Event Planning Director

Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

The American Heart Association has an excellent opportunity for an Event Planning Director based in Honolulu. This is an on‑site, requiring the ideal candidate to work from our Honolulu office and travel locally for on‑site visits related to venue selection, event planning, and execution across Hawaii.

The Event Planning Director is responsible for effectively developing, planning, managing, and implementing events aligned with the Hawaii Division's fundraising campaigns to ensure overall success of division revenue, health impact and volunteer engagement goals. This includes independently managing all aspects of event planning and execution including engaging, organizing, and managing internal and external partners, proactively assessing, and evaluating needs and providing recommendations to improve upon events and customer experiences, and detailed project management.

Oversees events budgets and ensures expenses are within approved annual budget.

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work‑life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award‑winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work‑life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on Linked In, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heartjobs.

• Plans, manages, and implements assigned events for the American Heart Association. This includes all aspects of event planning: event design, vendor selection and management, contract negotiation, visual innovation, budget oversight, resource optimization, and execution excellence. Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of event plans and implementation processes, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, collaboration, and the overall attendee experience.
• Researches, secures, manages, and evaluates vendors to provide necessary services for assigned events, ensuring compliance with purchasing and operating guidelines and staying within budget. Solicits competitive bids for all event needs and proactively seeks cost‑saving opportunities.
• In collaboration with Development and Communications & Marketing, plans visual and interactive event elements and designs printed materials such as invitations, flyers, bidder paddles, presentations, signage, and other collateral, while adhering to the American Heart Association’s branding guidelines. Ensures all materials and signage are produced on schedule and meet event needs.
• Provides leadership in recruiting, orienting, and training event volunteers. Develops staffing plans and leads volunteer management for assigned events.
• Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of sponsor benefits and ensures their delivery throughout the year for assigned events. Develops innovative ways to showcase sponsors and highlight their activations at American Heart Association events.
• Secures necessary permits for assigned events. Manages customer and campaign information using American Heart Association systems accurately, timely, and completely, in accordance with established guidelines.
• Proactively communicates and coordinates timelines and efforts with staff and volunteer partners to ensure strong collaboration and alignment with campaign goals.

Minimum of three years’ experience with:

• Demonstrated track record in special events management in a highly matrixed and customer centric environment. Includes experience managing high volume vendor relationships and large…