The Community Events Manager, reporting to the Executive Assistant to the Heads of School and the Board of Trustees, is responsible for coordinating logistics for all school-wide events that include internal and external stakeholders, as well as community partners. Working collaboratively with stakeholders including senior leadership, school administrators, faculty, staff, parents, the WIS Parent Association, and external partners, the Community Events Manager plays a vital role in planning and executing events that engage the community, foster a sense of belonging, and advance the school's mission and core values.
Duties and Responsibilities Event Planning and Execution: In partnership with event owners, conceptualize, plan, and execute diverse events such as staff and faculty events, fundraisers, alumni reunions, open houses, cultural events, and parent engagement activities. For many events, the work will be a collaborative effort with other departments such as the Annual Fundraiser for Financial Aid with the Advancement department, new parent receptions for the Admissions department, and academic celebrations with the divisional principals. Coordinate all event logistics through research and recommendations of venue selection, catering, décor, entertainment, and guest accommodations as needed. Develop and manage event timelines, budgets, and resource allocation plans with the event host. Conduct post-event evaluations and implement improvements for future events. Collect receipts and submit timely documentation to the Business Office for all invoice payments. Complete all administrative tasks on time including maintaining a working record of events procedures and logistics, submitting event request forms, and following up on missing information of event form submissions. Come prepared and regularly attend event planning meetings and inform the Facilities team on all pertinent upcoming event details. Consistently update current knowledge of industry best practices and seek new opportunities to update these practices throughout the year. Stakeholder Engagement & Volunteer Management: Liaise with faculty and staff to integrate school initiatives into event programming. Communicate effectively with parents, alumni, and community members to maximize event participation. Partner with various department directors to coordinate all events throughout the school year. In partnership with the Advancement office, promote volunteerism and philanthropy at the school. Using the school's volunteer management system, recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers for certain events. Foster teamwork among volunteers to ensure smooth event operations. Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality Management, Marketing, Communications, Community Relations, or related field. Proven 5-7 years of experience in event planning and execution, preferably in a school or non-profit setting, with a focus on community or public events. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and build positive relationships. Proficiency in project management tools, such as Microsoft Office Suite, VOMO - volunteer management software, and event management software. Creativity, resourcefulness, and a passion for creating vibrant and inclusive communities. Knowledge and understanding of school goals and meeting/event planning principles. Ability to work as part of a team to support school goals. Outstanding organizational skills, including scheduling, budgeting, and contractual negotiations. Self-motivated and capable of working independently. Availability to work outside regular hours for events. Ability to handle confidential information with sensitivity and accuracy. Willingness to learn and adapt to new software applications. About Washington International School
Founded in 1966, Washington International School is a private, non-profit, Preschool-12 school profoundly committed to its mission: to be an exemplary learning community—enriched by differences, informed through inquiry, global in reach. Serving its full community of 900 plus students on two campuses, the school is multinational, multicultural, and multilingual. The school's challenging international program draws on classroom-based research on pedagogical practices and curriculum design from renowned organizations such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Project Zero, based in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. From Preschool through Grade 5 students follow the inquiry-based IB Primary Years Program; in Grades 6-10 they continue with a multidisciplinary and inquiry-based approach designed to enhance understanding and develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the prestigious IB Diploma Program (DP). All students in Grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in the DP, which prepares them to take exams to receive the International Baccalaureate Diploma in addition to a WIS diploma. IB Diploma results are well above the worldwide pass rate, and WIS gra ... duates attend highly selective colleges and universities in both the United States (about two-thirds in a typical year) and abroad.Commitment to the intensive study of a second language is a core principle, with Pre-School, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classes taught entirely in French or Spanish. All instruction in Grades 1-5 is "dual language" in English and either French or Spanish. Chinese is an option beginning in Grade 6. Typically, one half to three-quarters of WIS graduates earn the Bilingual IB Diploma, demonstrating fluency in two languages. The entire school community – alumni, parents, students, teachers, administrators and staff – are ardent advocates for international education. WIS has played a prominent role in setting a standard for a global perspective that many schools now emulate.The school culture is highly egalitarian, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and understanding differing points of view. There is no typical WIS family: some households consist only of U.S. passport holders, others are all non-U.S. passport holders and many are a mix of nationalities. In addition to this global diversity, WIS also strives to achieve economic diversity: 14% of the students receive financial assistance. Show more
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