The posting
Description:
Zafran is on a mission to stop the exploitation of vulnerabilities everywhere. We are transforming how security teams prioritize and reduce risk, moving beyond legacy vulnerability management toward a Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) operating model that actually works in the real world.
We are looking for a seasoned, high-energy Senior Manager of Corporate & Strategic Events to lead and own Zafran's presence at the most important stages in cybersecurity. This is a senior, high-ownership role at the center of our go-to-market motion. You will build and run the full corporate events program, from the strategy and budget to the booth build, the ancillary dinners, and everything in between. You know how to command a trade show floor, rally a cross-functional team, and make sure that every event Zafran shows up to is one people remember.
You will report to the VP of Marketing and work closely with Field Marketing, Product Marketing, Sales, and the Executive team. The right person for this role brings equal parts operational rigor and magnetic presence. You are as comfortable negotiating with a booth contractor at Black Hat as you are running a pre-event briefing with the CRO. You bring energy to the room and pull teams together around a shared vision of what great looks like.
Zafran is a fast-moving company in a fast-moving industry, and this role reflects that. Priorities shift, opportunities emerge quickly, and the events landscape evolves constantly. We need someone who can build structure without being rigid, who adapts on the fly without losing the thread, and who sees change as part of the job rather than a disruption to it. If you do your best work when the ground is moving a little, you will thrive here.
About Zafran:
Our Mission: To stop the exploitation of vulnerabilities, everywhere.
What makes us different: In a world where AI-enabled attackers weaponize vulnerabilities within minutes, the old scan-and-patch-everything model no longer holds. Zafran's Exposure Graph continuously maps every vulnerability across your hybrid environment, chains exploitability through real attack paths and proves 90% of "critical" vulnerabilities can't actually reach you. It then neutralizes the real 10% using your compensating controls and safely remediates only where it matters.
Who’s behind us: Zafran is backed by Menlo Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Cyberstarts, and a deep belief that cybersecurity should move as fast as attackers do. We’re one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, scaling to meet demand from the world’s most advanced, security-obsessed organizations.
We’re serious about our mission- so expect work that matters, teammates who challenge and inspire you, and plenty of fun along the way!
What you will do:
- Trade Show & Conference Ownership
- Own end-to-end strategy, planning, and execution for Zafran's global presence at major cybersecurity trade shows and conferences, including Black Hat, RSA, AWS re:Invent, and other high-priority events around the world.
- Lead all aspects of trade show operations: booth design and build, vendor selection and management (Freeman, GES, and others), sponsorship deliverables, staffing plans, shipping and logistics, and on-site execution.
- Develop and enforce a repeatable events process that drives consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across every event we attend or sponsor.
- Negotiate contracts, manage budgets, and track spend against ROI targets, ensuring every dollar is deployed strategically and measurably.
- Evaluate and prioritize the events calendar annually, making clear recommendations on where Zafran should invest, pull back, or go bigger.
Ancillary Events & Strategic Programs
- Design and execute high-impact ancillary events alongside major trade shows, including CSO dinners, customer roundtables, VIP receptions, happy hours, and executive briefings that extend Zafran's presence beyond the show floor.
- Build and manage a portfolio of hosted events, from intimate executive sessions to larger field programs, that deepen relationships with prospects, customers, and partners.
- Partner with the Field Marketing team to align ancillary programs with regional pipeline goals and account-based plays.
- Coordinate all event logistics including venue sourcing, catering, AV, run-of-show, staffing, and follow-up, with meticulous attention to the details that make the experience feel premium.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Product Marketing to align event messaging, demos, and on-site activations with Zafran's broader narrative and product launches.
- Partner with Field Marketing, BDR, and Sales leadership to build pre-event outreach strategies, confirm registrations, staff events correctly, and ensure clean post-event follow-up.
- Collaborate with the design team on booth creative, event collateral, branded experiences, and swag that reflect the Zafran brand at its best.
- Brief executive attendees on event objectives, talking points, and priority meetings, keeping leadership prepared and focused at every event.
- Serve as the internal hub for all things events, keeping stakeholders aligned, deadlines met, and the team energized around what you are building together.
Performance, Measurement & Program Operations
- Define and track event KPIs including pipeline generated, leads captured, meetings booked, and brand impressions, delivering regular reports to marketing and sales leadership.
- Manage the events calendar, budget tracker, and vendor relationships as living, maintained systems that give the team real-time visibility.
- Build out the internal events playbook and standard operating procedures so programs can scale without losing quality or consistency.
- Oversee swag and branded merchandise strategy, including vendor management, inventory, and fulfillment logistics for events throughout the year.
Requirements:
- 6-10 years of experience in B2B event marketing, with deep hands-on experience running large-scale trade shows and conferences, including end-to-end ownership of booth operations, vendor management, and on-site execution.
- Proven experience executing at major global cybersecurity or technology trade shows such as Black Hat, RSA, AWS re:Invent, or comparable tier-one events, with a clear understanding of what it takes to stand out on a crowded show floor across different markets.
- Track record of building and managing event budgets, negotiating with trade show contractors (Freeman, GES, etc.), and delivering measurable ROI.
- Experience running ancillary event programs alongside major shows, including executive dinners, CSO roundtables, VIP receptions, and hosted field events.
- Strong cross-functional collaborator with experience working alongside Product Marketing, Field Marketing, and Sales to align events with broader pipeline and GTM goals.
- Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to run multiple events simultaneously without losing focus on the details that make each one great.
- A natural energy-bringer: you rally people around a shared vision, make the work feel exciting, and leave every event better than you found it.
- Comfortable with data: you track what matters, report clearly, and use results to make smarter decisions next time.
- Familiarity with marketing automation and CRM tools (HubSpot, Salesforce) and event management platforms.
- Willingness and ability to travel approximately 40% to support on-site event execution across the US and internationally, including Europe and Asia.
- Nimble and adaptable: you can pivot when plans change, build structure in ambiguous situations, and keep the team calm and focused when things shift at the last minute.
- Cybersecurity industry experience is a strong plus; a genuine curiosity about the space is a must.
At Zafran, people matter! We provide a robust benefits program that includes flexible PTO, health insurance plans (medical, dental, vision), a monthly stipend for phone and internet, 401k, flexible spending account, and a home office stipend when joining!
We also provide access to frontier AI models, including Claude, so every employee can work smarter, move faster, and build an AI-first career from day one.
At Zafran, we’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe the best teams are built by people who think differently, come from all kinds of backgrounds, and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. We welcome everyone across race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, and veteran status, because what matters most is what you bring to the table.
If you’re curious, fun, and someone who gets things done, we’d love to meet you
