Trade Marketing & Exhibitions Specialist (International)

About the Role:

We’re a premium cigar distributor expanding our trade marketing and events footprint across Europe and the U.S. You will own the end-to-end planning and flawless execution of trade shows, exhibitions, in-store activations, and B2B events. The ideal candidate is a hands-on operator who can turn a brief into a detailed run-of-show, negotiate with vendors, move physical assets across borders, and bring measurable ROI from every activation.

Key Responsibilities

Trade Marketing (B2B / Retail):

• Build and execute a trade marketing calendar by market and channel (wholesale, retail, HoReCa, duty free).
• Plan, produce, and deploy POSM / merchandising (banners, shelf talkers, humidor signage, displays); maintain an asset inventory and replenishment plan.
• Ensure planogram compliance and optimal shelf visibility; collect photo proofs from field teams and partners.
• Drive co-op marketing with distributors/retailers (promos, tastings, education sessions) and track results.
• Coordinate sampling & staff training at key accounts; develop short playbooks and talk tracks.
• Track KPIs: doors activated, shelf facings gained, POSM coverage, cost per activation, and incremental sales.

Exhibitions & International Events:

• Own the full cycle: brief → budget → timeline → vendor sourcing → design coordination → production → logistics → on-site management → teardown → post-show reporting.
• Manage booth design & production (coordinate with designers/builders; ensure brand guidelines, materials, lighting, power, safety).
• Run logistics: international freight, customs paperwork (ATA Carnet where applicable), insurance, storage, install/dismantle (I&D), and return shipping.
• Source and negotiate with exhibition organizers, contractors, booth builders, hostesses, AV, catering, and staffing; issue SOWs/POs; control budgets.
• Implement lead capture (badge scanners, forms), integrate with CRM, and lead post-show follow-up with Sales.
• Produce post-event ROI reports (leads, opportunities, orders, CPL/CPA, qualitative insights).
  

Project Management & Compliance:

• Maintain critical paths, Gantt/timelines, and weekly status with risks/mitigations.
• Create and maintain standard toolkits: run-of-show, master checklist, vendor list, asset tracker, packing lists, and on-site “booth bible.”
• Ensure compliance with venue regulations and category rules relevant to tobacco product displays and sampling (by market).

What Success Looks Like (KPIs)

• Events delivered on time and within ±5% of budget.
• Lead and opportunity targets met per event; CPL/CPA tracked and trending down.
• POSM coverage and shelf visibility increased in priority accounts; photo proofing 100%.
• Zero critical compliance incidents; 100% of post-event reports submitted within 5 business days.

Requirements

• 3+ years in trade marketing and/or exhibitions/event management with demonstrable end-to-end ownership of international shows (EU experience required).
• Strong vendor management & negotiation; proven budget control for multi-country projects.
• Fluent English (C1+). Additional languages are a plus (Spanish, German, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Lithuanian, Latvian, or Russian for vendor liaison).
• Solid working knowledge of project tools (Asana/Trello, Google Sheets/Excel, Docs/Slides) and basic artwork handling (Adobe/Canva) to traffic edits to designers.
• Comfortable with travel across Europe (and occasionally the U.S.); capable of managing long show days and physical booth work when needed.

Eligibility & location (strict):

• Current residence in Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Lithuania, or Latvia.
• Able to enter the EU visa-free or hold a valid multiple-entry visa/work permit with ≥12 months remaining validity.
• Must be of legal age to work with tobacco category promotions in your country.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in premium/luxury or tobacco/spirits categories.
• Familiarity with ATA Carnet, temporary imports, and exhibition logistics paperwork.
• Experience setting up scalable event systems (templates, checklists, reporting frameworks).
• Basic understanding of CRM (HubSpot/Salesforce) and lead workflows.