get-togethers, charity days, and monthly wellbeing talks.
- Wellness subsidy issued to all employees of €1000 per year

At Web Summit, we embrace diversity and inclusion. We want talent from all walks of life to help us on our journey to digitise the conference sector. Hiring decisions are made purely on experience, skills and the needs of the business.