Senior Director, VIP Engagement & Events

NWF•Reston, VA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) seeks a Senior Director, VIP Engagement & Events to lead the design, planning, and execution of special events, excursions, and supporter engagement initiatives. This role aims to raise the profile of NWF's work and build relationships with loyal supporters and volunteer leaders. The Senior Director will be responsible for executing NWF Board of Directors meetings and related events, and will serve as a relationship manager for select Board members. This role partners closely with the Chief Development Officer and the Senior Vice President for Philanthropy and Supporter Engagement to foster strong working relationships across departments, ensuring volunteer leadership opportunities are productive, engaging, and sustainable.

Requirements

Minimum 5+ years of experience in event management.
Experience in fundraising and supporter engagement is highly desirable.
Experience managing professionals, volunteers, and vendors required.
Excellent customer service skills and ability to interact comfortably with VIPs and executives.
Demonstrated ability to resolve challenges with grace and expediency.
Superior interpersonal skills, professionalism, attention to detail, and excellent writing and communication skills.
Superior time management and organization skills.
Ability to take initiative, work independently, and as an integral part of the team.
Ability to travel domestically, and work occasional nights, weekends and holidays.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Cvent.
Familiarity with CRM, various databases management reporting tools, and web development tools is highly desirable.

Nice To Haves

Passion for the preservation and protection of wildlife and wild places a plus.
Demonstrates awareness of positional power and privilege and its attendant impacts.
Consistently brings a high level of empathy and emotion intelligence.
Exhibits a responsible and respectful demeanor with colleagues and partners.
Actively seeks feedback, direction, and guidance from all team members.
Strategic thinker, self-starter, well organized, strong communicator, and relationship builder.
Strong skills related to strategy development, execution and follow through.
Energy and enthusiasm for our mission, coupled with initiative and know-how, and the ability to lead, mentor and inspire others.
Motivated by values of equity and responsibility to those most marginalized.
Consistently brings a high level of empathy and social skills to work and interpersonal interactions.
Committed to deepening an environmental justice approach in policy priorities, program development and partner engagement.
Keeps staff informed of decisions that impact them.
Dedicated to advancing NWF’s internal equity transformation and compelling partners and allies to incorporate equity into their work.
Passion for and commitment to NWF's mission.

Responsibilities

Supports the Chief Development Officer in building and managing relationships with VIPs, including generous supporters and influential friends.
Collaborates with Donor Relations, Gift Planning, Individual Giving, and Membership teams on key themes, messaging, and desired outcomes for events and communications.
Designs, plans, and executes online and live event strategies, managing all logistics, staff, volunteers, and contractors.
Oversees production, panel/presenter selection, and development of event run-of-shows.
Manages relationships with vendors and service providers, including RFP processes, vetting, selection, contracting, and invoice review.
Develops and maintains event budgets, providing updates to leadership and handling event close-out reports.
Oversees production of meeting materials, agendas, and other collaterals for engagement opportunities and events.
Coordinates transportation, lodging, and catering as necessary, and supports participant engagement.
Administers the Supporter Engagement budget, providing monthly reporting and developing annual operating budgets and long-term plans.
Facilitates team retreats, overseeing logistics, production, and contributing to agenda planning.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Serves as a primary liaison to the Board of Directors, working with the Governance team and Chief Development Officer to enhance director engagement.
Develops engagement plans based on affinity and interest, providing regular communications about NWF activities.
Conducts field outreach and responds to inquiries regarding meetings, events, or programs, directing inquiries as needed and serving as a liaison between directors and NWF executives.
Accountable for planning logistics associated with NWF Board meetings, including site selection, facility security, contract negotiation, budget administration, registration, on-site management, marketing, staffing, and invoice reconciliation.
Coordinates with the governance team to understand desired outcomes, scheduling, and logistics needs for Board meetings.