Assistant Director, Special Events (Eastern and Southern Regions)

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our staff helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our staff of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and internationally from our offices in New York; Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Santa Monica; San Francisco; Bozeman, Montana; and Beijing.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Director, Donor Relations and Special Events, the Assistant Director, Special Events is responsible for the successful planning and execution of strategic, creative, million-dollar+ revenue-generating events (in-person and virtual) designed to engage major and principal gift donors with the work and priorities of NRDC and to grow NRDC’s universe of supporter. The Assistant Director conceptualizes, implements, and manages all large-scale fundraising events in their region and will occasionally assist with the management of high-value, small-scale cultivation and stewardship events hosted by Trustees, Campaign Cabinet members, and top prospects and donors. The Assistant Director plays a key role in ensuring that donor event activities are impactful and well-executed in service to top donor engagement. 

The Assistant Director will direct and supervise the activities of the Special Events Senior Associate (Eastern and Southern Regions) and share the supervision of the Special Events Assistant with the Assistant Director, Special Events (Western and Midwest Regions).

This position requires a superior customer service mentality, strong relationship building and deep interpersonal skills.

• Develop and implement large-scale, high-produced fundraising events that demonstrate NRDC’s impact and progress.
• • Event conception and stakeholder buy-in (Major and Principal Gift fundraisers, Campaign Team, Communications, NRDC Leadership, Trustee/donor stakeholders)
  • Event budget development and monitoring
  • Event management and production, including the identification, selection, and hiring of production companies, event consultants, etc. when necessary
  • Contract negotiation
  • Liaison with Trustee or other donor event stakeholders
• Direct and supervise the Senior Associate, Special Event (Eastern and Southern Regions) and the Special Events Assistant.
• Manage team revenue and expense budgets.
• With the Assistant Director, Western and Midwest Regions, develop and manage an annual calendar of events. 
• Synthesize NRDC’s programmatic work and issues to create compelling and engaging event content that translates into high-dollar ticket sales.
• Develop effective strategies to build strong partnerships with Major and Principal Gift Fundraisers and Communications and Program colleagues.
• Maintain a working knowledge of the interests and expectations of NRDC’s top donors and Trustee event stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree and 7+ years of demonstrated success producing and managing large-scale fundraising events required
• Managerial experience preferred
• Strong customer-service orientation with superior ability to collaborate and build consensus
• Excellent project and budget management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong knowledge of donor event/engagement best practices
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple assignments and deadlines
• Familiarity negotiating business contracts
• Collegial team player able to interact effectively with diverse internal and external constituencies
• Able to work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Strong commitment to environmental advocacy preferred
• Shows a sensitivity, awareness and willingness to learn and participate in the advancement of DEI strongly preferred

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming a diversity of voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and a supportive working environment. Salary is based on a nonprofit scale and commensurate with skills and experience. Job grade for this role is Guides 2 with a salary ranging from $100,000 to a $115,000.  Internal equity considerations and the average salary of the peer range will be reviewed before making a final offer.

To apply, please visit www.nrdc.org/careers and upload your resume and cover letter through our online portal. We would like you to upload any additional papers or project work that you think would showcase your abilities. Due to the high volume of resumes, only qualified candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls, emails, faxes or in-person resume drop-offs. Please reference where you saw this posting. NRDC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you are having technical difficulty while applying, or if you are a person with a disability and you need assistance applying online, please reach out to iCIMS Customer Care by dialing 1-800-889-4422.

For further information about NRDC, please visit www.nrdc.org.