Director, Strategic Events & Experiences

Position Description:

The Director, Strategic Events & Experiences is a senior functional leader responsible for owning and driving the strategy, content, and execution of Ren’s events portfolio — delivering programs that deepen relationships, advance the brand, and contribute measurable business outcomes. This role establishes the operational objectives, standards, and delivery frameworks that define how Ren shows up across every event it owns or participates in.

The Director holds end-to-end ownership of Ren’s flagship event, the DAF Giving Summit (DGS), including full responsibility for the attendee experience and content program, budget management, and the development and execution of a sponsorship and registration revenue strategy to offset program costs. The Director is accountable for net expense performance — not just total spend. Beyond DGS, the portfolio includes the iPhi User Group, conference strategy and participation, and select relationship-focused programs such as UHNW roundtables and Customer Advisory Boards.

This role requires a creative and strategic leader who brings genuine passion for building differentiated, memorable events, paired with the operational rigor to execute at a consistently high level. The Director works closely with senior internal stakeholders and engages high-profile external constituents — including speakers, sponsors, and partners — with the executive presence and professional credibility those relationships require.

The ideal candidate combines vision with executional follow-through: a builder who can design an inspired attendee experience and manage the team, vendors, and budget to make it happen reliably, on time, and on target.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Events Strategy & Portfolio Ownership

• Portfolio strategy: Establish and drive the strategic direction for Ren’s full events portfolio. Define how each program advances business objectives, deepens key relationships, and reinforces Ren’s brand — ensuring each event is purposefully designed and consistently executed.
• DAF Giving Summit — end-to-end ownership: Own DGS from strategic planning through post-event closeout. Lead content strategy and programming, attendee experience design, logistics, vendor management, and financial performance. This is a full-ownership role: strategy, creativity, and execution all sit here.
• DGS content & programming: Design and own the DGS content agenda — including session architecture, speaker identification and acquisition, topic strategy, and the overall intellectual narrative of the event. Ensure the program reflects Ren’s leadership in DAF-enabled charitable giving and delivers genuine value to attendees.
• DGS attendee experience: Actively shape and champion the end-to-end attendee experience at DGS — from pre-event communications through on-site moments to post-event engagement. Bring creative vision to the design of touchpoints, environment, and flow that make DGS a differentiated and memorable event in the DAF community.
• iPhi User Group: Own the strategy and execution of the iPhi User Group, ensuring each event delivers meaningful value to participants and reflects Ren’s commitment to its product community.
• Relationship & executive events: Lead strategy and execution for select Ren-owned relationship programs, including UHNW roundtables and Customer Advisory Boards, ensuring each experience deepens strategic partnerships and reinforces Ren’s position as a trusted partner.
• Conference & industry presence: Own the strategy and execution of Ren’s conference participation portfolio — sponsorships, speaking engagements, and hosted activations. Evaluate opportunities based on business impact and brand alignment; ensure a consistent, differentiated Ren presence across the industry.

Sponsorship, revenue & financial management

• Sponsorship strategy & revenue development: Develop and execute a sponsorship and registration revenue strategy for DGS to offset program costs. Build and manage the sponsorship pipeline, structure partnership packages, and close revenue against defined targets. The Director is accountable for net expense, not just total budget deployment.
• Budget & P&L management: Own budget development, allocation, and reconciliation across the events portfolio. Manage costs and revenue to deliver against net expense targets; report on financial performance and identify opportunities to improve event economics.
• KPI development & performance reporting: Establish and track performance metrics across the portfolio, including attendee satisfaction, engagement, pipeline contribution, sponsorship revenue, and ROI. Track and report on post-event pipeline attribution, lead conversion, and registration performance as primary success metrics alongside attendee engagement and satisfaction. Use data and post-event analysis to drive continuous improvement and communicate value to senior leadership.

Stakeholder engagement & executive presence

• Senior leadership partnership: Work closely with the Head of Corporate Marketing and other senior leaders to align events with organizational priorities. Bring forward proactive recommendations on portfolio strategy, program investments, and performance.
• External relationship management: Engage high-profile external constituents — including keynote speakers, sponsors, and strategic attendees — with professional credibility, warmth, and executive presence. Represent Ren confidently at all levels of external interaction.
• Cross-functional alignment: Build and maintain effective working relationships across Marketing, Sales, Product, and Growth to align events with broader business objectives. Communicate event strategies and outcomes clearly to diverse, senior audiences; navigate complex stakeholder dynamics with confidence.
• Brand stewardship: Serve as the internal standard-bearer for how Ren shows up at events — ensuring consistent brand expression, quality of experience, and alignment with Ren’s values across the full portfolio.

People leadership & team development

• Team leadership: Lead, develop, and hold accountable direct reports responsible for specific programs within the events portfolio. Set clear expectations, provide ongoing feedback, and foster a high-performance culture grounded in creative ambition and operational discipline.
• Capability building: Develop team expertise in experience design, event operations, content development, sponsorship management, vendor relations, and the use of AI and emerging event technology. Invest in team growth and effectiveness.
• Vendor & partner management: Oversee the selection, direction, and performance of vendors, agencies, and production partners across the portfolio. Hold external partners to consistent standards of quality, reliability, and accountability.
• Process & operational frameworks: Develop and maintain playbooks, timelines, and repeatable operational processes that enable consistent, scalable delivery across a growing events portfolio.

AI & innovation

• Technology-enabled events: Identify and apply AI tools and event technology — including platforms such as Bizzabo, Cvent, or Splash, and AI-assisted tools for planning, personalization, and measurement — to improve event strategy, execution quality, and attendee experience. Stay current on emerging trends and bring innovative approaches to the portfolio.

Other duties as assigned

Education & Experience:

• Experience: 8–12 years of progressive experience in event strategy, experiential marketing, or program leadership, with demonstrated end-to-end ownership of complex, high-visibility events including flagship conferences or summits.
• Content & programming: Proven experience owning event content strategy — including session design, speaker acquisition, and agenda architecture — for multi-session or multi-track events. Able to shape the intellectual narrative of an event with both strategic intent and creative execution.
• Attendee experience design: Demonstrated ability to design and deliver differentiated attendee experiences — from journey mapping and environment design to on-site touchpoints and post-event engagement. Brings a creative point of view and the executional follow-through to realize it.
• Sponsorship & revenue experience: Hands-on experience developing and executing event sponsorship programs and/or registration revenue strategies, including pipeline development, package structuring, and closing. Familiarity with managing to a net expense target rather than a gross budget.
• Financial acumen: Experience managing multi-million-dollar event budgets, including cost management, reconciliation, and performance measurement. Comfortable with both cost and revenue sides of event financial management.
• Executive presence: Demonstrated ability to engage confidently with senior internal stakeholders and high-profile external constituents — including speakers, sponsors, and executive-level guests. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills; equally effective in a planning room and on an event floor.
• People leadership: Experience leading and developing event teams, with a track record of setting high standards, providing meaningful development support, and holding team members accountable to consistent delivery.
• Cross-functional influence: Proven ability to build alignment across Marketing, Sales, Product, and senior leadership around complex, multi-stakeholder programs. Navigates competing priorities and differing perspectives with clarity and composure.
• Event technology: Proficiency with event management and marketing platforms (e.g., Bizzabo, Cvent, Splash, or equivalent) and familiarity with CRM and marketing automation tools (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot). Experience with AI-assisted planning, personalization, or measurement tools preferred.
• AI fluency: Working familiarity with AI productivity and event planning tools. Appetite to explore and adopt emerging technologies that improve event quality, efficiency, and measurement.
• Industry background: Experience in fintech, wealth management, financial services, or philanthropy is a plus. Familiarity with the DAF, donor-advised giving, or UHNW advisory landscape is strongly preferred.
• Certifications: CMP, CEM, or equivalent professional certification preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Business, Hospitality, or a related field required.

Leveling Note: This role is classified at the M3 level on the Management career track. The Senior Director establishes operational objectives, policies, and work plans within the events function; develops and implements programs that affect multiple areas of the organization; and drives the strategy and success of complex, high-visibility initiatives. Erroneous decisions may jeopardize overall business activities and have medium-term impact on the team, programs, and function. The role oversees experienced professionals and is accountable for the events function budget.

Ren is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.