Manager, Conferences & Events

Primary Purpose:

Champion the Nuclear Energy Institute’s vision: “A world powered by clean and reliable energy” by strengthening NEI’s role as the premier organization for nuclear energy policy and advocacy through strategic and tactical event management expertise for attendee-focused virtual, in-person and hybrid event experiences.

Partner with program managers to realize the event’s vision and offer enhancements to create outstanding attendee experiences.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams in the organization to support NEI’s annual portfolio of 40-50 events that are the primary source of non-dues revenue for the organization. The events range in scope (conferences, workshops, trainings, special events), size (15 to 800+ attendees) and level of complexity (single/concurrent sessions, exhibits, sponsorship).

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Conference and Event Management

• Manage assigned conferences, meetings, workshops, trainings and special events from initial planning through onsite execution and post-event evaluation.
• Develop and manage event timelines, project plans, budgets and workstreams, ensuring responsibilities, milestones and deadlines are clearly defined and met.
• Partner with program managers and internal stakeholders to establish event goals, formats, content requirements and measures of success.
• Manage all event logistics, including venue requirements, food and beverage, audiovisual services, housing, transportation, signage, materials, shipping and onsite staffing.
• Lead onsite event execution, coordinating internal teams, vendors and external partners and resolving issues as they arise.
• Provide high-touch customer service to attendees, members and internal stakeholders, using sound judgment to enhance the event experience and appropriately address risks or challenges.

Budget, Contracting and Vendor Management

• Develop and manage event budgets, financial projections and pricing recommendations; monitor expenses and revenue and reconcile event financials.
• Research and evaluate hotels and other venues, conduct site inspections and provide site-selection and cost recommendations.
• Negotiate and manage event-related contracts with a focus on value, service quality, flexibility and financial risk.
• Manage vendor relationships, deliverables and performance throughout the planning and execution process.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen conference revenue and attendee value through registration, sponsorships, exhibits and other event-related offerings.

Event Technology and Communications

• Create and maintain event webpages and coordinate event marketing materials, attendee communications and related content.
• Partner with Marketing, Creative, Membership and program teams to ensure event communications are accurate, consistent and delivered on schedule.
• Apply industry best practices, technology capabilities, participant feedback and lessons learned to continuously improve NEI’s event offerings.

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Program

• Create, maintain and continuously improve NEI’s sponsorship and exhibitor program across the conference and events portfolio.
• Develop sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities in partnership with internal stakeholders that provide meaningful value to NEI, sponsors, exhibitors and attendees.
• Manage the sponsorship and exhibitor lifecycle, including prospectuses, benefit tracking, communications, onboarding, deliverables, booth logistics, activations and onsite support.
• Build and maintain strong sponsor and exhibitor relationships while ensuring commitments and benefits are fulfilled consistently.
• Coordinate with Conferences & Events, Marketing, Creative, Membership, Finance and program teams to align sponsorship and exhibitor deliverables with event and marketing timelines.
• Track sponsorship and exhibitor participation, revenue, fulfillment and feedback and provide post-event reporting and recommendations.
• Develop and maintain processes, templates and standard operating procedures that support a consistent and scalable sponsorship and exhibitor program.

Measurement and Continuous Improvement

• Deliver post-event reporting that evaluates attendee, sponsor and exhibitor feedback, financial performance, goal attainment and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain complete event files, records and documentation to support effective event turnover and organizational knowledge.
• Identify and implement best practices, operational efficiencies and process improvements across NEI’s conference portfolio.
• Contribute to a collaborative, accountable and service-oriented team culture focused on delivering consistently high-quality event experiences.

Job Specifications:

• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in association/non-profit meeting management, preferably with increasing complexity and independence.
• Demonstrates experience in project management and leading a team to achieve project goals and deliverables.
• Basic understanding of how business events work from both planner and supplier perspective; and how to be an attendee/plan with the attendee in mind.
• Travel domestically and internationally upwards of 30%.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge/experience in conference planning, including site selection, contract negotiation, budget/expense management, F&B, AV, housing, sponsorship, special events and execution.
• Exhibits and hybrid events are a plus.
• Highly organized with ability to handle multiple concurrent projects through to completion.
• Strong interpersonal communication (verbal, nonverbal and written) skills, including active listening, ability to facilitate meetings, diplomacy to interact with a variety of personalities/resolve conflict and ability to express ideas/convey information effectively.
• An innovation mindset with a core focus on constant improvement.
• Attention to detail and excellent organizational skills, facilitate high-quality communication with NEI staff, executive level members and external stakeholders.
• Calm and professional demeanor under pressure. Capable of creative and analytical problem-solving quickly and effectively when incidents or issues arise.
• Positive attitude with a team-first outlook and customer-first approach.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision but great accountability.
• Strong technology skills, including Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMS, and collections management software - Impexium.

Education:

• College degree preferred.
• CMP, CMM and/or DES certification a plus.

Pay Range:

For individuals who reside in the Washington, DC metro area, the salary range for this position is $96,160 - $144,240.

Typically, new hires are brought into the organization at a salary between the minimum and midpoint of the range, depending on factors such as qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted salary for the position.

Benefits:

Healthcare:

NEI offers 3 PPO healthcare plans through CareFirst Administrators.

• Choice - Provides comprehensive coverage for both In-Network and Out of Network services
• Standard - Provides similar coverage to the Choice Plan
• High Deductible - Provides similar comprehensive coverage to the standard plan

Dental: NEI offers dental coverage through CareFirst Administrators

Vision: NEI offers vision coverage through Vision Service Plan (VSP)

Employer matched 401(k)

Vacation & Sick Leave

Submitting your resume:

If this matches your goals and expertise, please submit your cover letter, résumé, and salary requirements to View email address on click.appcast.io. Please be sure to indicate the job title of the vacant position in your email. Please, no phone calls.

Applicants with disabilities:

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, NEI will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact Shelley Newham, HR Manager at View phone number on click.appcast.io or via email at View email address on click.appcast.io.

We recognize that candidates may not meet every qualification listed. If you're passionate about our mission and believe you could thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply anywa y.