Director of Conferences and Events

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) is a full-service professional membership organization that empowers all Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to advance accessible, person-centered, equitable, high-quality health care for diverse communities through practice, education, advocacy, research, and leadership. AANP takes pride in serving the NP community and our team members work together to move the association forward.

We are looking for talented individuals to join our team. In addition to competitive benefits, AANP offers team members a creative work environment with the opportunity for personal growth and success.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants for this role must submit a cover letter and upload their resume with the online employment application.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Conferences and Events leads the strategic planning, logistical execution, and financial performance of the organization's conference and meetings portfolio, including a national conference, a health policy conference, and two smaller virtual meetings held annually. Operating within an outsourced event management model, the Director serves as the primary internal owner of the conference program, providing strategic direction and quality oversight of the contracted Professional Conference Organizer (PCO) and other third-party vendors, while ensuring all programming meets continuing education (CE) accreditation standards. This role manages the Conference and Events team and partners closely with the VP of Accreditation, Conference, and Education (ACE) on budget, sponsorship and exhibit strategy, attendee experience, and long-range planning for the organization's live and virtual events.

WHERE YOU WILL WORK

This position can be remote, hybrid, or in office. Our office locations are Austin, Texas National Headquarters and Washington D.C. Government Affairs (Arlington, Virginia).

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

You are expected to perform the following essential responsibilities of the position with reasonable accommodation. The position may include other responsibilities as assigned.

• Serves as the organization's primary strategic and operational lead for all conferences and meetings, including a large national conference, the health policy conference, and two virtual meetings.
• Directs and evaluates the performance of the outsourced PCO and other third-party vendors (venue, AV, housing, registration, mobile app, etc.), ensuring deliverables, timelines, and budgets are met.
• Serves as the primary liaison between the organization, the PCO, and vendor partners, holding all parties accountable to contractual scope and service-level expectations.
• Owns the conference and meetings budget in partnership with the VP, including forecasting, expense tracking, reconciliation, and variance reporting.
• Ensures all conference programming and materials comply with applicable CE accreditation standards and requirements, coordinating closely with the accreditation function.
• Leads site selection support, contract review, and risk management activities for all live events, in coordination with the PCO and legal/finance stakeholders.
• Directs sponsorship and exhibitor program strategy and vendor relationship management for assigned events, in coordination with organizational sponsorship goals.
• Oversees onsite event management and staffing for live conferences, including serving as the organization's senior onsite representative.
• Manages, coaches, and develops the Conference and Events team , setting priorities, conducting performance reviews, and supporting professional growth.
• Partners with the Education team to ensure conference programming aligns with curriculum, faculty, and learning objective standards.
• Analyzes post-event data (attendance, satisfaction, financial performance) and presents findings and recommendations to the VP and senior leadership.
• Develops and maintains event timelines, risk mitigation plans, and contingency procedures for all conferences and meetings.
• Represents the department on cross-functional organizational committees and projects related to conferences and member events.
• Effectively represents AANP as requested by the Vice President of Accreditation, Conference, and Education by participating on varied panels and collaborations, actively engaging others, and developing/maintaining effective partnerships.
• Responds to email and telephone inquiries from the public and AANP members regarding nurse practitioners.
• Assists with special projects related to strategic planning, technology evaluation, or industry benchmarking.
• Supports ad hoc organizational events or member engagement activities outside the core conference portfolio, as assigned.
• Participates in professional association activities related to meetings and conference management (e.g., PCMA).
• Staffs the AANP National Conference.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, meeting and convention planning, event management, business administration, communications, or a related field.

Experience

Required:

• Seven or more years of progressive experience in conference, meeting, or event management, including experience managing large-scale conferences (1,000+ attendees).
• Five or more years of progressive leadership/management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing outsourced event management partners (PCOs) or third-party vendor relationships.

Preferred:

• Experience working within a professional membership association or nonprofit environment strongly preferred.
• Experience with continuing education accreditation requirements as they apply to conference programming preferred.
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Required:

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, simultaneous, high-visibility projects under tight deadlines.
• Working knowledge of CE accreditation standards and how they apply to conference content, faculty disclosure, and program evaluation.
• Strong knowledge of contract negotiation practices for venues, hotels, and event service providers.
• Demonstrated skills in budget development and management, financial analysis, and cost/benefit evaluation for large-scale events.
• Skill in managing, developing, and motivating staff, including remote or hybrid team members.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound, independent judgment in ambiguous or high-pressure situations.
• Excellent technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate situations, identify problems, propose practical solutions, make quick decisions, and resolve conflicts.
• Proficiency with event management platforms, registration systems, and virtual/hybrid meeting technology.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership or volunteer boards.
• Demonstrated ability to perform all communications in a courteous and professional manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated team player.
• Ability to build consensus and influence outcomes without direct authority over external partners.
• Self-directed with advanced time management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrate excellent administrative skills and business acumen.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to perform tasks with high level of accuracy.
• Intermediate-level skills with MS Office 365 Suite software.
• Strong adaptability and flexibility skills.

Other

• Must be able to travel and work extended/irregular hours as needed for onsite event execution (approximately 5% per year).

COMPENSATION

AANP offers attractive compensation. The expected rate of pay for this position is $120,000 - $150,00 annualized, depending on experience.

BENEFITS

AANP offers a variety of benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Multiple health plan options for Medical , Dental , and Vision insurance benefits
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance provided by AANP at no cost to you
• Voluntary Life and AD&D optional coverage for you and your family
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare or Dependent Care) or a Health Savings Account (HSA), depending on medical benefit election
• Disability Benefits provided by AANP at no cost to you
• Accident and Critical Illness optional coverage for you and your family
• 401(k) and Roth retirement plan options with up to 6% employer matching and immediate vesting
• Generous Paid Vacation that accrues each pay period; unused vacation may be carried over into the next year if below maximum limits
• 12 Paid Sick Days annually for you or to care for a family member; unused sick days may be carried over into the next year
• 14 Paid Holidays annually, available immediately
• Educational Reimbursement Program available after 6 months of employment
• Professional Development opportunities
• This position can be remote, hybrid, or in office .

AANP is a great place to work with a mission that supports NPs everywhere!

AANP is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in locations where we operate. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

AANP will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability. If you require reasonable accommodation because of a disability in completing any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources at View phone number on us.fitly.work to help us understand the nature of your request and provide your contact information.