Communications & Events Coordinator

About Middle East Institute

Founded in 1946, the Middle East Institute is the oldest Washington-based institution dedicated solely to the study of the Middle East. It is a non-partisan think tank providing expert policy analysis, educational and professional development services, and a hub for engaging with the region's arts and culture.

About the role

The Middle East Institute is seeking a Communications and Events Coordinator with 1-2 years of experience in event planning and outreach and/or communications. The ideal candidate will be creative, organized, a team player, and able to work effectively under tight deadlines.

The Communications and Events Coordinator will report to the Senior Director of Communications and Events. This role will support MEI’s event and communications initiatives by collaborating with a small team to plan, promote, and execute conferences, panel discussions, private briefings, Zoom webinars, fundraising dinners, MEI’s annual gala and other special events as requested by department heads and the leadership team.

In addition, the successful candidate will create digital content for MEI’s social media platforms and website, design invitations and manage distribution in Salesforce, and assist in executing the Institute’s communications strategies. The Coordinator must be flexible with a growth-mindset and can-do attitude, and be willing to bring creativity and initiative to this small, fast-moving team. The Coordinator will contribute to advancing MEI’s mission of promoting knowledge and understanding of the Middle East.

The Events Coordinator must be a highly organized, motivated, and passionate individual who brings the following skills and qualifications:

What you'll do

• Collaborate with MEI’s Events team to coordinate weekly Zoom, hybrid, and in-person events, including managing speaker communication, logistics, travel coordination, invitation lists, and producing event materials. 
• Work closely with department heads and MEI leadership to plan and oversee all event preparations.
• Develop event marketing materials aligned with MEI branding to effectively drive event registration including writing, editing and design.
• Produce regular metrics reports for the department head. 
• Track and manage event budgets and expenditures. 
• Maintain an up-to-date database of institutional contacts. 
• Set up conference rooms for live and hybrid events, including ordering food and managing event-related logistics.
• Create and manage engaging content across all social media platforms. 
• Identify compelling stories from content produced by MEI’s policy experts.
• Oversee the hiring, training, and management of two interns per trimester. 
• Serve as the point of contact for all internal meeting room reservations and setup (e.g., catering, AV, room configuration). 
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in event planning or digital communications.
• Excellent organizational, communication, negotiation, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure while maintaining a customer-support mindset.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and troubleshooting skills in event management.
• Flexibility to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Strong writing and editing abilities.
• Familiarity with Middle East policy issues.
• Willingness to learn backend website management.
• Ability to simplify complex issues and convey them through digital platforms.
• Passion for storytelling and an eye for news.
• Experience in graphic design and photo/video editing skills (e.g., Canva and Adobe Creative Suite).
• Experience with data management.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, international relations, or a related field.