Speaker Support Assistant

Speaker Support Assistant - Detroit

This is a short-term, temporary contract role for in-person, onsite support at the TED Countdown Summit 2023 conference in Detroit, MI. You may be asked to work some or all of the dates between July 5 and July 15, 2023. The successful applicant will be responsible for any travel, accommodation and meal costs.

As a speaker and performer support person, you’ll act as an ambassador of TED, assisting speakers, performers and their guests throughout the conference to ensure they have an amazing experience.

We have a variety of rooms within the venue that speakers and performers will access throughout the week. You may be stationed at one of these rooms as a concierge or be asked to escort speakers or performers throughout the venue to attend their appointments (i.e.: rehearsal, practice room, hair and makeup, speaker meetup, etc.). You may also be stationed backstage inside the theater, assisting the production crew and the stage manager to get the speakers and performers ready and on time for their appointments. Speakers and performers may require an escort to locations outside of the theater and throughout the venue.

You may also be asked to help with various requests, such as providing schedule and program information, ironing a shirt, tending to dietary needs or even running to the store to fulfill a speaker request. Our goal is to ensure every speaker and performer feels welcomed and cared for.

You’re highly organized and courteous, with prior customer service or talent management experience, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You're able to work well under pressure, taking the initiative to problem-solve and follow up with tasks and requests. You're discreet and tactful, comfortable interacting with high-profile guests and their teams. This position involves standing in one spot for long periods and/or walking long distances, and being able to participate in some physical work and heavy lifting of up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Greet speakers and performers when they arrive at the conference venue
• Approach all interactions with humility, discretion and care, anticipating needs and staying cognizant of production and speaker schedules to help them manage competing priorities
• Help speakers and performers navigate the venue and answer questions about their personal schedules and conference programming
• Assist with various requests including accommodation, ground transfers, errands and administrative needs
• Help speakers move through preparations before going onstage, and work with the stage management team to adhere to session schedules
• Report and record all issues, comments and feedback to share with the Speaker Experience Team for follow up

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  Customer service or hospitality background is required
• Talent management or event production experience is a strong plus
• Able to stand for long periods, and participate in physical work (lifting equipment or carrying bags/luggage)
• Advanced computer skills: the ability to use a Mac and PC (access databases, use spreadsheets, etc.)
• Assist with running speakers' presentations: must be able to run both Keynote and PowerPoint presentations
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Proactive and resourceful, easily adaptable
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Calm, kind and discreet
• Fluent in English. Knowledge of additional languages is a plus

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.