Senior Director of Conferences, Events and Meetings

ABOUT NIC 

The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), a 501(c)(3) organization, works to enable access and choice by providing data, analytics, and connections that bring together investors and providers. NIC delivers the most trusted, objective, and timely insights and implications derived from its analytics, which benefit from NIC’s affiliation with NIC MAP Vision, the leading provider of comprehensive market data for senior housing and skilled nursing properties. NIC events, which include the industry’s premier conferences, provide sector stakeholders, which includes C-Suite operators and capital providers, with opportunities to convene, network, and drive thought-leadership through high-quality educational programming and with an extraordinary attendee experience.

GENERAL SUMMARY 

In this role, you will lead the development and execution of the “gold standard” of events for the industry in a fast-paced environment requiring you to prioritize multiple tasks simultaneously. NIC presents conferences for C-Suite operators and capital providers in the industry to promote networking, exchanging of ideas, and professional education. NIC conferences are the premier conferences for the industry offering an extraordinary attendee experience. 

You will be responsible for the financial and operational success of conferences and professional events while being creative and inspiring timely, relevant programming attractive to C-suite officers of capital providers and operators. With your outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with others, you will lead and manage the teams for planning, budgeting, programming, registration, logistics, vendor contracts, partnerships, and sponsorships for each conference or event. You will work with NIC’s network of volunteer leaders, using your excellent written and verbal communication skills, to effectively utilize their time and skills, develop and refine their programming ideas and insights, and promote networking and connections. You will report to the President and CEO and be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. You will demonstrate the NIC Values of Being a Spark, Investing in Ourselves, Partnering with Others and Taking Pride in Our Work.

LOCATION: The position is located at the NIC Offices in Annapolis MD but can be hybrid within a two-hour driving or train commute of the office.

Please note that we will not accept resumes after April 24, 2024. 

IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:

• Develop an annual plan for conference and program planning and execution with performance metrics and goals.
• Serve as project manager for conferences, meetings, and events including creating and managing timelines for conducting planning meetings with Conference Program Committees to facilitate timely development of marketing and promotion materials to maximize attendance.
• Working with the program curator and head of communications and marketing, organize and attend meetings of Conference Program Committees to develop engaging programming for conference themes and sessions that attract industry leaders as presenters and drive attendance.
• Collaborate with head of communications and marketing, marketing copywriter, and other marketing personnel to develop compelling marketing and promotions materials for conferences and review the marketing and promotions plan
• Manage programming, logistics, and development staff.
• Oversee development staff for partnerships and sponsorships, develop new sponsorship opportunities, and grow sponsorship revenue.
• Lead multiple conference planning and execution simultaneously for Fall, Spring, and Data & Analytics Conferences and other professional events.
• Manage finances for conferences and meetings including creating budgets and financial reports; reconciling registration, partnership, and sponsorship revenue; and reconciling and processing all expenses.
• Oversee selection of meeting venues including RFP process. 
• Thoroughly review and approve event and function orders with venues and vendors.
• Conduct in-person and virtual site visits/inspections as needed.
• Oversee and manage RFPs, selection, and contract negotiations for major vendors including destination management contractors, audio visual, catering, mobile apps, printers, shipping, and other vendors as required.
• Create and administer attendee surveys for conferences and sessions with statistically significant response rates.
• Create post-event meeting reports to include details regarding registration, financials, attendee surveys, sales and mobile app statistics.
• Prepare, track, and meet department budgets throughout the year.
• Review and update standard operating procedures as needed.
• Provide timely, outstanding customer service including responding in a timely manner to inquiries by sponsors, volunteers, and attendees.
• Prepare and maintain a competitive assessment for other industry conferences.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Commitment to NIC’s mission, values, and vision
• Five years of profit and loss accountability for conferences and events.
• Demonstrated planning and project management skills, including the use of project management software.
• Demonstrated group facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated managerial effectiveness working with employees including hiring, onboarding, and performance management.
• Track record of developing strong relationships with C-suite.
• Superb listening skills and ability to translate C-suite volunteer ideas into conference session design and content.
• Demonstrated capability in raising funds for sponsorships.
• Demonstrated strength in decision-making and problem solving.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Salesforce or other CRM applications.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• At least 2 years’ experience working with C-suite volunteers. 
• Demonstrated commitment to serving older adults and communities.
• Experience in the senior housing and care industry.
• Experience in creating and administering electronic surveys.
• Demonstrated experience networking with LinkedIn.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS 

• Less than 30 days per year

SALARY RANGE

Compensation will be competitive and reflect the qualifications, skills, and experience of the applicant. The range for base pay will be $175,000 to $225,000.

WHY NIC?   

If you’ve reached this section of the job description and are unsure of whether to apply, please do! At NIC, we welcome diversity of background and experience. We would encourage you to apply if this is a role you would be passionate about doing every day. 

When you join NIC, you’ll experience a collaborative and innovative culture working alongside talented team members who live our make Grandma Proud values to support access and choice for older adults. 

Consistent with our belief that our employees are our most valuable resource, NIC offers you generous compensation and performance-based incentives. Eligible to participate in discretionary bonus pool. NIC also invests in your professional and academic growth with internal training and tuition reimbursement. Our benefits package includes (but is not limited to):  

 Comprehensive healthcare coverage: Medical / Vision / Dental / Prescription Drug insurance; dependents and domestic partners eligible 

• Life and supplementary insurance  
• Employee Assistance plan including virtual and in person mental health counseling services for individuals and family   
• 401(K) retirement plan with company contributions  
• Annual, personal and floating holidays, in addition to paid holidays 
• Professional development opportunities
• Paid parental leave

At NIC, we believe that to fulfill our mission to provide access and choice to America’s older adults we need team members who bring a diversity of perspectives to the table and are committed to fostering a workplace where each team member is valued, respected, and heard. 

As such, NIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we make employment decisions on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. We don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. 

NIC is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, NIC will take steps to ensure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@nic.org.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Work is generally remote but when working in the NIC office environment there may be exposure to moderate noise levels. Work involves operation of personal computer equipment for six to eight hours daily or prolonged periods of time and includes physical demands associated with a traditional office setting, e.g., walking, standing, communicating, and other physical functions as necessary. Physical requirements of this position include the following:

• Lifting up to 25 lbs.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate