Director of Events & Operations

Company Description LaJoy Creative POSITION: Director of Events & Operations REPORTS TO: CEO, LaJoy Creative FLSA STATUS: Full-time, Exempt SALARY RANGE: $130,000 - $160,000 (plus commission) LOCATION: Remote – New York or DC; Global travel required

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Overview The Director of Events & Operations is the senior operational leader of LaJoy Creative's client delivery and internal business infrastructure, reporting directly to the Founder & CEO. This role owns the strategic and managerial layer that LaJoy Creative staff and consultants execute against day-to-day — setting production standards, managing the team, owning client and vendor relationships at the leadership level, and building the systems that let the firm scale. Beyond operations, this role is also expected to actively grow the firm's business — bringing established client and network relationships to the table and translating them into new revenue opportunities alongside the CEO. The Director translates the CEO's vision and business development wins into a functioning, well-run operation: staffing plans, budgets, quality standards, and growth-ready processes. This is a hands-on leadership role — the Director will still walk a site, sit in a client meeting, and jump into a crisis — but the primary mandate is building and running the machine, not executing every task personally. LaJoy Creative is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organizational culture, and does not discriminate against employees because of their disability, sex, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status under the law. Job Description Key Responsibilities Team & Operational Leadership Directly manage the LaJoy Creative staff and contract/freelance staff; set performance expectations, coach for growth, and build bench strength as the firm scales. Own the firm's overall event production standards and quality bar across all client engagements, ensuring consistency regardless of which team member is executing. Design and continuously refine internal operating systems (project management, resourcing, vendor management, financial tracking) to support increasing volume and complexity of client work. Lead staffing and resourcing decisions across concurrent client projects, balancing capacity, budget, and team development. Client & Business Leadership Serve as senior client-facing leader on the firm's most strategic or highest-visibility engagements, stepping in for key relationships and high-stakes moments. Partner with the CEO on business development: scoping new opportunities, shaping proposals, setting pricing/budget parameters, and representing the firm in pitch and finalist conversations. Own client retention strategy — identifying expansion opportunities within existing accounts and ensuring service quality drives repeat business and referrals. Represent LaJoy Creative externally at industry functions, partner convenings, and speaking opportunities as an extension of the CEO's visibility strategy. Business Development & Network Partnerships Bring established client and network relationships directly into LaJoy Creative's business pipeline, actively converting existing personal/professional connections into new engagements for the firm. Identify, cultivate, and close new business opportunities by combining strong business acumen with a working knowledge of the events, hospitality, and mission-driven/nonprofit sectors. Serve as a proactive originator of leads — not solely a responder to CEO-sourced opportunities — with accountability for contributing measurably to the firm's new business pipeline. Build and maintain a network of referral partners, industry contacts, and past clients that can be activated for repeat business, introductions, and co-marketing opportunities. Track and report on business development activity and pipeline health as part of regular leadership reporting to the CEO. Financial & Administrative Oversight Own event and departmental budgeting, including forecasting, margin management, and profitability review across the firm's active project portfolio. Oversee vendor strategy at the portfolio level — negotiating master agreements, setting preferred-partner terms, and managing the firm's overall vendor risk and cost position. Prepare contracts, scopes of work, and significant expenditures when delegated by the CEO. Strategic & Organizational Development Serve as a key thought partner to the CEO on organizational growth, capacity planning, and long-term operational strategy. Lead hiring, onboarding, and team-building initiatives for the events and operations function as headcount grows. Identify and champion process, technology, or staffing investments that improve margin, quality, or scalability. Support the firm's brand and thought-leadership positioning (award submissions, case studies, speaking engagements) in partnership with the CEO. Qualifications Required Education and Experience Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and professional experience. Ten (10) + years of progressively responsible experience in event production, event operations, or hospitality management, including at least 2-3 years in a people-management or department-leadership capacity. Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of concurrent client engagements, not just single events. Experience with budget ownership, P&L or margin accountability, and vendor contract negotiation at a strategic level. Proven track record of generating new business, whether through personal network activation, referral partnerships, or direct sales/business development responsibility. Existing relationships within the events, hospitality, philanthropic, or nonprofit sectors that can realistically be brought into LaJoy Creative's client and partner pipeline. Prior experience in a hospitality, events firm, or mission-driven/nonprofit-adjacent environment strongly preferred. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Proven people-leadership skills — hiring, coaching, performance management, and building team culture in a small, fast-paced firm. Strong business acumen: budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and margin awareness across multiple simultaneous projects. Demonstrated ability to identify, pursue, and close new business opportunities, with comfort operating in a revenue-generating capacity, not solely a delivery/operations capacity. Executive-level presence and communication skills, comfortable representing the firm to C-suite clients, high-profile partners, and industry audiences. Strategic thinker who can translate a founder's vision into scalable systems and repeatable processes. High degree of trust and discretion, operating as a direct extension of the CEO's authority. Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on execution when the moment demands it. Deep alignment with LaJoy Creative's mission-driven client base and its creative, relationship-centered brand of service. Technical Skills Proficiency with: Project management and resourcing software (Asana, Monday.com, or comparable) at an administrator/strategic level Budgeting/financial tools (QuickBooks or comparable), including margin and forecasting analysis CRM/client-tracking systems, including pipeline and business development tracking Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace Suite Comfort presenting financial, operational, and business development data to leadership Additional Information Benefits: Health benefit stipend, cell phone stipend, unlimited PTO and full office closure, professional development and other growth opportunities. Work Environment & Physical Demands Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends. Regular travel required for client engagements, business development meetings, site visits, and industry events, including multi-day and occasional international travel. The employee is frequently required to see, talk, hear, walk, and sit. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 20 lbs. such as boxes, supplies, etc. Compensation: USD 130000 - USD 160000 - yearly