Internal Event Manager Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Associate Manager, Events (EN-8)

Organization Unit: Development & Communications
Reports To: Chief Development Officer

Supervises: This position does not supervise staff.

Location:Remote, with applications accepted only from candidates based in the United States.For U.S.-based applicants, eligible states include: Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C

ABOUT EQUALITY NOW:

At Equality Now, we aspire to create a world in which women and men have equal rights under the law and full enjoyment of their human rights. Our mission is gender equality. And how we get there matters. Here are the values behind everything we do.

Founded in 1992, we are an international human rights organization that works to protect and promote the rights of all women and girls around the world. Our campaigns are centred on four program areas: Legal Equality, End Sexual Violence, End Harmful Practices, and End Sexual Exploitation, with a cross-cutting focus on the unique needs of adolescent girls. We are truly global, and we have a team of 80+ people located all around the world. We have team members in Benin, Beirut, London, Geneva, San Jose, El Salvador, Argentina, Nairobi, Tbilisi, New York and Washington, DC among others. We offer a great experience for talented people who are passionate about equality. To work here, youll need to share our core values of integrity and accountability, inclusiveness, resilience, and empathy. For more information, visitequalitynow.org

MISSION OBJECTIVE:
Lead the development and execution of Equality Nows global events strategy, including the annual gala and a portfolio of strategic virtual and in-person engagements (e.g. - donor salons and dinners, briefings, webinars), ensuring these events strengthen donor/ally relationships, elevate the organizations brand, and position Equality Now as a leader in the global womens rights movement.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following is a general outline of duties and responsibilities for this role. It is not an exhaustive list, and additional duties may be assigned or removed at the discretion of your line managers to meet organizational needs and priorities.

Purpose: Apply Foundational Knowledge

• Lead the planning, design, and execution of Equality Nows annual gala, serving as the primary project manager responsible for working with leadership on concept development, event narrative, speaker/talent engagement, venue/vendor management, logistics oversight, production timelines, and coordination across internal teams and external partners, ensuring alignment with organizational brand, fundraising priorities, and external positioning.
• Develop and oversee Equality Nows annual events calendar, integrating Development, Communications, and Program priorities to maximize donor engagement, visibility, and strategic influence.
• Manage, in collaboration with the Communications, Development and Programme teams, the planning and delivery of additional events throughout the yearincluding virtual programs, donor salons, small dinners, and partner briefingsto deepen supporter engagement and broaden the organizations reach.
• Develop event programming concepts, including themes, run-of-show outlines, briefing materials, speaker/talent recommendations, and production needs.
• Create and manage detailed project plans that integrate input from Development, Communications, Programs, and external consultants/vendors.
• Oversee all event-related workflows, ensuring timelines, deliverables, budgets, and communications plans remain on track.
• Coordinate cross-departmental collaboration to ensure event messaging reflects programmatic priorities and aligns with organizational branding and strategic goals.
• Build efficient systems to track and manage event pipelines, RSVPs, guest lists, seating, and follow-up workflows.
• Assess event performance, documenting lessons learned and recommending improvements to enhance quality, cost-effectiveness, and supporter engagement.

Engagement: Knowledge Building & Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with colleagues in Development, Communications, and Programs to identify and plan potential events that would be appealing to target audiences and ensure event format and content reflects programmatic priorities and organizational messaging.
• Partner with Development leadership to translate event engagements into donor cultivation pathways, strategic touchpoints, and follow-up plans that strengthen long-term relationships.
• Coordinate internal and external event committees, as needed, ensuring clear communication, timely deliverables, and strategic guidance.
• Serve as a liaison with speakers, talent, partners, ambassadors to ensure high-quality experience from invitation through event execution.
• Cultivate strong working relationships with event vendors, venues, production teams, and designers, ensuring successful collaboration and alignment with Equality Nows mission, values and tone.
• Work closely with Communications and Development colleagues to develop event promotional materials, invitations, talking points, and post-event communications.
• Partner with global program staff to integrate mission-aligned content, create meaningful program moments, and ensure authenticity and accuracy in event storytelling.
• Represent the organization with professionalism when interacting with high-profile stakeholders, board members, and key supporters.
• Support organizational leaders and spokespeople by preparing materials, briefing packets, and event-specific guidance.
• Contribute to organizational learning by documenting and sharing insights from donor and event engagements.
• Update and maintain the Talent contact data and act as a conduit for talent liaison for events where necessary.

Delivery: Operational Awareness & Action

• Oversee all event logistics, from venue selection to vendor coordination, dcor, catering, production requirements, AV, staging, guest experience, and onsite execution.
• Oversee and direct external event consultants, production teams, and creative partners to ensure high-quality outputs, effective workflows, and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Develop and manage event budgets, ensuring cost-effective planning and accurate financial tracking.
• Support guest list development and RSVP management, providing timely updates to staff participants and leadership, and ensuring donor/ally engagement opportunities are maximized.
• Produce virtual events, including coordinating platforms, rehearsals, scripts, moderator/speaker prep, and technical support.
• Ensure all logistics for speakers, talent, and VIPs are thoughtfully managed, including travel coordination, hospitality, and show-flow cues.
• Maintain high-quality standards across all event materials, run-of-show documentation, scripts, and presentations.
• Track engagement outcomes and event metrics; prepare reports and recommendations for organizational leaders.
• Ensure seamless internal communication so that all stakeholders remain informed throughout event planning and execution.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS & TARGET SKILLS PROFILE

Substantive Knowledge

• Demonstrated understanding of event strategy, production, and execution across virtual, hybrid, and in-person formats.
• Strong familiarity with nonprofit events, donor engagement practices, and event-based relationship-building.
• Knowledge of the human rights or womens rights sector is highly desirable.

Communication Skills

• Fluent in English; proficiency in other languages is a plus.
• Adept at fostering cross-cultural collaboration and cultivating trust-based relationships consistent with the mission and values of Equality Now.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop and distill event concepts, speaker briefings, and program content.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage organizational leadership, high-profile individuals, speakers, celebrity supporters, donors, and partners with poise and professionalism.

Execution Skills

• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and execute high-quality events, from concept through follow-up.
• Experience coordinating across time zones with global staff, partners, and vendors.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, sometimes on short notice, and to work evenings/weekends as required by events.

Targeted Specialized Knowledge

• Bachelors degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in event planning, production, donor engagement events, or nonprofit advancement.
• Skilled in event logistics, production planning, budget management, vendor negotiation, and talent/speaker coordination.
• Proficiency with project management systems and collaboration tools (Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Zoom); experience with virtual event platforms a plus.
• Experience with CRM or fundraising databases; Raisers Edge/NXT preferred (for contact management & event tracking).
• Proven ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment.

COMPENSATION:
At Equality Now, our compensation philosophy reflects our commitment to advancing the human rights of all women and girls through lasting legal and systemic change. We approach pay holistically, recognizing base salary as one component of a broader total rewards package designed to support well-being, growth, and long-term engagement.

Base Salary Range: $62,755 - $80,000 USD
The final offer within this range will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, relevant experience, demonstrated skills, and qualifications.Beyond base salary, Equality Now offers a comprehensive total rewards package that includes health and retirement benefits, generous leave, and ongoing professional development. Our goal is to attract, retain, and empower a talented, mission-aligned team equipped to deliver on our strategic priorities with excellence and impact.

HOW TO APPLY

Please visit: and submit a resume/CV, cover letter. Deadline for applications is June 5, 2026.
Due to the volume of applicants anticipated for this role, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Equality Now is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Equality Now offers a competitive compensation package, including base salary, savings, health and vacation benefits, and is an Equal Opportunity employer. Equality Now employees are selected on the basis of ability without regard to race, colour, religious beliefs, sex, gender identity and expression, language, political or other opinion, nationality, ethnic or social origin, disability, pregnancy, mental status, HIV status, age, marital status, or sexual orientation.

We welcome all kinds of diversity. Candidates are selected on the basis of ability, in accordance with all country and location-specific laws.