Director, Event Services & Rentals

Title: Director, Event Services & Rentals

Employment Status: Exempt

Salary: $84,000 - $115,763

Supervisor Title: CTAO

Date Revised:  July 2025

Summary of Position:

The Director, Event Services & Rentals is responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and sales of weddings and private rental events at Meridian International Center. This role involves leading and executing business development and sales plans to meet annual financial goals, managing a team, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-end VIP events to meet client expectations and organizational goals. This is a client-facing role that blends business development, sales, and customer service excellence with operational oversight. The position will work collaboratively and collegially across the organization, including a close relationship with the Senior Director, Institutional Programs, to ensure events reflect Meridian’s standards of excellence and meet both client expectations and institutional goals.

Meridian is consistently rated as one of the top ten wedding and private rental venues in the DMV, known for its exclusive and private spaces and ambience, with a well-deserved reputation for excellence and unparalleled event experiences.

This position is in Washington D.C. and Meridian requires MD, DC, or VA residence for all employees. The position requires regular on-site presence and availability for early mornings, late evenings, and occasional weekends.

Position Responsibilities:

• Direct and oversee the planning and scheduling, logistics and execution, and onsite management for Meridian’s internal room and space requests for programs, meetings and events in coordination with the Senior Director, Institutional Programs.
• Manage the private event revenue profit center, conducting house tours for potential event hosts, creating and updating venue rental information and house regulations, and ensuring high-end operational consistency for a top-rated private event venue and conference center
• Drive sales efforts to secure new business and maintain relationships with existing clients; develop and implement sales and marketing strategies to achieve revenue targets
• Identify and implement opportunities for growth and improvement for all aspects of Meridian events and sales
• Uphold and execute Meridian’s high standards for execution, with strong attention to detail, and an emphasis on delivering excellent client experiences
• Serve as a member of the core planning team for the annual Meridian Ball
• Supervise and support staff, vendors and partners on-site during weddings, event rentals and organizational events
• Manage vendor relationships including development and implementation of vendor guidelines, and operational best practices related to care of the historic Meridian campus and neighborhood relations
• Maintain awareness of best practices and trends in the exclusive events space, and a willingness to adapt new practices as needed
• Serve as an institutional resource for protocol, event management, and event operational best practices
• Oversee and maintain events budget to chart revenue and expenses related to private events and weddings
• Maintain comprehensive and accessible documentation of processes, contacts, relationships, etc. necessary for seamless continuity through Salesforce (CRM) and other systems
• Lead and mentor event team members, including event operations team
• Ensure timely completion of all organizational administrative responsibilities and deadlines.
• Other duties as assigned

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 8 or more years of direct experience in a high-end top-rated event venue
• Demonstrated record of high-level event sales, marketing and business development required; potential client list is a competitive advantage
• Experience with high-level administration, diplomatic, and/or corporate events and weddings
• Or any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Requires exceptional ability to work collaboratively and collegially with colleagues, staff, vendors, and other partners in a sometimes high-stress and demanding environment
• Understanding of event logistics, budgeting, vendor management, and coordination of all event-related activities
• Demonstrated knowledge of sales strategies, marketing techniques, and business development to attract and retain clients in a high-level client facing role
• Knowledge of the Washington, D.C. area events industry to include vendors, planners, partners, and potential clients
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Spanish language a big plus
• Ability to identify and resolve issues quickly, efficiently, and amicably
• Multi-tasking is a must with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
• Creative and innovative ideation, with exceptional and unwavering attention to implementation of detail
• Strong interpersonal and cultural communication skills; maturity, cultural sensitivity, and tact suitable for working with individuals from around the world

Technical Requirements:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams is necessary for this role
• Experience with Canva, Zoom and Salesforce is helpful; use of Salesforce will be required

Employer’s Statement

Meridian is committed to empowering global leaders and amplifying voices of a wide variety of backgrounds to create pathways for greater understanding, shared values, and respect. Connecting people has been our foundation for over 65 years. If you share our values and enthusiasm to promote non-partisan collaboration to address global challenges and opportunities, you can find a home at Meridian.

As an equal opportunity employer, Meridian promotes equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, family responsibilities, marital, veteran or military status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be offered and maintained to all persons at every stage and condition of employment, including recruiting, hiring, training, upgrading, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Meridian offers a comprehensive benefits package including a full medical plan with no deductible, dental (including orthodontics), a retirement plan with a substantial employer contribution from day one, fully paid life, long- and short-term disability, a variety of voluntary benefits, and generous paid leave and holidays.

How to Apply 

Please submit a cover letter and resume that demonstrates and quantifies sales record and execution of high-level events. Qualified candidates should apply here. Only candidates being considered for this position will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS in reference to this position will be accepted.