Position Summary:  The Event Technology Manager manages NAFSA’s infrastructure supporting virtual, in-person and hybrid events.  In this role, (s)he works closely with internal stakeholders and vendors to ensure the event technology platforms remain current, evolve with the organization, and effectively support NAFSA’s events from small, stand-alone events to major conferences.

NOTE: Due to the current pandemic, NAFSA employees are currently working remotely. However, please note that the permanent work location for this position is the NAFSA headquarters office in Washington, D.C.

Major Functions and Responsibilities

Strategy, Planning and Deployment (40%)

• Use the Event Technology Toolkit to facilitate event planning, scope and budget discussions with event owners across the organization.
• Partner with NAFSA event planning teams to plan event system implementations.
• Lead sessions to review and revise event systems functionality to best meet NAFSA’s specific
• events requirement.
• Consult decision makers, systems owners, and end-users to define business, financial, and operations requirements and systems goals, and identify and resolve systems issues.
• Review and analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of event systems and develop strategies for improving or further leveraging these systems.
• Actively maintain the event technology team workplan for all NAFSA events.
• Create and maintain realistic timelines in conjunction with event stakeholders for setup and implementation of event platforms.
• Research and recommend best practices, standards, and policies for NAFSA enterprise platforms supporting NAFSA events.
• Stay abreast of developments in virtual event technologies. Actively research and recommend emerging technologies to support innovation in NAFSA’s events and member landscape.

Enterprise Event Technology Management (40%)

• Oversee and support the annual systems setup and the implementation cycles for NAFSA annual and regional conferences and other events. Advise on recommendations or alternatives that address existing and potential trouble areas in event operations across the organization.
• Ensure accurate system setup and new feature and implementation in event technology systems.
  • Recommend modifications to process workflows, optimize user experience and backend data capture protocols in the iMIS AMS. 
• Prepare and deliver reports, recommendations, or alternatives that address existing and potential trouble areas in event operations across the organization
• Ensure compatibility and interoperability of event and in-house computing systems.
• Support testing, including end-user reviews, for modified and new systems. Provide post-implementation support.
• Oversee active maintenance of system and business process documentation and training for effective knowledge transfer across NAFSA.
• Provide guidance and/or instruction to junior staff members.

Staff and Vendor Management (15%)

• Lead and guide NAFSA cross-departmental teams in the implementation of Event Technology platforms and services.
• Motivate, support, assess and evaluate direct reports in the production of timely, high-quality technology support and service.
• Convey NAFSA’s strategic and operational needs to vendors; translate those needs into appropriate scopes of work, timelines, work plans, and budgets. 
• Partner closely with numerous external vendors providing technology infrastructure support; ensure contracts and service level agreements are fulfilled; lead contract review & renewal process for systems identified in annual workplan.
• Perform cost-benefit and return on investment analyses as a precursor to the period vendor contract renewal cycle. 
• Monitor contract service level agreements and spending against annual allocated budgets
• Consult with supervisor on the strategies, problem-solving and accomplishments of the team.

Other projects as assigned (5%)

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• A minimum of 5 years successful experience working within project-based work structures, developing or leading programs or projects, and effectively managing tasks and timelines.
• Power user or administrator of event management and virtual event platforms such as CadmiumCD, SwapCard, event registration and other platforms.
• Demonstrated experience in effectively supporting end users of web-based applications, with a strong customer service orientation.
• Proven ability to conduct research into and resolve product and service-related issues
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple streams of work, prioritizing appropriately, and problem-solving effectively in complex situations
• The candidate is flexible, multi-task-oriented, creative, and able to work in a fast-paced team environment as well as independently.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks
• Great work ethic and intellectual curiosity.
• Ability to deal tactfully with and elicit cooperation from a wide variety of stakeholders and vendors; Persuasive, encouraging, and diplomatic.
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Willing and able to quickly learn and master additional proprietary software such as iMIS, Informz, etc.
• Ability to master new systems quickly and to effectively research a wide range of issues when troubleshooting user issues
• Superb interpersonal skills with the ability to assist users of various skill levels and backgrounds on technical systems and procedures.
• Ability to present ideas with technical language in both a user-friendly and business-friendly manner
• Effective team collaborator with excellent oral and written communication skills; at ease leading meetings and trainings, listening, and problem solving
• Excellent ability to prioritize and execute tasks under pressure

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with nonprofit, education, or international education institutions
• Technology system evaluation and procurement
• Experience in leadership roles, staff management and mentorship
• Budget management
• Digital Event Strategist certification