Current jobs related to Head of Meetings and Events - Washington, Washington, D.C. - folger shakespeare library

The Folger Shakespeare Library knows that an exceptional staff is the backbone of any great organization. We hire exceptionally qualified individuals who are committed to the mission, vision, and values of our organization. Our recruitment process strives to be interactive, accessible, and responsive. Once employed, the Folger provides a generous compensation, leave, and benefits package, as well as many opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Job Description:

The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, seeks an organized and hands-on events professional to join the Visitor Experience (Vis Ex) team as the new Head of Meetings and Events. As the Folger approaches its 100-year anniversary, this role will bring senior-level expertise and creative vision to manage annual events while building a sustainable rental program that strengthens the Folger's mission and financial health.

Reporting to the Director of Visitor Experience, this position oversees the production and execution of internal and external events across the institution. This role combines strategic planning with creative operational excellence by developing revenue-generating rental opportunities, leading complex logistics and cross-departmental collaboration, and ensuring every event reflects the Folger's commitment to hospitality and accessibility. Strong candidates are calm under pressure, skilled in balancing creative ambition with operational realities, and able to deliver exceptional experiences. The new Head of Meetings and Events will demonstrate emotional intelligence and prioritize collaboration while being a detail-oriented executor.

The standard core schedule for this role is Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and will include evening and weekend work as scheduled. This position is an entirely onsite role. The selected candidate will need to be within a commutable distance to the D.C. office (DC, MD, VA) by their start date.

Health & safety: The health and well-being of all staff, contractors, and visitors is our top priority. While the Folger no longer requires masks or vaccinations (except for AEA spaces), we support and encourage individuals to take the safety precautions they are most comfortable with, and we ask that individual choices are respected. The Folger offers organization-funded healthcare plans for full-time staff and extensive leave options to all staff in the case of any health issues that arise.

Compensation:

• This is a semi-monthly-paid salary position, with a pay range of $80,000-90,000.

• Total compensation includes an extensive benefits plan, including fully covered health, dental, and vision insurance for the individual and a generous 403b contribution and match, outlined at

.

Supervisory Duties: This position manages the full-time Meetings and Events Manager. Additionally, they will manage any contracted vendors and part-time event support in conjunction with the Events Manager.

Duties:

Event Planning, Production and Operations

• Oversees the execution of a vibrant and diverse schedule of events, including:

• Catered events which range from tea service for 4 to drop-off catering for 50 to gala-level events for 300.

• Non-catered programs which include but are not limited to lectures, symposiums, pre-performance discussions, and scholarly activities.

• Rental events of varying sizes

• Develops and implements repeatable processes for delivering consistent, high-quality event experiences and genuine hospitality to internal and external clients.

• Partners with departments across the Folger to define event goals and ensure alignment with organizational priorities.

• Reviews and distributes event materials, including run-of-show documents, meeting agendas, scripts, schedules, and vendor contracts.

• Works collaboratively across the organization to understand event needs including catering, AV, staging, and other vendor services.

• Coordinates with the Scheduling Manager to ensure the appropriate rooms are reserved for meetings and events.

• Ensures compliance with all safety, security, and accessibility policies.

• With Facilities, manages events within the limitations of an historic building.

• With the Accessibility and Floor Manager, ensures accessibility is woven into all event planning.

• With Security, maintains the safety of the building, the Folger's collection, and attendees during events.

• Collaborates with Visitor Experience colleagues to ensure that every event prioritizes guest comfort and accessibility.

• Anticipates and resolves unexpected challenges during live events, with calm, clear decision-making.

• Upholds operational best practices for safety and financial reporting.

Team Leadership

• Working with the Meeting and Events Manager, delegates responsibilities to part-time event support staff for event set-up, operations, and strike, ensuring adherence to Folger standards.

• Provides training and knowledge-sharing to strengthen internal event capabilities across the Visitor Experience team.

• Models exceptional hospitality and service for internal and external stakeholders, reinforcing the Folger's values and approach to customer service.

• Support the Director of Visitor Experience in building a collaborative, solution-oriented team that understands accountability and achieves established goals.

• Supports other Visitor Experience and team leadership duties as needed.

Strategic Development

• Partners with the Director of Visitor Experience and the Rentals and Tourism Manager to design and implement a sustainable, revenue-generating rental program.

• Builds and maintains a network of preferred vendors and event support services, negotiating cost-effective contracts and services.

• Develops and tracks event success metrics, using data to evaluate impact and drive continuous improvement.

• Leads post-event feedback sessions to identify opportunities for improvement and celebrate successes.

• Delivers all events within budget while maximizing resources and upholding quality.

• Participates in organizational planning groups such as the Programming Logistics Group and General Visit Enhancement Group.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible event management experience.

• Proven track record managing large-scale events (200+ attendees) including formal and social occasions.

• Experience with guest list/RSVP software and scheduling platforms (Artifax, EMS, Asana, or comparable systems) required. Prior knowledge of Artifax is a plus.

• Background in hospitality (food, beverage, lodging), cultural organizations and non-profits, travel and tourism, or meeting planning is strongly desired.

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite.

• Familiarity with CRM systems is desirable. Tessitura experience is a plus.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities (written and verbal).

• Creative problem-solving within budget constraints.

• Proven ability to manage budgets, vendor contracts, and event financials.

• Strong crisis management and operational decision-making.

• Strong data analysis capabilities to measure event impact and inform strategy.

• Impeccable attention to detail and organizational excellence.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a high-pressure environment.

• Deep commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture.

• Nurtures an environment of trust through transparent communication.

• Holds a passion for hospitality excellence that balances guest satisfaction with revenue goals.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

This job operates in a professional office environment. The employee may be exposed to various components of an office environment such as fluorescent lighting, pollen, dust, recycled air, cooling fans, semi-enclosed areas, central heating, seasonal warmer temperatures, and office noise. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Normal work week is Monday-Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm. Additional evening, weekend, and holiday hours required for special events.

• Ability to stand, walk, and move about public spaces for extended periods of time.

• Ability to carry, push, or pull objects up to 30 lbs.

• Ability to work at a computer for an extended period of time, with accuracy.

• Willingness and capacity to work in an office environment at a workstation, and to come and go repeatedly throughout the day as is necessary, to perform various responsibilities.

• Capacity to communicate, in person using video, phone, or electronic communication methods, which can be understood by others.

Interested individuals should submit their cover letter and resume. Incomplete applications cannot be accepted. No phone calls please.

The Folger is an Equal Opportunity Employer.