Senior Director of Events

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Virginia.

📋 Description

• Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of SPN events, including the Annual Meeting with over 1,500 attendees.

• Act as a collaborative partner to staff, ensuring events support SPN’s mission and strategic goals.

• Drive the planning and programming of content; work closely with leadership and stakeholders to create agendas and select speakers and session formats.

• Collaborate with communications, programs, and development teams on event content.

• Design and establish systems and processes to enhance event scalability, optimize logistics, minimize manual tasks, and boost efficiency.

• Cultivate and sustain relationships with vendors, sponsors, and partners.

• Recruit, mentor, and guide the events team.

• Manage event sponsorship strategy and its execution alongside the sponsorship contractor and development team.

• Ensure brand consistency across speakers, content, and event logistics.

• Work with communications to prepare presenters and deliver a refined experience for attendees.

• Establish post-event feedback mechanisms and refine SPN’s event playbook.

• Develop and monitor event budgets while identifying opportunities for cost-effective execution.

• Report to the Executive Vice President and lead a four-member events team at SPN.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in event strategy, event management, or a related discipline.

• Experience in leading large-scale, high-profile events with over 500 participants.

• Proven ability to design event content, including agendas, session formats, and speaker lineups, for audiences focused on substantive policy or issues.

• Experience utilizing technology and process design to enhance event efficiency and scalability.

• Demonstrated people-management experience.

• Strong skills in budget management and vendor negotiations.

• Exceptional project management abilities with a track record of managing multiple intricate timelines.

• A passion for hospitality and creating unforgettable, personalized experiences.

• Willingness to travel regularly for site visits and on-site event execution, approximately 20% travel required.

• Experience in designing and executing effective donor cultivation events is highly desirable.

• Familiarity with the state-based think tank movement or nonprofit/association event work is advantageous.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package.

• Option for a virtual office.

• Opportunities for regular travel to SPN events.