Description

NASPA seeks an experienced meeting professional to serve as Director, Meetings and Events. The Director leads the planning and execution of an assigned portfolio of NASPA's place-based conferences and events, while holding operational accountability for the association's regional event programming across 7-15 events annually. The Director reports to the Assistant Vice President for Event Strategy and Engagement and serves as the operational event lead on all assigned conferences, partnering closely with a Content Lead on each event to ensure programmatic and logistical coherence. The Director also works closely with other operational teams such as the Marketing and Communications, Business Systems, and Accounting Teams.

Essential Responsibilities

Place-Based Event Portfolio

• Serve as the event lead for all assigned conferences, partnering with the Content Lead to deliver cohesive, high-quality member experiences.
• Manage all event logistics including site selection, room block management, food and beverage, audio visual, registration, housing, transportation, and on-site execution.
• Develop and manage event budgets including reconciliation, post-event financial reporting, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Lead sourcing, contract negotiation, and vendor relationship management for all assigned events.
• Collaborate with the marketing and communications team on event communications, website content, and promotional materials.
• Track attendance trends, budget variance, net revenue, and post-event survey data to inform continuous improvement.
• Support regional event programming across seven geographic areas and globally, ensuring quality and alignment with association standards.

Team Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise, mentor, and support the professional development of Meetings and Events Managers.
• Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular check-ins, and lead annual reviews for all direct reports.
• Build team capacity through knowledge transfer, systems documentation, and cross-training.

Event Technology and Systems

• Serve as event lead across the association's event technology platforms including Accelevents, OpenWater, Asana, Intacct, Divvy, and Qualtrics, supported by the Business Systems Team.
• Ensure consistent and accurate platform use across all assigned events and the broader events team.

Association-wide Responsibilities

• Maintain a strong vendor and industry network and stay current on meetings industry trends.
• Provide excellent customer care to members, volunteer leaders, exhibitors, and sponsors.
• Participate in professional development through EIC, IAEE, PCMA, MPI, or similar organizations.
• Assist with all-team projects and participate actively in staff meetings and projects.
• Other activities, duties, and responsibilities as assigned to support the association.

Office Location

This position must be located within commuting distance of the Washington, D.C. metro area. While the role will primarily be remote, the individual will be expected to work onsite at the NASPA Washington, D.C. office a few days each month. The frequency of in-office days is based on event volume and may increase during peak periods. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation highly preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in conference and event management, preferably within a nonprofit association, professional society, or hospitality setting.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple conferences and events simultaneously across varying scales and formats.
• Experience with hotel and venue sourcing, contract negotiation, room block management, and third-party vendor oversight.
• Experience developing and managing event budgets including reconciliation, post-event financial reporting, and cost-savings analysis.
• Proficiency with event and organizational technology platforms including event management systems, abstract management tools, financial databases, and assessment tools.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience with a commitment to staff development, team culture, and inclusive leadership.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to build relationships with staff, volunteer leaders, vendors, and members.
• Ability to travel frequently, including overnight travel to event sites.
• Experience incorporating the impacts on and perspectives of multiple communities in the decision-making process.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultivating an inclusive work environment that values the perspectives and experiences of a diverse workforce and membership.