Conference & Partnerships Manager

The Conference and Partnerships Manager is a forward thinking, passionate leader for change who is excited to collaborate with a dynamic team and organization, working together to fight for freedom without favor, and equality without exception. 

You’ll be helping grow and mobilize a sustainable, collaborative network of educated and engaged individuals and organizations that support church-state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and their dependent issues through visibility, education and activation efforts that are interconnected, impactful, and build upon each other.

This role focuses on producing our annual hybrid Summit for Religious Freedom (300 in person and 500 virtual guests in 2024), its supplemental year-round virtual programming and occasional smaller scale in person/hybrid/virtual events. A significant portion of time will also be dedicated to developing new and existing organizational partnerships. You’ll also have opportunities to collaborate across the organization around the intersections of other key issues and communities (e.g. LGBTQ+, communities of color, reproductive rights, faith communities, public education, fighting christian nationalism and other forms of extremism). 

This is a full-time, exempt position. This position is a union role; it is included in the bargaining unit represented by AU Collective in connection with SEIU Local 500.

Background

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right to believe or not believe, for all of us. Founded in 1947, Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from all walks of life: lawyers and lobbyists, students and activists, religious leaders and impassioned Americans. AU includes people of faith and people who don’t profess any particular faith. It is a community that welcomes people of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions or beliefs, sexual orientations, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities, we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead major AU-sponsored in-person & hybrid events (e.g. Summit for Religious Freedom including Hill Day)
  • Ensure the successful execution and growth of our annual, hybrid (in-person & virtual) Summit for Religious Freedom as the hub for our collective fight for religious freedom, church-state separation, and the issues that depend on them
  • Lead planning, implementation, and management alongside internal teams and external contractors, including leading the onsite team during the Summit
  • Ensure a program that is well-organized and collaborative, promotes networking and peer-learning, and showcases the latest information, trends and strategy
  • Organize logistics to ensure smooth operations
  • Develop and manage budget and timelines
  • As part of SRF, plan and execute a Hill Day experience for in-person attendees
  • Lead other in-person and hybrid events as needed
• Lead major AU-sponsored virtual events (e.g. SRF365)
  • Create, manage and grow year-round virtual programming that amplifies and supplements the Summit (called SRF365) and grows awareness, support, and activation around SRF, church state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and their dependent issues
  • Produce other virtual events as needed
• Lead partnership initiatives
  • Develop and manage a dynamic and impactful portfolio of partnerships in key constituencies and community spaces (e.g. reproductive rights, public schools, pro-democracy, LGBTQ+, communities of color, young people, faith and secular communities) that elevate and connect AU, church-state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and our issues
• Lead external outreach and support initiatives
  • Lead the development and implementation of an external outreach strategic and tactical plan (e.g. sponsorships, conferences, tabling, speaking, DC event visibility) that is proactive, responsive and supports the work and mission of the department and organization
• Create, collaborate, and consult across the department & organization
  • Create, collaborate and consult with colleagues across the department, both proactively and responsively, including: events, the Summit for Religious Freedom, education & training, advocacy and activism, and other efforts as needed
• Be a public leader
  • Support AU’s public engagement portfolio (e.g. conferences, webinars) including:
    • Represent AU at these events with fluency on our organization, church state separation, inclusive religious freedom, and our core issues, especially those in your portfolio
    • Engage with a variety of audiences at tabling, organizing, public speaking and other public engagement events

Skills and Experience

*Research shows candidates from marginalized groups are less likely to apply for positions when they don't meet 100% of listed requirements; please consider applying even if you don’t match 100% of these criteria.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience creating curated, detail focused events for learning and connection – primarily in-person/hybrid, but also virtual
  • AU considers all full- and part-time work that does not overlap with full-time school attendance, and volutneer work with substantial responsibilty, toward the minimum experinece requirement
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Proven event management and production experience focused primarily on large scale, off site, in-person/hybrid events (e.g. conferences), with additional experience creating virtual events of various sizes (e.g. webinars)
• Excitement about hosting events and trying new ideas to build community, connection, and positive change
• Has a service/hospitality mindset and is able to quickly pivot and improvise if unexpected changes arise
• Experience developing and managing programs (long-term/ongoing) and projects (short-term) including delegating, multi-tasking and managing up
• Strong belief in church-state separation and inclusive religious freedom 
• Ability to collaborate productively with stakeholders of differing viewpoints, work across diverse communities (e.g. race, age, class, LGBTQ+, religion/nonreligious), and integrate diversity, equity and inclusion into our work.
• Is proactive, can work independently, and demonstrates a strong attention to detail
• Excellent writing, communication and public speaking skills
• Experience with or willingness to learn relevant technologies (e.g. VAN, Basecamp, Google Drive, Slack, Zoom, conference management tools)

The following skills and experience are preferred, but not required:

• Knowledge, experience, and/or existing networks related to any of our key constituency and community spaces:
  • church-state separation and/or inclusive religious freedom
  • LGBTQ+ rights, public education, pro-democracy, reproductive rights, people of faith, young people, communities of color
• Fluency in Spanish or another language

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range is $76,500 to $93,850 for a candidate with 4 to 16+ years of experience. The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined by the number of years of relevant experience they bring to the role and their qualifications. Americans United offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid premiums for health care, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) with match, and commuter subsidy.

Work Location

This role can work remotely from anywhere in the United States or from our Washington, DC office. The role requires travel to represent AU at events around the country, as well as occasional night and weekend work. 

How to Apply

Please submit a resume. In lieu of a cover letter, you will be asked to provide brief resopnses to three role-related questions when submitting your application. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Individuals from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. AU is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.