Director of Events

Join a mission that serves those still serving. More than 45,000 nonprofits support America's veterans, but few focus on the unique needs of active-duty Special Operations Forces (SOF) and their families while they are still in the fight. Although SOF represent just 3% of the U.S. Armed Forces, they have borne a disproportionate share of the burden throughout the longest conflict in American history. Founded in 2015, Big Sky Bravery exists to support these extraordinary men, women, and families through world-class, all-expense-paid programs in Montana that provide opportunities to decompress, reconnect, and restore. Through our Task Force experiences and lifelong alumni programs, we are committed to strengthening those who continue to serve our nation. Every member of our team plays a direct role in making that mission possible. If you're looking for work that is meaningful, purpose-driven, and has a tangible impact on the lives of America's active-duty Special Operations community, we'd love to hear from you.

Position Summary

The Director of Events is responsible for the strategic leadership, planning, execution, and growth of Big Sky Bravery's full portfolio of fundraising events. This individual will oversee all event operations while ensuring every experience reflects the professionalism, hospitality, mission impact, and excellence that define the organization. The ideal candidate is both a visionary leader and a hands-on executor - someone capable of leading large-scale fundraising events while also managing the countless details required to deliver exceptional donor, recipient, volunteer, and guest experiences. This role requires strong leadership, organizational, and relationship-management skills, along with the ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. The Director of Events will collaborate closely with executive leadership, development, marketing, programs, operations, and community partners to ensure events are strategically aligned with organizational goals and revenue objectives.

Role Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of Big Sky Bravery's premier fundraising and donor engagement events including:
  • Tribute Dinner
  • Fight Night
  • Freedom Cup
  • Additional mission-focused events throughout the year
• Develop and manage comprehensive event timelines, production schedules, operational plans, staffing plans, guest experiences, and detailed run-of-show documents to ensure flawless execution from planning through post-event follow-up
• Oversee all event logistics including venue selection, vendor negotiations, catering, rentals, entertainment, transportation, lodging, audiovisual production, décor, signage, registration, and onsite operations
• Ensure every event reflects the professionalism, hospitality, excellence, and mission-driven identity of Big Sky Bravery while delivering a world-class experience for donors, recipients, volunteers, and guests
• Manage onsite event operations including setup, execution, volunteer coordination, troubleshooting, guest flow, VIP management, and breakdown while maintaining calm, solutions-oriented leadership under pressure
• Serve as a steward of the Big Sky Bravery brand by ensuring exceptional attention to detail across all event touchpoints including presentations, signage, printed materials, sponsor recognition, donor communications, scripts, and guest-facing experiences
• Review and oversee all event-related written materials to ensure they are polished, grammatically correct, professionally written, and aligned with the organization's tone, messaging, and brand standards
• Continuously identify opportunities to elevate event quality, improve guest experience, strengthen operational efficiency, and enhance the overall impact and effectiveness of organizational events

Fundraising & Donor Experience

• Partner closely with Development leadership to maximize event fundraising revenue and donor stewardship opportunities
• Support sponsorship fulfillment, auction execution, donor hospitality, and guest engagement strategies
• Collaborate with donor-facing staff to ensure strategic stewardship before, during, and after events
• Track and report event performance metrics, attendance, sponsorships, and fundraising outcomes

Marketing & Brand Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with Marketing to oversee development and production of all event-related printed materials.
• Ensure consistency in branding, messaging, storytelling, and guest experience across all event touchpoints

Volunteer & Committee Management

• Recruit, manage, and steward event volunteers and event committees
• Coordinate volunteer and committee schedules, communications, assignments, and training

Financial & Operational Management

• Manage event budgets with strong financial stewardship and ROI accountability
• Oversee vendor contracts, invoicing, and expense tracking
• Maintain accurate event records, sponsorship tracking, and donor information within CRM systems
• Conduct post-event evaluations and reporting with recommendations for future growth and improvement

Qualifications
Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in event management, fundraising events, hospitality, or related field
• Proven success managing large-scale events and complex logistics with exceptional attention to detail
• Strong leadership, project management, and organizational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities
• Experience managing budgets, vendor relationships, sponsorship fulfillment, and event operations
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments
• Experience with CRM and event management platforms such as Neon CRM, OneCause, or similar systems
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Drive, Gmail, Calendar, etc.)

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is:

• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Calm under pressure and solutions-focused
• Professional, relationship-driven, and hospitality-minded
• Passionate about creating meaningful donor experiences
• Willing to jump in wherever needed to support the team and mission
• Committed to excellence, humility, and mission-first leadership
• Passion for the mission and work of the organization
• Passionate interest in mentoring others and working as a team