Job Overview
Employment Type
Full-time
Work Schedule
Flexible
Benefits
Medical insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
Child care benefits
Employee assistance program
Health and wellness programs
Job Description
KinderCare Learning Companies is a comprehensive early childhood education organization that is dedicated to fostering confident learners, new friendships, and bright futures for children and families. As the first and only early childhood education provider to receive the prestigious Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, KinderCare proudly offers a variety of early education and child care options through multiple brands including KinderCare Learning Centers, Champions, and Crème de la Crème. These programs collectively aim to support children’s development, enhance family engagement, and contribute positively to communities nationwide. KinderCare’s commitment to quality education and care makes it a trusted leader in the early childhood education sector, serving thousands of families across 40 states and the District of Columbia with over 2,000 sites and centers.
Joining KinderCare means becoming part of a mission-driven company passionate about creating a world where children, families, and organizations thrive together. The team at KinderCare is diverse and includes professionals from various departments such as marketing, strategy, finance, data engineering, and more, all contributing to the shared goal of transforming the future of early education and family support.
The Meeting Planner position is a vital role on the KLC Meeting, Events, and Travel Team, based at KinderCare's National Support Center (NSC) in Lake Oswego, Oregon. This role demands an enthusiastic and detail-oriented planner who can manage the lifecycle of internal meetings—from conceptualization through execution—ensuring engaging, seamless, and memorable experiences for employees and guests alike. Responsible for planning 7 to 8 major Collab Weeks annually, as well as other meetings ranging in size from 10 to 150 participants, the Meeting Planner serves as the main point of contact for all onsite meetings held at the NSC.
The Meeting Planner supports logistical tasks such as space planning, catering coordination, group hotel room blocks, and vendor negotiations. They ensure every event reflects KinderCare’s high standards of hospitality and professionalism. This role requires flexibility to support onsite events, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. Using meeting technology like Groupize and Cvent, along with proficient use of Microsoft Office and project management platforms like Smartsheet and Monday.com, the Meeting Planner tracks budgets, monitors expenses, and maintains cost efficiency throughout the event lifecycle.
This position also occasionally involves travel to offsite meeting locations to support larger enterprise-level events, requiring flexibility and strong organizational capabilities. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who thrives under pressure, managing competing priorities while delivering outstanding customer service and fostering strong vendor and internal relationships. Working at KinderCare offers the opportunity not only to enhance employee experiences but to contribute meaningfully to a company that values integrity, inclusivity, and the well-being of its workforce and families alike. The Meeting Planner role is a dynamic career choice for a professional seeking to shape and support meaningful employee engagement within a leading early childhood education provider.
Joining KinderCare means becoming part of a mission-driven company passionate about creating a world where children, families, and organizations thrive together. The team at KinderCare is diverse and includes professionals from various departments such as marketing, strategy, finance, data engineering, and more, all contributing to the shared goal of transforming the future of early education and family support.
The Meeting Planner position is a vital role on the KLC Meeting, Events, and Travel Team, based at KinderCare's National Support Center (NSC) in Lake Oswego, Oregon. This role demands an enthusiastic and detail-oriented planner who can manage the lifecycle of internal meetings—from conceptualization through execution—ensuring engaging, seamless, and memorable experiences for employees and guests alike. Responsible for planning 7 to 8 major Collab Weeks annually, as well as other meetings ranging in size from 10 to 150 participants, the Meeting Planner serves as the main point of contact for all onsite meetings held at the NSC.
The Meeting Planner supports logistical tasks such as space planning, catering coordination, group hotel room blocks, and vendor negotiations. They ensure every event reflects KinderCare’s high standards of hospitality and professionalism. This role requires flexibility to support onsite events, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. Using meeting technology like Groupize and Cvent, along with proficient use of Microsoft Office and project management platforms like Smartsheet and Monday.com, the Meeting Planner tracks budgets, monitors expenses, and maintains cost efficiency throughout the event lifecycle.
This position also occasionally involves travel to offsite meeting locations to support larger enterprise-level events, requiring flexibility and strong organizational capabilities. The successful candidate will be a self-starter who thrives under pressure, managing competing priorities while delivering outstanding customer service and fostering strong vendor and internal relationships. Working at KinderCare offers the opportunity not only to enhance employee experiences but to contribute meaningfully to a company that values integrity, inclusivity, and the well-being of its workforce and families alike. The Meeting Planner role is a dynamic career choice for a professional seeking to shape and support meaningful employee engagement within a leading early childhood education provider.
Job Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 2+ years of relevant meeting or event planning experience
- Ability to work onsite at the National Support Center in Lake Oswego, Oregon
- Flexibility to support meetings and events with varying schedules
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Proficient in MS Office applications
- Ability to collaborate with diverse teams
- Willingness to travel occasionally for offsite events (1-2 times annually)
- Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines
- Strong organizational and time management skills
Job Qualifications
- 2+ years of meeting planning, event planning, conference services, retail leadership/high-touch customer service, or client services experience
- Ability to build positive relationships and create a welcoming experience for a wide range of stakeholders and attendees
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with a strong hospitality mindset
- Strong attention to detail and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
- Strong time management and organizational skills
- Knowledge of meeting planning or project processes
- Experience with meeting sourcing and registration technology is a plus (currently use Groupize & Cvent)
- Ability to negotiate and manage vendor and service contracts
- Ability to make administrative and operational decisions in a live event environment
- Proficient computer skills required, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook (Smartsheet and Monday.com a plus)
Job Duties
- Manage planning and execution of 10-150 person meetings onsite at the NSC environment
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all onsite meetings at the NSC in Lake Oswego, OR
- Oversee onsite meeting logistics, ensuring meeting room readiness, assist with space planning, group catering, and day-of-event support
- Create a warm, welcoming, and engaging environment for all meeting attendees and guests, ensuring every interaction reflects a high level of hospitality
- Take ownership of work and drive projects to completion with minimal supervision
- Adhere to all deadlines, turnaround timelines, and service level expectations
- Source group room blocks with local hotels and off-site dinner venues
- Maintain the highest level of quality, professionalism, and integrity when negotiating with vendors and interacting with internal clients and co-workers
- Foster relationships with preferred vendors to ensure high-quality conference services delivery and cost efficiency
- Monitor and review vendor billing, ensure payments are made on time, meet cost-saving targets, and reconcile meeting budgets in a timely manner
- Track spending and operational metrics for quarterly roll-up reports
- Support large enterprise meetings as needed
- Occasional travel to offsite meeting locations may be required (1-2 times annually)
- Ensure all conference facility standards, policies, and compliance requirements are met
Job Criteria
Experience
Mid Level (3-7 years)
Job Location
Your Profile Is Visible To Hiring Managers Across OysterLink.
We'll match you with best jobs
Get job offers faster
Search For More Opportunities:
How Candidates Get Hired Faster
Apply to 2–3 similar roles
Complete profile & get best matches
Check new opportunities daily
