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Convention & Events Director
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National Hardwood Lumber Association
Memphis, TN (In Person)
$70,000 Salary, Full-Time
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Job Description
•Candidates who submit an indeed resume will not be reviewed - please submit your own uploaded resume•About NHLA The National Hardwood Lumber Association has been the voice of the hardwood lumber industry for more than 130 years. Based in Memphis, TN, NHLA serves a national membership of manufacturers, distributors, and allied businesses through education, inspection services, advocacy, and industry events. Our annual convention and year-round event calendar are among the most visible member benefits we deliver — and the person in this role is central to making them exceptional. The Opportunity We are looking for a seasoned, detail-driven event professional to own NHLA's full event portfolio — from our flagship annual convention to board meetings, member courses, webinars, and industry trade shows. This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives on bringing complex, multi-stakeholder events to life on time and on budget. You will manage every phase of the event lifecycle: planning, contracting, logistics, on-site execution, and post-event reconciliation. Our annual convention draws approximately 1,000 attendees and 130 exhibitors, making it one of the hardwood industry's premier gatherings — and the centerpiece of this role. Budget ownership is a defining responsibility of this role. You will build event budgets from the ground up, track actuals against projections, negotiate vendor contracts, and report financial outcomes to leadership. We are looking for someone who understands that fiscal discipline and creative event design go hand in hand. What You'll Do Event Planning & Execution Manage all aspects of NHLA conventions, board meetings, webinars, courses, and special events from concept through post-event reconciliation Develop and manage event budgets of varying scale; track actuals vs. budget, identify variances, and report outcomes to leadership Negotiate contracts with venues, hotels, caterers, A/V vendors, and other suppliers — with a sharp eye on cost containment and value Lead site visits, pre-event planning meetings, and on-site production; coordinate setup, breakdown, and all day-of logistics Design and implement attendee engagement strategies, including networking opportunities and interactive programming Build and maintain a comprehensive database of venues, vendors, and industry contacts Trade Shows & Allied Association Events Plan and oversee NHLA's presence at external trade shows, including booth design, staffing, travel coordination, and budget management Coordinate speaking opportunities for the Executive Director and Chief Inspector Manage and track travel expenses for staff attending trade shows, ensuring adherence to budgetary guidelines Prepare post-event reports on outcomes including lead generation, brand exposure, and financial performance Revenue & Member Engagement Identify opportunities to drive event revenue through sponsorships, advertising, and exhibit sales during member interactions Engage non-member attendees to introduce NHLA membership benefits Track and report qualified leads and revenue opportunities generated through event participation What You Bring 3-5 years of event and meeting planning experience, including direct budget development and expense management responsibility across conventions, trade shows, and board meetings Demonstrated ability to build, manage, and reconcile event budgets; negotiate cost-effective vendor contracts; and maintain financial accountability across multiple simultaneous projects Proven experience managing hotel room blocks Exceptional organizational and project management skills — you can juggle competing priorities without dropping details Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable interfacing with executives, vendors, members, and staff Creative problem-solving ability — you handle the unexpected without missing a beat A customer-service mindset and the professionalism to represent NHLA with confidence at any event Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field preferred (relevant experience may be substituted) CMP, CSEP, or similar professional certification is a plus