Events Director

Jewish Community Relations Council; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer yearly contribute

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

JCRC Bay Area seeks an experienced Events Director to lead planning and execution of a diverse event portfolio, reporting to Development and collaborating with Community Relations and Operations. The role oversees large signature events as well as cultivation, stewardship, and BAJA-related activities in the Bay Area.

The ideal candidate is a proactive project manager with vendor relationships, who understands Jewish community values and can work across teams in a dynamic nonprofit setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of event planning and management experience, including large-scale events.
• Proven track record coordinating multiple events with hundreds of attendees.
• Experience negotiating contracts and managing vendor relationships.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple events and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Experience coordinating event logistics, including security planning and risk management.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with event/donor software, registration platforms, and Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of all assigned events from inception through post-event evaluation.
• Manage timelines, budgets, logistics, and project deliverables to reflect priorities and brand standards.
• Coordinate registration systems, guest management, seating, flow, and on-site operations.
• Develop contingency plans and troubleshoot challenges before and during events.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship events and collaborate across teams.

Skills

Event planning

Vendor negotiation

Project management

Communication

Team collaboration

Google Workspace

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

Donor management software

Registration platforms

Job description

JCRC Bay Area seeks an experienced, highly organized, and relationship-oriented Events Director to lead the planning and execution of a diverse portfolio of events across the organization. Reporting to the Director of Development and working closely with both the Community Relations and Operations teams, this position will oversee events from concept through completion, ensuring seamless execution, exceptional guest experiences, and alignment with organizational goals.

The Events Director will be responsible for managing both large-scale signature events and smaller cultivation, stewardship, and community gatherings. This role may also provide event support for Bay Area Jewish Action (BAJA), JCRC’s affiliated 501(c)4 organization, initiatives and programs, as needed.

The ideal candidate is a proactive project manager, skilled negotiator, and trusted collaborator who understands the Bay Area event landscape, has strong vendor relationships, and appreciates the values, traditions, politics and diversity of the Jewish community.

Key Responsibilities

Event Planning & Execution

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of all assigned JCRC Bay Area events from inception through post-event evaluation.
• Manage event timelines, work plans, budgets, logistics, and project deliverables.
• Ensure events reflect organizational priorities, values, and brand standards.
• Coordinate event registration systems, guest management, seating plans, event flow, and on-site operations.
• Develop contingency plans and troubleshoot challenges before and during events.

Signature Yearly JCRC Events

Manage the planning and execution of JCRC Bay Area’s major annual events, including:

• Two Freedom Seder events (San Francisco and South Bay), each serving hundreds of attendees.
• Two additional anchor events in the North Bay and East Bay regions.
• One Bay Area wide anniversary event, serving the entire JCRC community including a VIP donor experience.
• Other major community-wide gatherings as assigned, including the San Francisco Pride Parade float.

Development, Operations. Community Relations & BAJA Events

• Support donor cultivation and stewardship events, including parlor meetings, receptions, briefings, and special gatherings.
• Provide event support for board meetings/retreats, leadership convenings, and organizational celebrations.
• Collaborate with Community Relations and Development staff to align event strategy with engagement and fundraising goals.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with venues, caterers, AV providers, security firms, rental companies, and other event vendors.
• Scout and recommend venues throughout the Bay Area.
• Negotiate vendor agreements and contracts to secure high-quality services and favorable pricing.
• Manage vendor communications, timelines, deliverables, and payments.

Logistics & Security Coordination

• Oversee and delegate all event logistics, including catering, audio/visual production, transportation, accessibility accommodations, signage, permits, and staffing.
• Coordinate event security plans in partnership with internal stakeholders, security professionals, law enforcement partners, and venue teams when appropriate.
• Serve as the central point of coordination among internal staff, vendors, volunteers, consultants, and event partners.
• Collaborate closely with marketing and communications staff to support event promotion and attendee communications.
• Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers when needed.

Evaluation & Reporting

• Conduct post-event evaluations and debriefs.
• Track event outcomes, attendance, expenses, and lessons learned.
• Recommend improvements and best practices for future events.

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years of event planning and management experience, including large-scale events.
• Demonstrated success managing events with several hundred attendees.
• Experience negotiating contracts and managing vendor relationships.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple events and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Experience coordinating event logistics, including security planning and risk management.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with event and donor management software, registration platforms, and Google Workspace.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.

Preferred

• Knowledge of the Bay Area event, venue, and vendor landscape.
• Experience working within nonprofit organizations, community organizations, or fundraising environments.
• Familiarity with Jewish communal organizations, traditions, and community events.
• Experience supporting donor cultivation and stewardship events.
• Enthusiastic about creating meaningful, mission-driven experiences.
• Relationship builder who enjoys working with diverse stakeholders.
• Calm under pressure and adaptable in fast-paced environments.
• Resourceful problem-solver with a strong customer service orientation.
• Appreciation for the Jewish community, its traditions, and its role in the Bay Area.

This position is based in the Bay Area and requires regular travel throughout the region for meetings, site visits, and events.

Because JCRC Bay Area hosts events outside traditional business hours, the Events Director should expect a flexible schedule that includes periodic evening and weekend work. Time commitments will vary depending on the event calendar.

• Federal and Jewish holidays observed
• 401(k) with employer yearly contribution
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Location: San Francisco, CA (Hybrid)
Salary: $110,000 – $120,000
Reports to: Director of Development with community relations reporting to the Chief Community Relations Officer.