Manager, Events

About Room to Grow

Room to Grow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vision that one day all parents will have the resources they need to unlock their families’ potential and become champions for babies and their community. Its mission is to offer structured parent support, material goods, and community connections to support parents as they activate their natural strengths and expand their knowledge, so children thrive from the start. Room to Grow was founded in New York in 1998 and expanded to Boston in 2005, currently partnering with over 1,500 families with an annual budget of $8.5M and a team of 50 passionate and dedicated staff members. 

Room to Grow uses a two-generation, preventative, and strengths-based approach to engage families. Through its unique program, parents and caregivers partner with program staff to develop strategies to support their child's development, select the material items that their child needs, and connect with community resources that can expand their support network. Room to Grow program staff work alongside parents and caregivers as they build upon their existing skill sets and parenting styles and promote the well-being of their children and family. 

As an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented organization, Room to Grow is in an exciting period of development as it continues to expand its reach and impact in Boston, New York and Chicago. 

Position Summary

Room to Grow is an exciting period of growth and national expansion. In support, we are hiring a Manager of Events. With the organization’s growth, the number and scale of events have increased, ranging from intimate donor gatherings to large-scale fundraising galas and community outreach events. This growth presents opportunities, requiring strategic leadership and expertise in event management to ensure the success and impact of our events portfolio. 

Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Communications, the Manager of Events will be a key leader within the organization, driving the strategic direction and successful execution of Room to Grow’s events portfolio. The Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive event strategies that align with organizational goals and will oversee all aspects of event management, including budgeting, logistics, committee and vendor management, and attendee engagement. 

A successful candidate will be an experienced events professional with a proven track record of planning and executing a wide range of successful events. The ideal candidate will be strategic and forward-thinking, able to develop innovative event strategies that drive engagement and fundraising. They will possess strong leadership skills and demonstrate exceptional project management abilities. This position would be an ideal opportunity for a creative, entrepreneurial, and tenacious individual looking to take on a significant leadership role. 

This is a full-time hybrid role requiring 2-3 days per week in person at one of our Room to Grow locations. Candidates in New York are preferred, candidates in Boston will be considered.

Position Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• In partnership with the Director of Marketing and Communications, develop and implement a comprehensive events strategy that aligns with the organization's mission, goals, and objectives. 
• Define event goals, target audiences, themes, and formats, and develop strategies to maximize the impact and effectiveness of events.
• Oversee all aspects of event planning and execution, including venue selection, vendor management, logistics, scheduling, and on-site coordination. Ensure that events are well-organized, engaging, and successful in achieving their objectives.
• Develop event budgets in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and financial guidelines. Monitor expenses and revenue, track budget performance, and identify opportunities for cost savings and revenue generation to maximize event potential. 
• Support the development of event fundraising strategies, identifying sponsorship opportunities, cultivating relationships with donors and sponsors, and coordinating fundraising activities before, during, and after events.
• Manage event committees composed of staff, volunteers, board members, and other key stakeholders. Provide leadership, guidance, and support to committee members, coordinate committee meetings, and facilitate collaboration to ensure the successful planning and execution of events.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key event stakeholders, including donors, sponsors, partners, volunteers, and community members. 

Qualifications and Experience

• A passion for the mission, vision, and core values of Room to Grow.
• 5 years experience in event planning and management; background in nonprofit or mission-driven companies preferred but not required. 
• Proven track record of successfully planning and executing a wide range of events, from small-scale gatherings to large-scale galas. 
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute innovative event strategies that drive engagement and support organizational goals. 
• Budget management experience, with the ability to develop and manage event budgets of varying sizes. 
• Proficiency in event management software and tools, such as event registration platforms and CRM systems. 
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for event coverage. 
• Ability to travel within the US (5-10%).

Core Competencies

Mission and Culture Alignment - Allows a candidate to thrive at Room to Grow and to be highly motivated by the organization’s work and mission. A successful candidate:

• Embodies RtG core values, including integrity, respect, growth, collaboration, community and inclusion
• Articulates an authentic passion for and unwavering belief in RtG’s mission, demonstrating a commitment to and literacy around the issues of equity that undergird the work 
• Navigates ambiguity and pivots with ease; presents as collaborative and flexible with a strong service mentality and ability to navigate a local/national structure
• Models transparency and encourages open dialogue and inclusivity
• Demonstrates a growth mindset; approaches work with a learning orientation, continuously seeking to improve his or her own work and the work of the organization
• Possesses a deep appreciation for diversity, equity and inclusion and seeks to bring people together along lines of difference; is able to model this value in Room to Grow’s internal work by treating our diverse population of families with sensitivity, respect, compassion, and dignity, as well as demonstrating this value with an external presence

Strategic Thinking - Allows a candidate to synthesize information and extract key findings and trends in order to develop, communicate, and execute strategy. A successful candidate: 

• Links strategic objectives with the financial goals of the organization with a focus on execution
• Applies insight and  experience in developing and implementing multi-year strategic plans, preferably for a multi-site or complex organizations
• A proactive thinker who seeks out opportunities for learning and growth, respectfully and productively questions the status quo, and has a knack for generating innovative, problem-solving ideas
• Demonstrates disciplined, entrepreneurial, and out-of-the-box thinking, with experience developing and adapting strategies in the face of complexity and ambiguity

Project Management - Allows a candidate to advance work by establishing clear and actionable plans and managing up, down, and sideways in order to deliver outcomes. A successful candidate:

• Manages multiple high-stakes projects with strong judgment, strong attention to detail and accuracy, and excellent follow-through skills
• Effectively manages colleagues and leadership to move projects forward in a timely manner

• Adjusts course as needed in the face of challenges and opportunities to maximize impact and deliver results

Resourcefulness - Enables a candidate to respond to difficult and complex situations quickly, responsibly, and respectfully with all constituents involved. A successful candidate:

• Finds innovative ways to overcome obstacles, solve problems, or deal with unforeseen/challenging situations with limited resources 
• Is forward thinking, having the ability to anticipate consequences of situations or implications of certain actions, and then to respond appropriately
• Can effectively manage their responsibilities and is able to shift priorities quickly when the situation warrants, applying independent judgment even in high stress situations to provide speedy and effective resolution of issues and complaints
• Leads by example, creating a respectful and inclusive environment while upholding the pillars of the Room to Grow program

Fundraising and External Engagement  - Allows a candidate to achieve fundraising goals as well as serve as an effective ambassador and thought leader for Room to Grow, establishing deep relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders. A successful candidate: 

• A skilled communicator with the ability to engage and influence a diverse spectrum of individuals, independently driving the cultivation and stewardship of donors and other external partners 
• Executes a holistic strategy to achieve annual revenue targets, and an eagerness to think creatively about exploring alternative ways to diversify revenue
• Is able to initiate, cultivate, and influence key stakeholder groups including board members, current funders, prospects, and policy leaders with effective communication, relationship building, and fostering trust
• Delegates responsibly with an emphasis on growing team members’ expertise while executing effective and powerful special events

Compensation and Benefits

Room to Grow offers a collaborative work environment, competitive compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 8 weeks of paid time off per year
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA
• 403(b) retirement savings with matching program
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement up to $150 per quarter
• So much more! 

Salary and benefits will be competitive for our field and commensurate with experience. Room to Grow is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to share any required accommodations with elise.spector@roomtogrow.org, who will treat your requests as confidentially as possible.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We view differences between individuals (e.g., race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, beliefs, and lifestyle) as an asset. We celebrate what makes us unique and strive to create an inclusive environment for all. We are focused on fostering a culture of empowerment in an effort to better understand and serve the multifaceted cultures and identities of all of those within the Room to Grow community. At Room to Grow, our DEI efforts focus on uplifting the experiences and perspectives of underrepresented groups and doing the work that draws out the best in all of us.

To Apply

Submit your application via Room to Grow’s career portal.