Director of Events

Director of Events

Columbia Books & Information Services Arlington, VA

The Director of Events leads the planning, execution, and business performance of the company's B2B events portfolio across CEO Update, Association TRENDS, Nonprofit PRO & Thompson Grants. This role owns event budgets, planning processes, vendor coordination, onsite logistics and the end-to-end attendee, sponsor, and speaker experience.

Success in this role means not just delivering strong logistics with a focus on attendee experience, but also driving timelines, managing budgets, improving processes, and serving as the central operator for the full events function. In a small, growing company, this role is both strategic and hands-on.

This is a hybrid role in the office in Rosslyn, VA, Tuesdays and Thursdays, plus onsite event work, which does require some evenings. Some travel is required 2-3 times per year, with most events taking place in the Washington, DC area.

Event Portfolio Mix:

• Small single or half-day member events – (10 – 100 ppl) Executive breakfasts, dinners, lunches (10-12x per year in DC/Chicago) – Reservations, menu coordination, attendee communications, post-close sponsor communication.
• Annual Awards Luncheon – (700 people) – Venue selection and coordination, onsite, post-close sponsor coordination, honoree communication and coordination, AV management
• Mid-sized multi-day events (200 – 300 ppl) – 5x per year – Venue selection and coordination, onsite logistics, post-close sponsor coordination, AV management, vendor management for travel logistics and special programs.
• Virtual events – Typically 1- to 3-hour virtual events, webinars and workshops on Zoom. Scheduling Zoom calls, distributing dial-in instructions, speaker management on call.

Key responsibilities:

• Own the execution and performance of the full events portfolio, from initial planning through post-event review, with accountability for deadlines, quality, and business outcomes.
• Build and manage event budgets, track revenue and expenses, maintain financial controls, and flag risks or adjustments early.
• Lead cross-functional planning with marketing, sales, editorial, and leadership so that event goals, promotions, sponsorship deliverables, content, and operations stay aligned.
• Partner closely with the Events Marketing Coordinator on registration goals, campaign timelines, audience development, and communications.
• Oversee the attendee, sponsor, and speaker experience end-to-end, ensuring events feel polished, useful, and aligned with a senior B2B audience.
• Create repeatable workflows, planning calendars, templates, and post-event review processes
• Deliver post-event reporting on revenue, budget performance, attendance, sponsor execution, and operational lessons learned, with recommendations for improvement.

Qualifications:

• Strong track record of successfully executing B2B events with high attention to detail and follow-through.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, vendors, and stakeholders at once.
• Growing capability in budget management and financial decision-making for events.
• Ability to lead meetings, drive accountability, and keep cross-functional teams on schedule.
• Good judgment under pressure and a proactive approach to solving problems before they escalate.
• Strong understanding of what senior-level B2B audiences, sponsors, and speakers need from an event experience.

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