Sr. Project Manager, Association Meetings & Events

About

QED‑C® (Quantum Economic Development Consortium) is an industry association dedicated to growing the quantum economy through community‑building and collaboration. The organization serves member organizations operating in more than 20 countries. The Sr. Project Manager, Association Meetings & Events will lead the expansion of QED‑C’s meeting and event offerings into a profitable, million‑dollar line of business that advances QED‑C’s strategic goals: engage & empower members, be the voice of the quantum industry, and inform & influence policy. This role reports to the QED‑C Deputy Director and is part of a tight‑knit management team.

Responsibilities

Strategy

• Maintain and implement an organization‑level strategy and policies for events that advance QED‑C’s mission and strategic goals.
• Engage with volunteer leaders to develop and implement event‑specific strategies aligned with QED‑C’s objectives, aiming to increase engagement and satisfaction in the first year.
• Manage event pricing and sponsorship to achieve and sustain net‑positive revenue from signature events within three years.

Planning

• Own overall events P&L; develop and maintain budgets for all events.
• Lead planning and execution of in‑person, hybrid, and virtual industry meetings & events in the US and abroad, collaborating with operations, marketing, procurement, and volunteer liaison teams.
• Develop an annual sponsorship prospectus; cultivate sponsors and exhibitors that provide value to participants and to QED‑C.
• Create and maintain event project plans, run‑of‑show documents, and associated documentation.
• Manage stakeholder pre‑event meetings, including kick‑off, regular check‑ins, and run‑of‑show.
• Organize and schedule shipment of materials to/from events.

Administration

• Negotiate and manage agreements and relationships with vendors/contractors supporting QED‑C events, coordinating with internal stakeholders.
• Manage all aspects of event registration (pricing, form/page creation, monitoring accuracy, VIP/speaker/sponsor assistance, reporting, badge creation).
• Maintain inventory of event‑related items.
• Perform post‑event follow‑ups consistent with event policy.
• Maintain event‑related statistics for use in reports.
• Respond to general association and event‑related inquiries.

Execution

• Serve as on‑site liaison for vendors/contractors.
• Manage on‑site registration and logistics; ensure staffing of critical support areas (registration desk, in‑room A/V), conduct tech checks, coordinate set‑up/tear‑down/packing, and oversee placement of signage and collateral.
• Launch and staff virtual events.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree and 8 years of relevant experience OR minimum 12 years of experience with progressive responsibilities in events management.
• Current CMP or CAE credentials.
• Experience developing, maintaining, growing, and managing a profitable professional events program (ideally up to $300K‑$1M per event).
• Proficiency with:
  • Project management software (e.g., Asana)
  • Event registration platforms (e.g., Cvent or Eventbrite)
  • Virtual meeting and webinar systems (e.g., Zoom)
  • Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (conditional formatting, pivot tables, etc.)
  • CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce or HubSpot)
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships and balance multiple projects.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and effectively to coworkers, volunteers, and stakeholders at all levels, both orally and in writing.
• Customer‑oriented demeanor.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn, contribute, and grow in a startup‑like environment.
• Solutions‑oriented critical thinker who performs well under pressure during large events.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in business administration, hospitality, or a related field.
• Experience with international events for a high‑tech industry.

Work Environment

• Metro‑accessible office location in Rosslyn, VA.
• Hybrid schedule with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office; flexible hours (e.g., 9/80 schedule) possible.
• Professional, fast‑paced “startup” environment; crises are rare, but event days are busy.
• Approximately 20 % travel (some international).
• Occasional work outside regular business hours, especially leading up to and during events.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $117,684 – $155,934 (varies based on location, market competitiveness, and internal equity).
• Eligibility for SRI’s Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance‑Based Compensation program.
• Competitive benefits package (details at https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/).