The Director of Special Events leads a full-time staff of seven to direct and manage all development events—including fundraising and benefit events for the Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera—in order to raise revenue, increase brand awareness, strengthen community connections, and steward current and prospective supporters to new levels of engagement. Scope of work includes developing fundraising strategy and revenue forecasting; determining the allocation of Center resources (full and part-time staff, budget, facilities, vendors, volunteers, etc.) and securing their use for each event; developing department wide systems for financial tracking, progress reporting, and information sharing; long-term planning for optimal event dates, communications schedules, and revenue growth; collaborating with departments across the institution to ensure event goals and customer engagement standards are met; and managing each event’s budget to meet or exceed net margin targets. As a subject matter expert and leader, the Director approaches the planning, execution, and evaluation of events of all sizes with a solutions-oriented spirit of innovation, providing support and insight to fellow leaders on how to both identify and achieve an event’s goals.
The Director reports to the Vice President, Capital Campaigns and Strategic Planning and manages a staff of event planning and fundraising/sales professionals tasked with achieving year-over-year revenue growth and creating exemplary customer engagement experiences for all participants. The incumbent provides exemplary leadership to the team through goal setting, long-term planning, one-on-one coaching and skill development, and the establishment of effective procedures and working norms. Furthermore, the incumbent is a member of the Development Office leadership team, and will play a role in both setting and fulfilling the departmental priorities and customer service standards to be upheld for both our internal staff and donor communities. The Director regularly collaborates with departments around the institution, with a particular focus on Government Relations and Campus Planning, and provides regular updates on fundraising progress to institutional leadership, members of the Board of Trustees, major donors, and other senior level volunteers.
Duties & Responsibilities
35% Revenue Generation and Budget Management
Responsible for forecasting the fundraising targets and net margins for all major fundraising events, and ultimately meeting or exceeding those targets.Oversees the development and management of multi-year fundraising pipelines, including the identification of volunteer event chairs, to meet fundraising targets. Collaborates with frontline teams across the Development Office to ensure goals are clear, motivating, and attainable. Identifies target audiences and builds appropriate fundraising strategies to successfully solicit, retain, and upgrade event donors.Provide regular, timely, and accurate reports to departmental and institutional leadership on fundraising and event progress.35% Strategic Planning and Logistics Management
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of all aspects of fundraising events, including but not limited to fundraising efficiency (cost/expense), event potential, staff management, customer experience, etc. Oversee the evaluation process for all events; develop and implement strategies to enhance growth potential.Collaborate with the Communications team to ensure event communications and media relations strategies are effective, and the Systems team to ensure financial reporting and event management tools are both optimized and well-maintained.Negotiate with Kennedy Center contractors, outside vendors, and producers and manufacturers of desired products and services for events, to secure the best available price, including in-kind contributions, for the delivery of same to achieve the most cost-effective event.Ensure institutional leadership and key donor stakeholders are appropriately briefed on the purpose, desired outcomes, and key attendees prior to each event. Collaborate with the Government Relations office to ensure external stakeholders’ participation in events while maintaining the highest levels of protocol, etiquette, and tone.30% Leadership and Team Management
Manage and evaluate the skill, experience, and professional development needs of all direct reports, including temporary staff and contractors. Establish performance measurements to ensure consistent and motivating evaluation and goal setting for all employees.Recruit, hire, and oversee training/orientation of all staff members, including seasonal/temporary workers.Provide all necessary resources to create a positive, proactive work environment for all staff. Foster a culture of collaboration and accountability when pursuing individual and organizational performance standards. As part of the departmental management team, understand, advocate for, and communicate the annual institutional/departmental priorities and strategic plan. Participate in departmental initiatives that support a healthy workplace, an empowered workforce, and a supportive leadership team.
