Director, Events & Engagement

Job description

Position Overview

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington brings people, resources, and ideas together to strengthen Jewish life across our region. Events are one of the primary ways we build relationships, inspire philanthropy, engage leaders, and connect our community to our mission.

The Director, Events and Engagement leads Federation’s Events function, overseeing strategy, planning, and execution of Federation's event portfolio with a primary focus on signature community gatherings, donor experiences, leadership events, and major organizational initiatives. Working closely with Executive Leadership and colleagues across the organization, this role creates meaningful experiences that strengthen relationships, advance fundraising and engagement goals, and reflect Federation’s mission, values, and brand.

This is an opportunity for an experienced event leader who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with hands-on execution. You'll personally lead our most complex events while building the systems, standards, and team that elevate event planning across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the strategy, planning, and execution of Federation's signature events, donor experiences, leadership gatherings, and other priority events

Personally lead the organization's highest-profile and most complex events from concept through execution

Develop event concepts, program content, speaker preparation, and participant experiences that advance fundraising, engagement, and organizational priorities

Partner with Executive Leadership, speakers, lay leaders, and subject matter experts to develop compelling programs and meaningful participant experiences

Continuously improve Federation's events by evaluating outcomes, incorporating feedback, and strengthening participant experiences, planning practices, and organizational effectiveness

Coordinate annual event planning to maximize collaboration, organizational capacity, and consistency

Advance Event Excellence Across Federation

Advise Executive Leadership on event strategy, program design, audience engagement, and experience decisions for priority events

Serve as Federation's lead advisor on event planning and experience design, establishing standards, tools, and best practices that strengthen event planning across the organization

Partner with Executive Leadership, Financial Resource Development, Communications, and program teams to align events with fundraising, stewardship, leadership, and community engagement goals

Partner with and advise departments across Federation to develop successful events aligned with strategic priorities

Facilitate cross-functional planning and ensure clarity around priorities, timelines, roles, and responsibilities

Build trusted relationships with lay leaders, volunteers, vendors, and community partners

Lead & Develop the Team

Supervise, coach, and develop the Events team

Foster a collaborative culture focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement

Build systems, processes, and team capability that strengthen the Events function and create opportunities for others to grow

Success Looks Like

Federation's events consistently strengthen relationships, advance organizational goals, and reflect Federation's mission, values, and brand

Executive Leadership, lay leaders, and partners have confidence in the planning process and event execution

Departments across Federation have access to clear guidance, strong partnership, and a consistent approach to planning successful events

The Events team operates collaboratively, proactively, and with clear roles, enabling exceptional execution across the organization

Federation's event planning continues to evolve through stronger systems, higher standards, and a culture of continuous improvement

Qualifications

7+ years of experience leading complex events, organizational experiences, or engagement initiatives

Demonstrated success planning and executing large-scale, high-profile events

Exceptional leadership, project management, organizational, and operational planning skills

Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities

Experience leading teams and collaborating across multiple stakeholders

Demonstrated sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to lead effectively in fast-paced, high-pressure environments

Experience developing operational processes, planning systems, or organizational workflows that improve execution and collaboration

Experience in nonprofit, fundraising, higher education, healthcare, or another mission-driven organization preferred

Familiarity with Jewish customs, traditions, and community life, or a willingness to learn, is preferred

The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington brings people together, mobilizes resources, and drives impact to strengthen Jewish life across Greater Washington and beyond.

We serve as a strategic leader, convener, and catalyst, working across organizations, leaders, and communities to identify priorities, align efforts, and respond to evolving needs. By connecting people, resources, and ideas, we help drive coordinated action and build a vibrant Jewish future. Learn more at shalomdc.org.

How We Work

Across roles, our work is grounded in:

Clear priorities and shared goals

Accountability for outcomes, not just activity

Collaboration across teams and stakeholders

Consistent, aligned execution

A focus on impact and community need

How We Support You

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plan with employer contribution

Generous paid time off, including Jewish holidays

Up to 6 weeks of paid parental leave (after one year)

Commuter bonus

Hybrid work environment

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Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.