American Humane Society (AHS) is seeking an experienced Events Manager to be responsible for working in collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer to plan, develop and execute all organizational events. This role will ensure that all events align with the organization’s mission, objectives and branding while delivering exceptional experiences for attendees and sponsors. This position will be a hybrid of office/telework with the position based out of Washington, DC or Palm Beach, FL office location and reports directly to the Chief Communications Officer.
For nearly 150 years, American Humane Society (AHS) has led the way in protecting animals and strengthening the bonds between animals and people. We respond first when animals need rescue, shelter, or protection. Through our groundbreaking programs – from our “No Animals Were Harmed®” certification in Hollywood to our farm and conservation welfare standards – we set the highest level of care and compassion in animal protection.
Working at AHS means being part of something bigger. With offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Palm Beach, we provide a supportive, professional environment where your work makes a real difference in animals’ lives. American Humane Society is committed to fostering a welcoming workplace. As we seek to fill this position, we highly encourage high-performing applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
Position summary:
The Events Manager is responsible for working in collaboration with the Chief Communications Officer to plan, develop and execute all organizational events. This role will ensure that all events align with the organization’s mission, objectives and branding while delivering exceptional experiences for attendees and sponsors.
Events are hosted in various locations across the country, but with a particular emphasis on events in the local Palm Beach area. Events can range from smaller engagements like weekend breakfasts, a discussion series and donor hosted gatherings to large events and galas for 250(+) people, including the annual Hero Dog Awards® gala, an annual prize ceremony, and Congressional briefings.
The Manager will serve as a representative of American Humane Society, interacting professionally with donors, vendors, sponsors and friends of the organization to advance its mission and goals. The Events Manager reports directly to the Chief Communications Officer and works collaboratively with organizational leadership and staff across teams including development, marketing, communications and programs.

Responsibilities:

• Work with and coordinate a wide range of stakeholders, including planning committees, staff, volunteers, and vendors to ensure successful events and meetings.
• Manage the Palm Beach Events email account, respond to general inquiries, and compile and manage RSVP and guest lists.
• Make site visits and find resources to recommend event locations as needed.
• Coordinate and book travel for American Humane staff, VIP guests and honorees attending events.
• Prepare meeting agendas, nametags, lists, registration materials, run of show, VIP itineraries, etc. and print, transport and organize materials in lead up to and at internal and external meetings and events; manage details to create an optimal experience for attendees.
• Day-of meetings and events, take the lead to oversee venue, vendors, staff, and volunteers; ensuring guest registration, event space set-up, auction coordination, seating charts, audio visual, etc. run smoothly.
• Coordinate closely with the Development team to provide post-event support by tracking and reporting donations and preparing follow-up correspondence with attendees.
• Work with Communications and PR teams to review local publications such as Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Society for photos of American Humane events, as well as future events to attend, and coordinate with American Humane Society’s Communications team to ensure AH events are well publicized.
• In addition to coordinating events during the Palm Beach season:
• Help coordinate events and donor visits and group gatherings at American Humane Society’s Sanctuary in south Florida, working with the CEO, the Development, Marketing and Communications teams and Sanctuary staff.
• Work closely with leadership to help coordinate American Humane Society’s annual Hero Dog Awards® campaign, including but not limited to cultivation events, the online competition, sponsor deliverables, and potentially the broadcast show.
• As assigned, participate in selected meetings, dinners, and events in the greater-Palm Beach community to represent and raise awareness of American Humane.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential experience, knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Minimum 3 years’ proven experience effectively coordinating, from start to finish, all aspects of special events ranging in size from 20 to 200(+) attendees, required.
• Nonprofit events coordination/management experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrates outstanding interpersonal communication skills, on the phone, virtually, in person, and in writing.
• Conducts oneself in a professional, hospitable manner and has a very strong attention to detail skillset.
• Forward thinking and anticipating need.
• Ability to think strategically but also do the operational work.
• Exhibits a high level of personal integrity.
• Handles confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to remain flexible and adjust priorities as needed.
• Experience with donor database (Salesforce) preferred and able to learn new technologies, quickly.
• Excellent spelling and proofreading skills, especially to ensure accuracy of names and contact information.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; effectively multitask and manage concurrent projects and responsibilities; meets deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); able to quickly learn and adapt to new software or database systems.

Direct reports:

• None

Physical demands and work environment:

• Position will be a hybrid of office/telework with the position based out of Washington, DC or Palm Beach, FL office location and regular telework schedule based on organizational policy and manager discretion.
• Must be comfortable with animals in the office and at events.
• Local travel by personal vehicle is required. Some national travel is required.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Set up food, beverages, materials, and audiovisual equipment for events in office and other locations. Must have the ability to transport, lift, and carry supplies weighing up to 25 lbs.
• While performing the duties of this position, the employee will regularly be required to:
• Look at and work on a computer screen for extended periods of time,
• Talk, hear and exchange information over the telephone, virtually and in person.

American Humane Society’s core values define our workplace, and these values serve as the cornerstone for interactions in advancing our mission and institutional goals. Employees are expected to adhere to all organizational policies and to act as role models, demonstrating American Humane Society’s core values:

• Compassion – Being kind and caring in our interactions with others.
• Accountability - Holding ourselves to the highest standards. Following through on commitments and owning our actions, behavior, and decisions.
• Respect for All – Being professional, listening to others and honoring diversity in all its forms.
• Loyalty to Mission – Staying focused on our purpose and our mission – our nation’s most vulnerable depend on us.
• Sustainability - Contributing to being a great place to work and achieving our shared mission and goals to make a difference, now and in the future.
• Honesty, Integrity, Trust – Demonstrating transparency, as trusted stewards of donor resources, supporting our leadership and one another.

Responsibilities:

• Work with and coordinate a wide range of stakeholders, including planning committees, staff, volunteers, and vendors to ensure successful events and meetings.
• Manage the Palm Beach Events email account, respond to general inquiries, and compile and manage RSVP and guest lists.
• Make site visits and find resources to recommend event locations as needed.
• Coordinate and book travel for American Humane staff, VIP guests and honorees attending events.
• Prepare meeting agendas, nametags, lists, registration materials, run of show, VIP itineraries, etc. and print, transport and organize materials in lead up to and at internal and external meetings and events; manage details to create an optimal experience for attendees.
• Day-of meetings and events, take the lead to oversee venue, vendors, staff, and volunteers; ensuring guest registration, event space set-up, auction coordination, seating charts, audio visual, etc. run smoothly.
• Coordinate closely with the Development team to provide post-event support by tracking and reporting donations and preparing follow-up correspondence with attendees.
• Work with Communications and PR teams to review local publications such as Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach Post, Palm Beach Society for photos of American Humane events, as well as future events to attend, and coordinate with American Humane Society’s Communications team to ensure AH events are well publicized.
• In addition to coordinating events during the Palm Beach season:
• Help coordinate events and donor visits and group gatherings at American Humane Society’s Sanctuary in south Florida, working with the CEO, the Development, Marketing and Communications teams and Sanctuary staff.
• Work closely with leadership to help coordinate American Humane Society’s annual Hero Dog Awards® campaign, including but not limited to cultivation events, the online competition, sponsor deliverables, and potentially the broadcast show.
• As assigned, participate in selected meetings, dinners, and events in the greater-Palm Beach community to represent and raise awareness of American Humane.
• Other duties as assigned

American Humane Society’s core values define our workplace, and these values serve as the cornerstone for interactions in advancing our mission and institutional goals. Employees are expected to adhere to all organizational policies and to act as role models, demonstrating American Humane Society’s core values:

• Compassion – Being kind and caring in our interactions with others.
• Accountability - Holding ourselves to the highest standards. Following through on commitments and owning our actions, behavior, and decisions.
• Respect for All – Being professional, listening to others and honoring diversity in all its forms.
• Loyalty to Mission – Staying focused on our purpose and our mission – our nation’s most vulnerable depend on us.
• Sustainability - Contributing to being a great place to work and achieving our shared mission and goals to make a difference, now and in the future.
• Honesty, Integrity, Trust – Demonstrating transparency, as trusted stewards of donor resources, supporting our leadership and one another