Director, Event Design and Operations

companyDescription About the Organization KIPP Public Schools is a national network of tuition-free public charter schools that prepares students with the skills and confidence to create the future they want for themselves, their communities, and us all. We are a network of 279 schools, nearly 16,500 educators, and nearly 210,000 students and alumni. Our mission: Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. Our vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities. The KIPP Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports KIPP public charter schools across the country. The KIPP Foundation helps to develop outstanding educators to lead KIPP schools; provides tools and resources for excellent teaching and learning; promotes innovation; and facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas across KIPP and other public schools and organizations. About Our Values: Excellent Results for Students: We value results over effort and know that our work is not finished until all students thrive. We maintain high expectations for self, team, and students. We drive outcomes by operating with agility, removing barriers, differentiating support, and prioritizing student-centered solutions—especially for those at the margins. Collective Impact: We are one team. We win together. We embody a one-team mindset by working collaboratively across teams, aligning goals, and leveraging the strengths of all teammates. We build trust-based relationships and ensure inclusive decision-making by engaging those closest to the work. We provide clarity through simple, repeatable systems and goals that enable transformational outcomes. Courageous Action: Our belief in what we can achieve is unwavering, fueling our optimism and commitment to overcome any challenge. We demonstrate an unwavering belief in students' potential and a commitment to addressing systemic inequities. We approach challenges with resilience, a solutions-focused mindset, and adaptability. We foster a psychologically safe environment centered on trust and accountability where feedback is encouraged. We leverage data to reflect on progress, own setbacks, celebrate successes, and continuously improve to maximize impact. jobDescription About The Position The Director, Event Design and Operations leads the planning and execution of KIPP Foundation’s organizational gatherings—events that align the network around shared priorities, build belonging across teammates and regions, and accelerate KIPP’s mission. Reporting to the Vice President, Event Design and Operations, this role will be responsible for developing event project plans and governance frameworks; managing key stakeholders and programming partners through event execution; drafting communications; providing feedback on session design as needed; ensuring a high-quality attendee experience; and overseeing all operational aspects of event delivery. They partner closely with Foundation leadership, network attendees, and cross-functional teams to translate strategy into experience—bringing precision, hospitality, and operational discipline to every gathering. This role is for someone who thrives in the details without losing the big picture, and who believes great events are a lever for culture, connection, and outcomes. Responsibilities Own and drive the end-to-end strategy and execution of comprehensive event project plans, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and outcomes. Lead and influence cross-functional stakeholders through event execution, ensuring clarity, alignment, and accountability at all stages. Oversee and manage the full event portfolio budget, setting financial strategy, monitoring performance, and ensuring cost-effective resource allocation. Design and lead experiences and programming that strengthen organizational culture and foster a strong sense of belonging aligned to KIPP’s mission and community. Own and evolve event evaluation strategy, including survey design, insights synthesis, and after-action reviews (AARs) to drive continuous improvement. Direct vendor strategy and contract management, including hotel partnerships, ensuring favorable terms and full compliance with contractual obligations. Partner strategically with Foundation program leadership to align on priorities, manage expectations, and ensure timely delivery of key milestones. Champion the attendee experience, ensuring participant needs are anticipated and met, resulting in high-quality, impactful learning environments. Manage event logistics, including space design, setup, and AV, ensuring a seamless and professional experience at scale. Own the event communications and registration strategy, ensuring clear, timely, and effective engagement with all participants. qualifications Skills and Mindsets Mission and Student Focus: Demonstrates passion and commitment to KIPP’s mission and possesses the desire and ability to uphold KIPP’s core values (Focus on Excellent Results, Collective Impact, and Courageous Action) Self-Management: Demonstrated record of setting ambitious goals and achieving them with consistency. Invests in developing teammates’ skills and mindsets to address gaps in achieving team growth; determines what quantitative and qualitative data are most relevant to their goals and supports the team in creating and monitoring systems for collecting, reviewing, and acting upon data to drive outcomes; able to monitor progress, communicating status to the right stakeholders and adjusting plans and use of time to ensure systems are yielding desired outcomes. Work Management: Sets a clear vision for new or complex bodies of work. Develops and implements agile project plans, navigating difficult situations or conflicts while maintaining effective relationships with all stakeholders; creates and ensures systems are in place for knowledge management Probem-Solving: Addresses the root of problems and removes obstacles from work. Understands how solutions may unearth other obstacles further downstream. Shows initiative in generating and recommending ideas and solutions within their own workstreams. Anticipates risks and develops proactive solutions that support their team. Collaboration: Has the interpersonal, diplomatic, relationship building, and communications skills needed to develop successful working relationships with diverse constituents to deliver results. Evolves and adapts plans and approach with diverse stakeholders to drive results. Possesses excellent communication skills with aptitude for translating complex information into a clear and persuasive narratives that convince others by identifying benefits for all. Experience and Qualifications 8+ years of progressive professional experience in event design, logistics, and large-scale program operations, including experience leading events for a national network or comparably complex organization. Demonstrated experience setting agendas and design for marquee events and ensuring session quality across multiple content owners. Proven ability to manage complex event budgets and negotiate and manage vendor and hotel contracts at scale. Strong track record of survey design, post-event evaluation, and translating learnings into measurable year-over-year improvements. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders and diverse network audiences with clarity and confidence. Experience working in K-12 education, mission-driven national networks, or comparable convening-heavy environments preferred. additionalInformation Work Conditions Travel: High Travel: 21-30% (40-60 days per year) Full, exempt role Location It is preferred, but not mandatory for this role to be based out of a KIPP Foundation office. This role also has the option of working from a remote office full-time. KIPP Foundation offices are in NYC and Chicago. Compensation and Benefits In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, and relevant experience. The salary range for this position is $124,800-$150,000. In addition, KIPP Foundation provides a variety of benefits to employees, including: 25 holidays for + 18 days additional flexible PTO days (flexible PTO increases to 23 days for years 3 and 4 and to 28 days for years 5+). 100% paid parental leave 100% coverage of the premium for employee and 75% for employee + family’s medical/dental/vision plans. Wellness benefits such as fitness reimbursements, discounted tickets to theme parks/attractions, backup care support for children and adults/elders, and our employee assistance program Finance Security benefits include such as a 401K retirement plan with 4% match, employer-sponsored legal plans, life/disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts KIPP Foundation embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the students and communities with whom we work and the world that’s around them. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.