Manager, Event Operations

Bethesda, Job Title: Manager, Event Operations Location: Bethesda, Maryland (Hybrid) Reports To: Deputy Director, Event Operations FLSA Status: Exempt Must be able to provide proof of residence in one of these states: KS, MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, TN, TX, PA, VA, WA, WV, and DC

About NACHC: Founded in 1971, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) serves as the leading voice for America’s Health Centers and the people and communities they serve. NACHC works to promote the provision of high-quality, affordable, community-based health care to everyone, particularly to underserved populations.

Position Summary: The Manager, Event Operations, supports the planning, coordination, and execution of NACHC’s four primary conferences: the Policy & Issues Forum, Community Health Conference, Partner Conference, and Workforce Conference. The Manager serves as the primary day-to-day planner for designated conferences and oversees key operational areas across the conference portfolio. Working closely with the Deputy Director, Event Operations, this position collaboratively leads assigned projects, coordinates with internal and external partners, and serves as an operational lead during on-site execution. The Manager may also support selected in-person and virtual events across other NACHC functional areas.

Key Responsibilities:

1. NACHC Conferences

Serves as the primary day-to-day planner for designated NACHC conferences and supports operational planning for all four conferences. Leads pre-, on-site, and post-event planning for assigned areas, including:

Event specification guide development and management Food and beverage planning and guarantees Meeting-space planning and room setups Breakout audiovisual coordination Conference website content coordination Day-to-day venue and vendor coordination Budget tracking, invoice review, and reconciliation Onsite operational coordination and issue resolution Post-event reporting, follow-up, and recommendations

Develops and maintains event workplans, timelines, deadlines, and contingency plans in coordination with the Deputy Director and internal stakeholders. Leads planning and production meetings for designated conferences and ensures that responsibilities, decisions, and next steps are clearly documented and completed. Independently manages assigned workstreams and routine operational decisions, escalating significant risks, financial concerns, contractual issues, or strategic decisions to the Deputy Director. Serves as an on-site operational lead and may oversee assigned conference operations when the Deputy Director is unavailable.

2. Other NACHC Events

Plans and supports selected events for other NACHC functional areas, including National Fly-Ins, Office of the President events, and other organizational meetings or programs. Assigned events may be held in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format. Works with the internal Project Lead to set event goals, roles, timelines, budgets, logistical requirements, and contingency plans. Coordinates in-person event needs, including venue logistics, audiovisual services, food and beverage, vendors, attendee communications, on-site execution, and post-event follow-up. Manages assigned virtual events and webinars on platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, including scheduling, platform setup, technical rehearsals, speaker support, attendee communications, and live event hosting. Manages virtual-event technology and audience engagement tools, including chat, polling, screen sharing, recording, and technical troubleshooting. Leads event planning and production meetings and monitors expenses, deadlines, risks, and deliverables throughout the event lifecycle. Develops post-event reports using registration, attendance, survey, and stakeholder feedback to evaluate outcomes and recommend improvements.

3. Departmental and Functional Area Support

Contributes ideas, creativity, and recommendations that strengthen the Events team and advance the broader goals of the Communications and Engagement functional area. Provides mentorship and project guidance to the Specialist, Event Operations, and supports their professional growth and development. Performs other event-related duties, tasks, and projects assigned to support the continued growth and evolving needs of the Event Operations team.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in event management, hospitality, business, communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. 4 to 7 years of progressively responsible conference, meeting, or event operations experience is preferred . Direct experience managing conferences or significant conference components for in-person events with 500+ attendees is required. 20% annual travel to four NACHC annual conferences, site visits, and events Experience with an association or nonprofit conference preferred. Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation preferred. Digital Event Strategist (DES) designation preferred.

Key Skills and Competencies:

Strong negotiation, communication, and vendor-management skills, including experience supporting sourcing, contracting, and service delivery. Ability to develop and execute event plans, coordinate logistics, manage vendors, and effectively oversee event operations. Ability to evaluate venues and event spaces based on program, capacity, budget, accessibility, and operational requirements. Experience managing relationships and coordinating services with venues, caterers, audiovisual providers, decorators, transportation providers, and other event partners. Ability to develop budgets, track expenses, analyze financial data, review invoices, identify cost-saving opportunities, and maintain approved budget parameters. Ability to anticipate challenges, identify risks, make effective decisions under pressure, and implement practical solutions. Ability to manage multiple events, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously without compromising accuracy or quality. Ability to adapt to changing circumstances, accommodate last-minute needs, and resolve conflicts professionally. Ability to lead project teams and coordinate staff, vendors, temporary personnel, and volunteers without formal supervisory authority. Ability to think creatively, stay current on industry trends, and recommend new ideas that enhance event experiences and departmental operations. Ability to evaluate event performance using attendance, financial, survey, and operational data, and to communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders. Ability to use technology to streamline processes, support virtual and in-person event delivery, enhance attendee experiences, and collect meaningful event data. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with project-management, registration, virtual-event, survey, diagramming, and event-reporting platforms (e.g. Asana, iMIS, Cadmium/EdgeReg, Qualtrics, Social Tables, Passkey, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams preferred). Strong interpersonal, active-listening, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships and deliver results. Why Join NACHC? At NACHC, you’ll be part of a dedicated and collaborative team working to improve the health and well-being of communities nationwide. We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for growth in a purpose-driven organization.