Director, Development Events & Experiences

Standtogether; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Flexible time off

Health & dental plans

Wellness support (Peloton/Talkspace)

Job summary

Stand Together in Arlington, VA is seeking a Director, Events & Experiences to lead the Development Guest Experience capability, overseeing a portfolio from intimate convenings to large tentpole events while building a high-performing team delivering exceptional guest experiences aligned with organizational priorities.

This role blends strategic leadership with operational excellence, ensuring on-site execution, budget oversight, and cross-functional collaboration with senior stakeholders to

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience in events management, planning, and execution.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop others while delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial, and highly responsible in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication for diverse audiences.
• Collaborates effectively with staff at all levels, including executives.
• Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Humility, respect, and willingness to learn from others.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and evolve the Development Guest Experience capability and standards.
• Align event strategy with organizational priorities with senior stakeholders.
• Identify innovative approaches and best practices to elevate events.
• Manage guest-experience costs and ROI across events.
• Drive planning and execution of a portfolio of events and bespoke experiences.
• Provide senior-level oversight from concept to post-event evaluation.
• Lead on-site execution to ensure seamless delivery.
• Coach and develop a high-performing events team.
• Build systems and rhythms for efficiency and accountability.

Skills

Event management

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Operational excellence

Microsoft Office

Humility & respect

Strategic thinking

Team development

Job description

Stand Together is a philanthropic community that helps America’s boldest changemakers tackle the root causes of our country’s biggest problems, from education to the economy, broken communities, and toxic division, among dozens of other pressing issues. We provide our partners with access to resources including funding, thought leadership, a network of peers, and a playbook for applying proven principles to transform lives and society.

Our Development Events team designs and delivers high‑impact events and experiences that deepen relationships, inspire leadership, and accelerate progress across our donor partner network. We are seeking a Director, Events & Experiences to lead the Development Guest Experience capability, driving execution across a dynamic portfolio of events and experiences. As a leader within the events function, you will oversee a portfolio of events and experiences from intimate convenings to large‑scale tentpole events while building and developing a high‑performing team responsible for delivering exceptional and bespoke guest experiences. This role blends strategic leadership with operational excellence, ensuring that events are not only executed seamlessly but designed intentionally to advance organizational priorities and elevate the overall partner journey.

This is an opportunity for a collaborative, forward‑thinking leader who can develop people and drive execution in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continue to evolve the Development Guest Experience capability, refining standards of excellence, and continuously advancing how Stand Together designs and delivers events and experiences.
• Align event strategy with organizational priorities by partnering closely with senior stakeholders and cross‑functional teams.
• Identify and implement innovative approaches and industry best practices that elevate the quality, creativity, and impact of events.
• Manage guest experience‑related costs across events and understand ROI with all event‑related expenses.
• Drive the strategic planning and execution of a portfolio of events and bespoke partner experiences that deepen engagement and support development goals.
• Provide senior‑level oversight of event lifecycles from concept through execution and post‑event evaluation.
• Lead on‑site execution to ensure seamless delivery and experiences that exceed expectations for discerning audiences.
• Manage, coach, and develop a high‑performing team of event professionals, fostering ownership, collaboration, and leadership growth.
• Build systems and operating rhythms that enable efficiency, accountability, and operational excellence across the guest experience function and growing event portfolio.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience of events management, logistical planning, and execution across a diverse portfolio of events.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop others while maintaining accountability for high‑quality outcomes.
• Ability to be proactive, entrepreneurial, and have a high degree of responsibility in a fast‑paced environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and efficiently with a wide variety of audiences.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work well with staff of all levels, including executives.
• Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Commitment to operational excellence.
• Strong understanding and appreciation of humility, respect, and a desire to learn from others.
• Comprehensive skills in Microsoft Office.
• Enthusiasm to contribute to Stand Together’s vision and principled approach to solving problems, and a commitment to stewarding our culture, which champions values including transformation and innovation, entrepreneurialism, humility, and respect.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits: Enjoy a 6% 401(k) match with immediate vesting, flexible time off, comprehensive health and dental plans, plus wellness and mental health support through Peloton and Talkspace.
• A meaningful career: Join a passionate community of over 1,300 employees dedicated to improving lives and driving innovative solutions to complex social challenges.
• Commitment to growth: Thrive in a non‑hierarchical environment that empowers employees to discover, develop and apply their unique talents.
• Competitive compensation: Our approach rewards the value you create through competitive salaries and bonus opportunities, allowing you to share in the success you help drive.

We believe diversity fuels creativity, broadens knowledge, and helps drive success. That is why we’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and strive to treat all employees and applicants with honesty, dignity, and respect.