National Director, Special Events & Strategic Initiatives

ABOUT THE ROLE

The National Director of Special Events & Strategic Initiatives is a high-level role responsible for aligning strategic events with institutional visibility for long-term organizational growth. The role works closely with leadership, vendors, and stakeholders in the planning, and execution of high-impact events and cross-functional initiatives that advance After-School All-Stars’ mission, strengthen donor and stakeholder engagement, and elevate organizational visibility. This role partners closely with executive leadership, development, marketing, and operations teams to deliver exceptional event experiences, manage key relationships, ensure seamless coordination of logistics, budgets, and follow-through across national events, internal convenings, and strategic projects.

SCOPE OF ROLE

Event Strategy & Execution

• Direct the strategy, planning, and execution of large-scale, high-visibility events and convenings that advance organizational priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and elevate brand presence.
• Provide leadership for a portfolio of key national events and experiences, including fundraising events, donor engagement activities, leadership convenings, staff gatherings, such as Charity Night, All-Star Reception, Strategy Week, and others.
• Partner with executive leadership and cross-functional teams to define event goals, align priorities, ensure program design, messaging, logistics, and execution support broader organizational objectives.
• Oversee end-to-end event delivery, including timelines, vendor management, production logistics, on-site execution, and post-event follow-through, with accountability for quality, consistency, and stakeholder experience.
• Lead the development of innovative, cost-conscious event solutions that balance operational excellence with a high-touch experience for donors, sponsors, partners, and participants.
• Shape dynamic programming and participant experiences by collaborating with internal teams, speakers, and external partners to curate agendas and content that reflect strategic intent and audience needs.
• Ensure post-event reporting, stewardship activities, acknowledgments, and fulfillment of commitments are executed effectively and inform continuous improvement across future events and initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement & Donor Experience

• Serve as point of contact for donors, sponsors, VIP stakeholders, and strategic partners, ensuring a polished, personalized, and mission-aligned engagement experience.
• Partner closely with Development to support fundraising strategy through sponsorship activation, donor engagement, auction execution, and stewardship efforts tied to key events and initiatives such as private fundraisers, Champions Society activations and other events.
• Collaborate with Development, Marketing, and other internal stakeholders to align outreach, communications, and campaign execution, ensuring a cohesive external narrative and strong stakeholder experience.
• Handle any special mailings to drive engagement and external stakeholder support.

Event & Initiative Operations Management

• Oversee budget planning, expense tracking, and financial coordination across events and related operational activities, ensuring sound stewardship of resources and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen operational efficiency, streamline planning workflows, and enhance execution across events, meetings, and special initiatives.
• Partner with executive leadership to advance strategic initiatives, support organizational priorities, and coordinate deliverables that require cross-functional planning and follow-through.
• Provide leadership and execution support on special projects and emerging organizational needs, exercising sound judgment, adaptability, and a high level of accountability.
• Develop best practices for national events and initiatives 

National Initiatives Enhancement

• Partner with Vice President of Human Resources and Chief of Staff on internal team morale initiatives like Values Week, all-hands meetings, luncheons and celebrations
• Serve as a thought partner to deploy strategies to strengthen inter-departmental collaboration
• Identify cost-savings opportunities through community partnerships, local events and opportunities. 

SKILLS

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, high-visibility events and strategic initiatives from concept through execution, with strong ownership of outcomes, timelines, and stakeholder experience.
• Strong, proactive, strategic planning and project leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining high standards of quality, accuracy, and follow-through.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders, donors, sponsors, VIPs, and external partners with professionalism and discretion.
• Proven ability to build trust and influence across functions, align diverse stakeholders around shared goals, and drive execution in collaborative, fast-paced environments.
• Strong business and operational acumen, including experience with budget oversight, vendor management, logistics coordination, and process improvement.
• Ability to design and deliver polished, high-touch stakeholder experiences that reflect organizational values and support fundraising, stewardship, and brand objectives.
• Sound judgment, strong decision-making skills, and the ability to navigate ambiguity, solve complex problems, and respond effectively to evolving organizational needs.
• Executive presence and strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare materials, manage messaging, and represent the organization effectively with internal and external audiences.
• Adept at working independently and leading through influence, while also partnering effectively with remote colleagues and staff at all levels of the organization.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion, with a strong commitment to advancing the organization’s mission and stewarding relationships responsibly.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and comfort using standard tools to support planning, presentations, communication, and reporting.
• Availability and flexibility to support events, senior stakeholders, and donor needs, including travel and work outside of standard business hours as required.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business administration, event management, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in event strategy, event management, development operations, or related leadership roles, including ownership of large-scale, high-visibility events and initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with senior leaders, donors, sponsors, and cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects, manage stakeholder relationships, and advance organizational priorities.
• Experience in nonprofit organizations or mission-driven environments strongly preferred, particularly in roles involving fundraising events, donor engagement, and stewardship.
• Experience with budget oversight, vendor management, logistics, and process improvement required; experience supporting national or multi-site operations preferred.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary for this position is commensurate with qualifications and experience of the individual candidate with a range of $115-$130K depending on experience and geographic location. 

ASAS promotes a healthy work/life blend and offers a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 403b match, paid time off, and 24 paid holidays.