Events Manager

National Academy of Social Insurance; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Academy of Social Insurance seeks an organized, collaborative Events Manager to lead its external events and policy convenings in Washington, DC. You will produce a growing portfolio of virtual and in‑person programs, including policy summits, briefings, symposia, roundtables, webinars, and the annual fundraising gala.

You will collaborate with leadership to shape strategy, develop agendas, manage budgets, select vendors, and engage policy experts, government officials, funders, and

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience planning and producing public policy events.
• Experience supporting event fundraising and sponsorships.
• Strong project-management with budgets and timelines.
• Familiarity with public policy environments and senior leaders.
• Excellent communication, sound judgment, attention to detail.
• Ability to take initiative and collaborate in a small, fast‑moving team and travel.
• Experience in think tanks or nonprofit organizations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Shape external events strategy with Academy leadership.
• Develop event goals, formats, agendas, speakers, and audiences.
• Improve processes and infrastructure for events portfolio.
• Evaluate participation and outcomes to improve future programming.
• Lead events from concept to follow‑up within approved budgets.
• Manage the annual gala and other signature events.
• Develop proposed budgets and manage spending.
• Select venues and vendors within budgets and policies.
• Manage logistics: timelines, registration, travel, AV.
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, and run‑of‑show documents.
• Ensure events are substantive and aligned with the Academy’s mission.

Skills

Public policy events

Project management

Budget & vendors

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Evening events travel

Job description

About Us

Founded in 1986, the National Academy of Social Insurance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization comprised of the nation’s leading experts on social insurance policy, practice, research, and innovation. From Social Security and Supplemental Security Income to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act; to Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Insurance; to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and income-boosting tax credits, America’s social insurance ecosystem serves as the bedrock of economic protection against the risks of life—such as when we retire, lose a job, experience disability or illness, or lose a family breadwinner.

For 40 years, the Academy and its powerful, diverse member network have championed the safeguarding, strengthening, and modernization of social insurance, working to increase public understanding of how it contributes to economic security.

Position Overview

The Academy seeks an organized, collaborative, and public policy savvy Events Manager to lead its external events and policy convenings.

The Events Manager will be responsible for producing a growing portfolio of virtual and in-person programming, including policy summits, congressional briefings, research symposia, private salons, expert roundtables, public webinars, and the Academy’s annual fundraising gala. Working closely with Academy leadership and staff, the Manager will execute on convenings and develop recommendations for strategy, format, and substance that advance the Academy’s mission.

The candidate will be responsible for managing approved event budgets, selecting vendors, and cultivating stakeholder relationships. The ideal candidate combines strong event-production and project-management skills with the ability to develop substantive public policy programming and engage policy experts, government officials, funders, and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

Event Strategy and Infrastructure

• Work with Academy leadership to shape the external events strategy, recommending priorities and opportunities for summits, briefings, symposia, roundtables, webinars, and stakeholder convenings that advance the Academy’s policy and organizational goals.
• Develop proposed event goals, formats, substantive agendas, speakers, and target audiences in collaboration with program staff, fellows, and partners, with direction and approval from Academy leadership.
• Build and improve the processes and infrastructure that support the Academy’s growing events portfolio, including planning tools, timelines, templates, and systems for coordinating across teams.
• Evaluate participation, feedback, and outcomes and recommend improvements to future programming and event strategy.

Event Planning and Production

• Lead events from concept through follow-up within leadership-approved goals and budgets, exercising independent judgment in planning, resolving challenges, and balancing programmatic priorities, resources, and participant needs.
• Lead planning for the Academy’s annual Robert M. Ball Award gala and support other signature events, such as the annual Policy Summit.
• Develop proposed event budgets for approval and manage spending within approved budgets, including making decisions about resource allocation and recommending adjustments as needed.
• Evaluate and select venues and vendors within approved budgets and organizational policies, build effective working relationships, and oversee their work.
• Manage event logistics, including timelines, registration, accessibility, travel, and audiovisual needs.
• Develop agendas, briefing materials, and run‑of‑show documents.
• Ensure that events are substantive, accessible, and aligned with the Academy’s mission.

Speaker, Partner, and Audience Engagement

• Serve as the primary point of contact for speakers, moderators, and event partners, developing speaker communications and coordinating preparation and participation.
• Work with Academy leadership and program staff to identify and prioritize relationships with policy experts, government officials, researchers, advocates, funders, and partner organizations, recommending engagement strategies that support programming and longer‑term partnerships.
• Collaborate with communications staff on invitations, promotional materials, registration pages, and post‑event communications.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience planning and producing public policy events, including shaping agendas and programming.
• Experience supporting event‑related fundraising and development, including sponsorships, donor engagement, or fundraising galas.
• Strong project‑management skills, with experience managing event budgets, vendors, timelines, and competing priorities.
• Familiarity with the public policy environment and comfort working with speakers, senior leaders, and external partners.
• Clear communication, sound judgment, attention to detail, and reliable follow‑through.
• Ability to take initiative and collaborate in a small, fast‑moving team, bringing a sense of humor and a commitment to the Academy’s mission.
• Availability for evening events and work‑related travel.

Experience in a think tank, nonprofit organization, government office, membership association, or research institution is preferred, as is knowledge of social insurance, economic security, health, disability, aging, and/or labor policy.

Compensation and Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $70,000–$80,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Academy offers a competitive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement benefits, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.