Meetings & Events Manager

National-Association-of-Convenience-Stores; Alexandria (VA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-Office Position w/ WFA Days

Metro Accessible – 2 blocks from King 

Job summary

National Association of Convenience Stores in Alexandria, VA is seeking a Meetings & Events Manager to lead planning and execution of key association events. The role requires strong organizational skills, budget management, and a proactive, service-oriented mindset to deliver exceptional attendee experiences.

The position is onsite at NACS Headquarters with opportunities to manage international events and large-scale tradeshows, and to collaborate across departments to ensure events meet

Qualifications

• 5+ years of meeting planning experience.
• Hospitality and event management background a plus.
• Association experience preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-function collaboration skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to drive projects from inception through completion with minimal oversight.
• Understanding of budgeting and accounting processes.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency with MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates and implements all aspects of assigned meetings, events and conferences throughout their life cycle.
• Negotiates venues, vendors and services for NACS events.
• Organizes event details and communicates with stakeholders.
• Provides onsite support for meetings and events, domestic and international.
• Manages full registration process for meetings (build, reporting, invoicing, registration, VIPs).
• Leads cross-functional project teams to ensure seamless execution.
• Develops and manages budgets for meetings and events.
• Coordinates equipment, design, printing, shipping and logistics for events.
• Manages multiple vendors and coordinate timelines and deliverables.

Skills

Meeting planning

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Verbal communication

Written communication

Budgeting

Time management

Tools

MS Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Cvent

Social Tables

Map Your Show

HubSpot

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Meetings & Events Manager

Full Time Alexandria, VA, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1046

About Us

The leading global trade association dedicated to advancing convenience and fuel retailing, NACS advances the role of convenience stores as positive economic, social and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve and is a trusted adviser to retailer and supplier members from more than 50 countries. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 152,000 stores nationwide selling fuel, food and merchandise, conducts 160 million transactions daily and had sales of $818 billion in 2025. A member-driven organization, NACS has 80-plus employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $60 million.

NACS supports the industry through its media platforms, advocacy efforts, research, events, products & services, and industry initiatives, helping members stay informed and connected. NACS Media is the voice that connects the convenience and fuel retailing industry through various channels, including its award-winning monthly publication NACS Magazine, NACS Daily e-newsletter and other modern media such as its weekly Convenience Matters podcast and Convenience Corner blog. This is where ideas are shared, products are launched, and consumer needs are solved.

NACS also is a hub for cutting-edge research, insightful analysis, innovative educational opportunities and key industry initiatives that aim to advance the future of convenience and fuel retailing, including the NACS Show, one of the largest annual tradeshows in the country; more than a dozen targeted and regional events; 5 executive education programs at ivy-league universities and extensive advocacy to both elected leaders and the general public. Here is more about what it’s like to work at NACS.

Position Overview

NACS is seeking a highly organized, motivated, team-oriented and customer service focused meetings and events professional to join our meetings team. As meetings and events manager, you will play a leading role in managing key events for the organization. This role requires excellent event-planning skills along with the ability to define project milestones and deadlines and manage both internal and external teams efficiently to meet organizational goals and expectations.

The ideal candidate for this position is passionate about meetings and events, driven, and naturally curious. They will be detail-oriented, eager to learn, and skilled at problem-solving. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, flexibility, and a proactive, can-do attitude are essential for success in this role. The role is located onsite at NACS Headquarters in Alexandria, VA.

The Meetings and Events Manager oversees the logistical planning and preparation of NACS meetings and events as directed, including:

• Plans, coordinates and implements all aspects of assigned meetings, special events, and conferences throughout their entire life cycle
• Negotiates and contracts various venues, vendors and services as they relate to NACS events
• Organizes all event details both internal and external and communicates to all stakeholders
• Delivers outstanding customer service, both external and internal
• Communicates with NACS most engaged members and VIPs regarding attending events, responding to member inquiries and fulfilling requests
• Provides onsite support for meetings and events both domestic and international
• Executes assigned NACS Meetings on or under budget
• Other duties as assigned

Scope of Responsibilities:

As a key member of the Meetings team, crucial responsibilities include:

• Serve as a lead planner for approximately 5 NACS events annually, which may include international events and range from small intimate dinners to large-scale tradeshows. These currently include Leadership Forum, International Convenience Summits (1-2), government relations fly-ins, committee and board meetings in addition to support for the annual NACS Show.
• Manage venue selection to include destination/venue research, site selection and contract negotiations for assigned events.
• Coordinate all meeting logistics for assigned events, including timelines, hotel and travel arrangements, registration, customer service, event confirmations, creative event design, graphic designs, AV requirements, transportation, staffing plans, badge/tent card production, shipping (domestic and international), etc.
• Manage the full registration process for assigned NACS meetings. This includes managing and/or supporting registration build, reporting, invoicing, inventory management, VIP registrations, badging, etc.
• Lead cross functional project teams to ensure seamless execution of each assigned meeting or event.
• Work independently and collaboratively across functions based on project needs.
• Develop and manage budgets for assigned meetings and events with ability to meet or exceed budget for each assigned meeting or conference
• Manage equipment orders, supply orders, graphic and print orders and shipping procedures for meetings
• Manage multiple vendors per event to include facilities and venues, general contractor, stage production company and destination management company.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects and deliver in a timely and organized manner.
• Manage post-event activities, including invoice reconciliation, final budget reports and post-event data reporting and survey distribution.
• NACS Show: primary responsibilities may include Executive Committee/VIP transportation, Supplier Board Dinner and Hunter Club Lounge staffing. Other responsibilities as needed.
• Apply creative thinking to event experience design, including décor, entertainment, attendee amenities, logistical flow, room setups, incorporating emerging industry trends and expanding on attendee networking opportunities.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of food and beverage and intimate knowledge working with BEOs.
• Provides pre-event and onsite support at other NACS meetings as needed
• Perform additional job-related responsibilities, as assigned, demonstrating flexibility and expertise.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 5+ years of meeting planning experience. Hospitality and event management background a plus. Association experience preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-function collaboration skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to drive projects from inception through completion with minimal oversight
• Understanding of budgeting and accounting processes
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent computer skills including MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook (familiarity with Cvent Social Tables, Map Your Show, and HubSpot are a plus)
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and provide excellent service under pressure
• General understanding of an expo is a plus
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) and/or Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications are a plus

NACS Culture

We hugely value, invest in and are devoted to the constructive culture that we’ve built and work on every day at NACS. Almost everything we do requires broad, multi-department collaboration to ideate and execute creative initiatives that deliver compelling value to our members and our industry. What that requires is a relatively flat organizational structure that empowers teammates at different levels from all departments to constructively engage and support each other. Titles really don’t matter in such an organization. What matters is a culture of constructive behaviors that relishes divergent perspectives to craft well thought-out initiatives and then come together to execute them. NACS Values:

• Do the right thing
• Focus long term
• In their terms
• Be fiscally responsible
• Strive for excellence

The NACS Culture is highly collaborative, and we are better when we are together. NACS is a culture that believes in working together from the office.

• In-Office Position w/ Work From Anywhere (WFA) Days
• Metro Accessible – 2 blocks from King Street metro

NACS is an Equal Opportunity Employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on any basis. All applicants will be considered for all positions based on qualifications and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, and any other legally protected status.

Salary Range:$85,000 to $100,000 annually. Actual compensation will be based on several factors, including but not limited to relevant experience, education, skills, and other qualifications.

As the leading global trade association for convenience and fuel retailers, NACS advances the role of convenience stores as positive economic, social and philanthropic contributors to the communities they serve and is a trusted adviser to its retailer and supplier members from more than 50 countries. The U.S. convenience store industry, with more than 152,000 stores, conducts more than 160 million transactions daily and had sales of $860 billion in 2023. For more information, visit convenience.org . Follow NACS on LinkedIn , Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .