Director, Advancement Operations & Volunteer

Title: Director, Advancement Operations & Volunteer Experience

Department: Advancement  
Status: Exempt  
Reports To: Vice President of Advancement 

Position Summary

The Director, Advancement Operations & Volunteer Experience will provide strategic leadership for NPF’s development operations and volunteer engagement functions. This role will lead the team that oversees the planning and execution of high-impact fundraising, stewardship, and engagement events while leading the development and implementation of a comprehensive volunteer engagement strategy. The position is responsible for ensuring operational excellence across all event-related activities, including budget planning, financial management, logistics, and performance evaluation.

Working collaboratively with the Chief Development Officer, Vice President of Advancement, and Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, the Director develops and manages event profit and loss statements, oversees event expenses, and supports revenue-generating strategies to achieve fundraising goals. The Director is also accountable for developing, monitoring, and meeting budget targets while driving efficiencies and maximizing the impact of volunteer and event programs.

As part of NPF's evolution toward a relationship-based fundraising model, this position will centralize event logistics, volunteer management, vendor oversight, delivery of partner benefits, and event technology while creating meaningful volunteer experiences that advance fundraising, community engagement, and stewardship goals. 

Key Responsibilities

Event Strategy & Operations

• Lead operational planning and execution foralldevelopmenteventsand programsincluding: 

• Commit to Cure Gala(s)
• Volunteer Impact Summit
• Regional Inside Psoriatic Disease (IPD) events
• Regionalized community and fundraising special events(soirée, fleur, etc.)
• Health and Wellness Challenge and additional fundraising, stewardship, and engagement events

• Lead budget development and fiscal accountability across the team, mentoring direct reports to strengthen financial acumen and decision-making.Track and report on event performance, volunteer engagement, attendance, and operational outcomes.
• Advise and work collaboratively with other Development leaders to create event strategythat advances development department goals.
• Manage operations team to ensure timely set up and management ofevent and fundraising web pages, development ofevent timelines, project plans, operational processes,run of show, table seating, AV, slide and script development.
• Oversee vendor relationships (including hotel partner), contract negotiation, venue management,site layouts, staffing plans,event technology platforms (including GiveSmart), andonsite execution.
• Manage fulfillment of corporate sponsorshipsof eventsincluding distribution of product samples, materials, logo signage, tables, attendees, etc.
• Establish and implement best practices to improve event efficiency, effectiveness, and participant experience.

Volunteer Engagement

• Develop and implement a comprehensive volunteer engagement strategy that supportskey activities includingfundraising, events, advocacy, and stewardship initiatives.
• Oversee volunteer recruitment, training, deployment, recognition, and retention.
• Oversee team to create meaningful volunteer opportunities that deepen engagement and strengthen connections to NPF's mission.
• Establishand trackvolunteer performance metrics and engagement goalsreport out andevaluate progressquarterly.

Special Events, IPDs, and Commit to Cure Galas Leadership

• Overseeall logistics and operational planning forspecial events, IPDs, and Galas, including partneringwith leadership to develop seating plans, name tags,event flow, etc.
• Oversee developmentand distributionof honoree fundraising materials, including toolkits, templates, graphics, and promotional assets.Partner with marketing on outreach to drive attendance.
• Provide strategic oversight of honoree tribute video production and ensure alignment with event messaging and fundraising goals.
• Ensure development and execution ofguest experience initiatives, including welcomebags,hotel logistics, andgift bags.

Impact Summit & Engagement Events 

• Overseelogistics planning and volunteer engagement activities forHealth & Wellness initiative, P2P initiatives such as marathon bibs, and volunteerImpact Summit.
• Support development of event experiences that strengthen donor, volunteer, and community engagement.
• Oversee the development of program content, materials, and coordination of speakers.
• Identify opportunities to leverage events as relationship-building and stewardship tools.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Advancement to ensure donors, fundraisers, and prospect engagement strategies are integrated into all events.
• Collaborate with Corporate Relations to collect sponsor guest lists and ensure sponsorship benefits are fulfilled.
• Work with Marketing and Communications to support event promotion, email communications, social media, and public relations activities.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment across fundraising, partnership, and engagement goals.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing, service-oriented team culture.
• Establish goals, accountability measures, and professional development opportunities forteam.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in event management, nonprofit operations, volunteer engagement, or related fields.
• 4+ years of staff management experience.
• Demonstrated success leading complex events and operational initiatives.
• Strong project management, budgeting, and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship management abilities.

Preferred

• Experience in nonprofit fundraising,development, event operations, and volunteer engagement strategy.
• Experience withdevelopment technology such as Razors Edge andGiveSmart or similar event platforms.
• Experience buildingandmanaging volunteer engagement programs.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Event & Operations Management
• Volunteer Engagement
• Project Management
• Budget Management
• Relationship Building
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Team Development

Success Measures

Success in this role will be demonstrated through:

• Flawless execution of key fundraising and stewardship events.
• Increased volunteer engagement and retention.
• Improved operational efficiency and event performance.
• Strong internal collaboration across Advancement, Corporate Relations, and Marketing.
• Effective leadership and development of the operations and volunteer engagement team.
• Meaningful contributions to donor, volunteer, and community engagement goals.