Director of Special Events
About Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy:
Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has partnered with the National Park Service, Presidio Trust, donors, and the local community to protect and enrich the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Spanning three Bay Area counties, the GGNRA includes iconic sites such as Muir Woods National Monument, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, and the Presidio of San Francisco.
The Parks Conservancy sits at the intersection of public lands, community engagement, social justice, and climate resilience. We work to create volunteer opportunities, foster education, and inspire stewardship. As park builders, caretakers, and educators, we believe in connecting people to these vital spaces, striving toward our vision of Parks for All Forever. Join us.
Development & Membership Branch Overview:
The Director of Special Events will play a critical role in supporting the Parks Conservancy’s dynamic portfolio of programs and projects. The Development & Membership Branch brings in revenue through donations, membership, grants, and by engaging our diverse community of supporters. Special events—ranging from fundraising dinners and donor recognition to member celebrations and volunteer appreciation—are essential to cultivating strong relationships and financial support for the organization.
This position offers the exciting opportunity to unite celebration with stewardship, helping to strengthen both the financial health and partnership engagement of the Parks Conservancy.
Position Overview:
The Director of Special Events reports to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and is responsible for leading the strategy, planning, and execution of a high-impact portfolio of events that elevate the Parks Conservancy’s mission and visibility in the Bay Area. This individual will oversee signature fundraising events, donor engagement experiences, and community celebrations, ensuring they leave lasting impressions and inspire meaningful support for our national parks.
A critical component of this role is leading the annual Trails Forever Dinner, the Parks Conservancy’s premier fundraising event, which raises over $1 million annually. The Director will work collaboratively with a trustee and volunteer committee to drive sponsorships, major gifts, and audience engagement, ensuring the event’s continued growth and success.
This role requires a strategic and creative thinker, a strong leader, and an experienced fundraiser who can balance high-level planning with hands-on execution.
This is a full-time, benefitted position based in San Francisco. This position requires at least 3 days per week onsite, either in office (Fort Mason) or on location at our other incredible park sites and event sites.
Strategic Leadership & Fundraising
- Provide strategic leadership, creative vision, and professional expertise to plan and execute high-quality events that elevate the Parks Conservancy’s brand and impact.
- Partner with the CDO, organizational leadership, board members, and key stakeholders to develop an annual event calendar that strengthens relationships and supports revenue goals.
- Oversee and manage the Trails Forever Dinner, ensuring it meets or exceeds its $1M+ fundraising target and serves as a premier engagement opportunity for donors, trustees, and corporate partners.
- Lead the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of event sponsors, ensuring strong corporate, foundation, and individual philanthropic support.
- Meet or exceed annual fundraising goals while ensuring compliance with budget expense targets.
- Work closely with Development leadership to recruit and manage event committee members and co-chairs, particularly for high-profile fundraising events.
- Develop innovative engagement strategies to enhance donor experiences and maximize giving potential through events.
Event Planning & Execution
- Oversee the end-to-end planning and execution of a diverse portfolio of events, including fundraising dinners, donor cultivation gatherings, staff and volunteer recognition, and public celebrations.
- Manage all aspects of event production, including budget oversight, logistics, communications, and partnership engagement, ensuring seamless coordination across multiple departments.
- Cultivate strong relationships with agency partners to facilitate permitting processes and ensure compliance with all event regulations.
- Partner with the Associate Director of Donor Database & Development Services to ensure accurate tracking of event attendance and donor engagement within Raiser’s Edge.
- Advise and oversee post-event stewardship strategies to maintain donor relationships and build momentum for future events.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Special Events team, ensuring professional growth and successful event outcomes.
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture, working closely with teams across Development, Communications, Membership, and Volunteer Programs.
- Serve as a key member of the Development leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, technology enhancements, and organizational growth.
- Work closely with Development team to create and deliver fundraising and cultivation events as needed by campaign calendars and donor needs, varying in size and location.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
- Exceptional project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex events while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
- Strong leadership abilities, with a track record of inspiring and motivating volunteers, staff, and external partners.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of engaging diverse audiences with clarity and enthusiasm.
- Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with leadership volunteers, board members, donors, and community stakeholders.
- Creative problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset to execute events that align with the organization’s mission and values.
- Ability to work independently while contributing to a high-functioning team.
- Proficiency in event management software, donor databases (such as Raiser’s Edge), and CRM systems.
Qualifications & Experience:
- 7+ years of experience in special events, fundraising, or nonprofit development, with a proven track record of executing high-impact fundraising events.
- Direct experience managing large-scale fundraising events (preferably $1M+), including working with trustees and volunteer committees.
- Strong fundraising experience, including securing sponsorships, major gifts, and corporate partnerships.
- A passion for parks, conservation, and public engagement.
Education and Experience:
- A minimum of seven years of experience leading event planning and production for diverse audiences, preferably within the nonprofit sector.
- Proven success in creating and executing a wide range of events, from local community celebrations to large-scale fundraising events.
- Experience working within a development framework, achieving fundraising objectives in collaboration with Development, Marketing, and Communications teams.
- Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising software (Raiser’s Edge) is highly desirable.
Certifications or License: Valid California driver’s license and a clean driving record required.
Health and Safety:
It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.
Physical Requirements and Work Environments:
- Work is performed in an office setting, in a storage area, in the outdoors on varied terrain and in various weather, in a vehicle, at other event sites.
- Regularly sits at a desk 6-8 hours per day, but some days will be on your feet for 8-10 hours in a day, walking to and around event sites, and going on hikes.
- Must have physical stamina to negotiate various park sites and terrain, in various types of weather, do event set up, load event supplies into vehicles, and be on your feet for 8-10 hours
- Must be able to drive vans and vehicles
- Must be able to lift 40 pounds (cases of wine, event equipment)
- In addition to weekday work hours, must be available early mornings, evenings, weekends, certain holidays, and overnights – as dictated by the events schedule.
Salary/Benefits: $120,000/year (Grade 20). To ensure equity across all candidates, we will not be able to negotiate salary. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision plans; up to 3 weeks of vacation time plus holidays, personal, and sick days; Employee Assistance Program; retirement plan; employer-matched Commuter Program; employee discounts and more.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
