Manager, Events

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Strategic Communications and Marketing
DIRECT REPORTS: Events Specialist

SALARY RANGE: $55,866 – $139,665

About the Public Affairs Council

The Public Affairs Council is the leading organization for public affairs professionals worldwide. Launched in 1954 at the urging of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, we are both nonpartisan and nonpolitical. Our mission is to advance the field of public affairs and provide our 700-plus member companies and associations with the executive education and expertise they need to succeed while upholding the highest ethical standards.

Our Standards of Excellence

Every team member is expected to embody these seven standards:

• Act with Integrity – Do the right thing, always.
• Collaborate to Succeed – Leverage diverse perspectives for superior outcomes.
• Adopt a Bias for Action – Move quickly on opportunities with informed decisions.
• Embrace Accountability – Own your outcomes and take full responsibility for results.
• Pioneer Innovation and Forward-Thinking – Challenge conventional approaches.
• Pursue Knowledge and Utilize New Insights – Commit to continuous learning and application.
• Champion Nonpartisanship Across All Perspectives – Value diverse viewpoints objectively.

Position Overview

The Manager of Events leads the strategy, coordination, and delivery of the Council’s 100+ annual events and programs. This role ensures every conference, workshop, webinar and member program reflects the Council’s commitment to excellence and member value. This role manages logistics, budgets, and vendor relationships, while also focusing on experience design and operational innovation that elevate the Council’s brand.

Key Responsibilities

Event Planning & Execution

• Lead planning and coordination of all Council events across in-person, hybrid, and virtual formats.
• Oversee vendor relationships, contracts, and on-site logistics to ensure flawless execution.
• Manage event budgets, invoices, and post-event reconciliation.
• Partner across teams to ensure brand consistency and integrated strategy.
• Supervise the Events Specialist, providing coaching and professional development.

Experience Design & Quality Standards

• Develop and maintain event experience standards that reflect PAC’s mission and values.
• Design creative, member-centered experiences that enhance engagement and satisfaction.
• Evaluate post-event feedback to inform continuous improvement.
• Integrate digital engagement and hybrid participation elements into major programs.

Operational Coordination

• Maintain the master event calendar and coordinate scheduling across departments.
• Oversee technology integration for registration (to include database event setup), communications, and attendee engagement.
• Ensure compliance with Council policies, contracts, and safety protocols.
• Collaborate with the Finance team on forecasting and reporting.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality Management, Event Planning, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience managing conferences or large-scale events.
• Strong vendor and budget management experience.
• Experience in an association, nonprofit, or member-focused organization preferred.
• Familiarity with event registration systems and CRM platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Event management certifications (CMP, DES, or equivalent).
• Experience integrating digital and in-person experiences.
• International or multi-location event experience.

Core Competencies

• Member Experience Leadership: Commitment to delivering exceptional member experiences.
• Operational Excellence: Skilled in coordinating complex events with precision.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across teams to ensure program success.
• Vendor Management: Builds strong partnerships with venues and service providers.
• Communication: Clear, professional communicator with exceptional attention to detail.
• Innovation: Continuously seeks ways to enhance the attendee journey.

Position Attributes

• Mission-Driven – Committed to advancing the public affairs profession through excellence in member experience.
• Relationship-Oriented – Builds trust and collaboration across teams and partners.
• Strategic & Organized – Balances creativity with structure and execution.
• Ethical & Transparent – Upholds the Council’s integrity in all engagements.
• Adaptive – Thrives in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Location & Work Arrangement

Headquarters: Washington, D.C. (with European office in Brussels).
Work Model: Hybrid arrangement with regular in-person presence expected for optimal team collaboration.
Travel: Moderate travel for conferences and events.

Benefits

The Public Affairs Council offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off (PTO), medical insurance, life insurance, retirement benefits, and time off for federal holidays.

How to Apply

Please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected] with the subject line: Manager, Events

The Public Affairs Council is an equal opportunity employer. Employment at the Public Affairs Council is based solely on a person’s merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence. The Public Affairs Council does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, creed, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.