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Director Special Events Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

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Director Special Events information

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$33.9K

$81.6K

$146.1K

How much do director special events jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for director special events in Riverside, CA is $81,609.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,700.00 and $96,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director special events?

To thrive as a Director of Special Events, you need expertise in event planning, budgeting, project management, and a bachelor's degree in hospitality, marketing, or a related field. Familiarity with event management software, registration platforms, and often certifications like CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) are typically required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help you manage teams, clients, and logistics under pressure. These abilities ensure seamless, impactful events that meet organizational goals and client expectations.

What are the responsibilities of a special events director?

The responsibilities of a special events director include developing a strategic plan for a business’ events and generating new sales when relevant. In this career, you plan, organize, and execute all aspects of each event, provide daily support to the event team, including set-up and logistics, book each venue, manage event staff, and coordinate with other departments to ensure a successful event execution. You are expected to provide excellent customer service to clients and new external relationships. You maintain a schedule of yearly events, manage the budget for each, answer vendor questions promptly, sell tickets, and complete other duties related to events as required.

What are some common challenges faced by a director special events, and how can they be effectively managed?

A Director of Special Events often faces the challenge of coordinating multiple stakeholders, managing tight deadlines, and adapting to last-minute changes. Balancing creative vision with budget constraints and logistical feasibility is also common. Success in this role typically depends on strong communication skills, meticulous planning, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. Building a reliable team and establishing clear processes for contingency planning can greatly help in managing these challenges.

What is the difference between Director Special Events vs Event Coordinator?

AspectDirector Special EventsEvent Coordinator
ResponsibilitiesOversees entire event planning process, manages teams, and sets strategic goalsAssists with planning, logistics, and on-site coordination
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, marketing, or related field; experience in event managementOften requires a relevant associate or bachelor’s degree; entry-level experience acceptable
Work EnvironmentCorporate offices, event venues, and outdoor locationsEvent sites, venues, and client locations

The main difference is that the Director Special Events holds a leadership role with strategic oversight and team management, while the Event Coordinator focuses on executing event details and logistics. The Director typically has more experience and higher credentials, overseeing multiple events, whereas the Event Coordinator supports the planning process at a more operational level.

What does a director of special events do?

A director of special events plans, coordinates, and oversees events such as conferences, fundraisers, and celebrations to ensure they run smoothly and meet organizational goals. They manage budgets, select venues, coordinate vendors, and lead event staff, often requiring strong organizational and leadership skills. The role may also involve marketing and post-event evaluation to measure success.
More about Director Special Events jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Special Events jobs in Riverside, CA?

The most popular types of Special Events jobs in Riverside, CA are:

What cities near Riverside, CA are hiring for Director Special Events jobs?

Cities near Riverside, CA with the most Director Special Events job openings:

Infographic showing various Director Special Events job openings in Riverside, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,609 per year, or $39.2 per hour.

Fundraising Director, Walk to End Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's Association

Irvine, CA • On-site

$104K - $109K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Drive the success of the Walk to End Alzheimer's event by achieving revenue and participant goals.

  • Lead, coach, and empower volunteer leaders and committees to implement fundraising strategies and ensure strong volunteer retention.

  • Cultivate and manage relationships with corporate and community partners, including prospecting, stewarding, and increasing brand awareness.


Alzheimer's Association rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

82nd of 788 rated non-profit organizations


Job description

Position Summary:

Walk to End Alzheimer’s® ranks as the second-largest peer-to-peer fundraising event in the United States, and continues to set the pace as one of the fastest growing walk events in the country.

In 2024, Walk to End Alzheimer’s® was again recognized as the #2 peer-to-peer fundraising event in the country. On top of that, Walk was acknowledged for achieving the largest dollar growth of any program in the top 30.

As Director, Walk to End Alzheimer’s, you will be responsible for driving the success of a large walk event. Leading a team of dynamic volunteer leaders, you will put your proven sales and relationship management skills to work achieving revenue goals through positive engagement with corporate and community volunteer leaders. As a recognized and enthusiastic community mobilizer and networker, you will exponentially increase brand awareness as you cultivate relationships with key C-suite corporate and community partners.

Your success at recruiting, coaching and empowering volunteers will ensure strong volunteer committee retention and succession planning that sets your event up for success for years to come. As an ambitious fundraiser in the peer-to-peer space, you will coach and inspire your volunteers, teams and participants to set fundraising goals that propel your event to one of the most successful in the country.

This role is right for you if:

  • You have proven success at building sustainable corporate and community relationships that contribute to achieving organizational and revenue goals
  • You are able to drive success and provide positive engagement with volunteers through coaching, recognition, and accountability
  • Your experience in providing inspirational leadership, oversight and implementation of fundraising programs has resulted in meeting or exceeding revenue goals around mass market events/special events and corporate sponsorship
  • You have successfully recruited, managed, and coached volunteers to effectively implement best and proven practices to achieve fundraising goals
  • You are known as a uniter and have successfully built a positive, healthy, and inclusive team environment that has resulted in long term community and volunteer relationships
  • You have managed volunteer-led mass-market events, preferably a large event, that has resulted in revenue growth year over year
  • You have achieved or surpassed designated financial and participant goals through team and individual fundraising, corporate solicitation, and community partnerships
  • You have demonstrated success at prospecting, cultivating and stewarding teams, sponsors and participants
  • You are comfortable with managing event budgets, training volunteers, utilizing timelines and translating data

 

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
  • 5-7 years of proven experience recruiting and mobilizing volunteers and community leaders to achieve goals, preferably in a peer-to-peer fundraising environment OR 5-7 years successful experience meeting sales targets

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • Demonstrated management skills, including the ability set clear goals, organize projects, establish and manage budgets, and establish accountability processes
  • Proven track record of developing and implementing strategies for identifying, recruiting and engaging high-level and C-Suite volunteer leadership
  • Demonstrated volunteer management skills, including the ability set clear goals, identify priorities, organize projects, establish and manage budgets, establish accountability processes
  • Strong ability to build sustainable corporate and community relationships that contribute to achieving organizational and revenue goals
  • Ability to work with diverse communities and build an inclusive environment
  • Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% within the assigned territory by car. Travel in this case, is considered time spent away from the office, in the community, to fulfill the job goals. 
  • While most such travel is same day, occasional overnight travel or air travel may be required. Must have valid driver’s license, access to reliable vehicle, good driving record and proof of automobile insurance
  • Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends as required for the job
  • Ability to bend, stoop, lift and transport up to 25 lbs of materials
  • Strong computer skills, proficient with Microsoft Office products and social media; experience with, or ability to rapidly learn, Luminate/Convio software

 

Title:  Director, Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Position Location:  Irvine, CA

Full time

Position Grade & Compensation: Grade 307 The Alzheimer's Association’s good faith expectation for the salary range for this role is between $104,000 – 109,000.

There is a performance-based incentive opportunity up to $13,000, depending on portfolio size and achievement of quarterly goals.

Reports To: Director of Development, Orange County Chapter

 

Who We Are:

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia– by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

The Alzheimer’s Association announced a landmark $100 million investment in research for 2023. This unparalleled commitment is illustrative of the momentum we are building in dementia research — our investments today will lead to breakthroughs tomorrow.

At the Alzheimer’s Association, our employees are at the core of all we do. Our network of more than 1,750 employees across the United States makes a difference each and every day for those impacted by Alzheimer’s and those at risk for the disease.

We warmly invite qualified applicants to consider this opportunity to make a life-changing impact on the millions living with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and those that may develop the disease in the future. Read on to learn more about the role, then visit our website www.alz.org/jobs to explore who we are and why we've been recognized as a Best Place to Work for the last twelve years in a row.

At the Alzheimer's Association®, we believe that diverse perspectives are critical to achieving health equity — meaning that all communities have a fair and just opportunity for early diagnosis and access to risk reduction and quality care. The Association is committed to engaging underrepresented and underserved communities and responding with resources and education to address the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

 The Alzheimer’s Association commitment remains steadfast in engaging all communities in our full mission. The Association provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment to the fullest extent required by law, including, but not limited to, on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Employees working 24 hours/week or more are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, flex accounts, short and long-term disability, life insurance, long term care insurance, tuition reimbursement, generous Paid Time Off, 12 annual holidays and Paid Family Leave, as well as an annual Cultural & Heritage Day and Volunteer Day of their choosing. They are also eligible for our gold standard 401(k) retirement plan. Please click HERE for more information.

Full time employees (37.5 hours/week), will enjoy all of the above plus an annual School Visitation Day and an Elder Care Facility Day of their choosing.

Qualified Applicants with arrest or Conviction records will be considered for Employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act at the Alzheimer's Association.

The Alzheimer's Association will conduct an individualized assessment of the material job duties of this job include working with vulnerable communities which the employer may reasonably believe that Criminal History may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship for the safety of the community.

The background check will include searches for: social security person search, public reports, county & federal criminal reports, multi-jurisdictional, sex offender database, NSOPW national sex offender, education, employment history, motor vehicle or driving history, and reference checks.

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