Director of Events and Strategic Growth – World Forestry Center – Portland, OR

Director of Events and Strategic Growth – World Forestry Center – Portland, OR

Acumen Executive Search is again honored to partner with World Forestry Center (WFC) in recruiting a mission-driven, business-minded leader to help shape the next chapter of one of Oregon's most beloved and iconic nonprofit event venues and public-facing institutions.

Located in Washington Park, WFC inspires people to understand the connection between forests, climate, wildlife, public health, education, recreation, and sustainable communities. The campus welcomes visitors through its Discovery Museum, Forest Pub Talks, rotating films and other exhibits, educational programs, community partnerships, and a robust calendar of private and public events.

WFC is also investing in a more compelling campus experience, including a refreshed mass-timber entrance, a stunning mass-timber outdoor event pavilion, facility improvements, and a café expected to come online in the next two to three years. This is an opportunity to help grow, market, and operate a venue whose visibility and revenue potential are expanding.

The Director of Events and Strategic Growth will lead earned revenue growth, venue marketing, business strategy, and event operations for one of Portland's most unique mission-based venues. This role is not simply about selling space or managing a calendar; it is about serving as a revenue driver for growth, connecting strategy with operational reality, creating excellent guest experiences, and helping WFC realize the full potential of its campus.

Reporting to the Managing Director, the Director will oversee the full event lifecycle, including inquiries, bookings, planning, rentals, catering and food and beverage coordination, vendor relationships, on-site execution, and post-event relationship building. WFC currently hosts approximately 300 events annually and generates roughly $600,000 in event-related earned revenue, with meaningful opportunity to grow through stronger venue marketing, improved inquiry conversion, expanded cultural and community markets, and a more visible market presence.

WFC wants this role to stay connected to both events and visitor-facing campus operations at this stage. That may include senior-level coordination or light oversight of front desk, Discovery Museum visitor services, and gift shop operations in partnership with a strong existing visitor services and museum management lead. Over time, these responsibilities may remain connected to this role with additional staffing support, or they may shift under another leader if that becomes the more sustainable structure.

Every event booked at WFC directly supports a nonprofit organization advancing education, dialogue, and solutions at the intersection of forests, climate, and sustainable communities. For clients and community partners, WFC offers more than a beautiful venue; it offers the opportunity to gather with purpose.

Revenue Growth, Venue Marketing, & Business Strategy

• Grow event-related earned revenue through stronger venue marketing, rental strategy, inquiry conversion, client relationship development, and mission-aligned market visibility.
• Expand WFC's reach across corporate, nonprofit, civic, cultural, arts, family, festival, and community event markets, including opportunities such as weddings, quinceañeras, cultural celebrations, and arts festivals.
• Own the events P&L, model financial scenarios, monitor revenue forecasts and KPIs, and apply business analysis to pricing, utilization, staffing, vendor partnerships, and growth opportunities.
• Position WFC's evolving campus, including the new mass timber entrance, future café, facility improvements, and planned mass timber outdoor event pavilion, as a distinctive venue for purpose-driven gatherings.

Event Operations, Venue Management & Guest Experience

• Lead venue operations, logistics, rentals, and on-site delivery for weddings, corporate events, nonprofit gatherings, cultural celebrations, arts and music events, family milestones, educational programs, community festivals, and public-facing venue rentals.
• Ensure excellent client, guest, vendor, and…