Director of Events

International Live Events Association (Ilea)•Arlington, VA

32d•Hybrid

About The Position

What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation's leading voice on mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Today, we are an alliance of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and a national office that work in communities across the United States to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need. NAMI advocates for all who are affected by mental illness, both the individuals and the people in their lives. We work to address disparities and injustices and to promote dignity and inclusion for all people with mental illness and their families. In addition to being advocates, we educate, we listen, and we lead as evidenced by our public awareness campaigns, the range of programs we provide, and our strong public policy. We currently have an opening for Director of Events . The Director of Events leads the full lifecycle of NAMI National events, providing both strategic direction and hands-on execution. This role serves as the head of the Events function within the Operations Department and is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, financial stewardship, and a high-quality participant experience. The Director manages staff, oversees multi-year planning, negotiates contracts, leads onsite execution, and builds standardized processes that support NAMI's mission. This full-time position is based in our Arlington, VA offices on a hybrid basis. Salary Range: $100k - $105k

Requirements

Active Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is required within 6 months of employment.
Bachelor s degree, preferably in event management or hospitality
Must have experience leading and running a major conference or convention with over 1,500 attendees, as well as running virtual conferences.
8 - 10 years of progressive experience leading and executing events, including contract negotiations, budget ownership, marketing, on-site event support and troubleshooting, and crisis management.
Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
Demonstrated experience mentoring and developing staff and leading high-performing teams while also contributing to hands-on execution.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
Meticulous attention to detail and superior organizational skills for managing complex logistics and tight schedules.
Familiarity with Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Credits at a conference.
Have technical capabilities to create registration websites and mobile apps.
Ability to communicate effectively with C-level and senior executives and Board members, as well as staff, volunteers, and attendees.
Experience with volunteer management and the ability to manage over 150 staff and volunteers for events.
Able to communicate quickly but thoroughly with quick turnarounds and tight deadlines.
Able to defuse stress with attendees and be solution oriented.
Must pass background check.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management Lead the Events function within Operations providing supervision, coaching, and professional development for Events staff.
Build a collaborative team culture and ensure staff are equipped to deliver high-quality experiences.
Manage staffing plans, including full-time staff, seasonal support, volunteers, and onsite personnel.
Strategy & Planning Develop annual event strategies and multi-year plans that align with organizational priorities.
Translate strategy into executable workflows, timelines, and staffing plans.
Execution Serve as a working leader who directly contributes to event planning, vendor coordination, logistics, and onsite management.
Oversee logistical components for in-person and virtual events, including venue selection, contract negotiation, AV/tech, catering, decor, registration systems, and exhibitor management.
Support sponsor activations, exhibitor experience, and promotional timelines in collaboration with relevant teams.
Coordinate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure smooth execution and cohesive planning.
Financial Management Develop and manage event budgets, forecasts, and reconciliations.
Negotiate and oversee contracts to ensure terms protect NAMI's financial interests.
Maintain strong vendor and venue relationships to support cost-efficient planning.
Continuous Improvement Establish and maintain team procedures, templates, and workflows to support consistency, quality, and risk mitigation.
Lead post-event evaluations and suggest improvements based on data, outcomes, and attendee feedback.
Other Duties Support internal meetings and special events as needed.
Other duties as assigned.