Associate Director, Global Event Operations

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a globally minded, publicly supported, non-partisan, and nonprofit think tank headquartered in Santa Monica, with offices in Washington, DC, New York, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. For the past three decades, the Milken Institute has served as a catalyst for practical, scalable solutions to global challenges by connecting human, financial, and educational resources to those who need them.

Guided by a conviction that the best ideas, under-resourced, cannot succeed, we conduct research and analysis and convene top experts, innovators, and influencers from different backgrounds and competing viewpoints. We leverage this expertise and insight to construct programs and policy initiatives. These activities are designed to help people build meaningful lives, in which they can experience health and well-being, pursue effective education and gainful employment, and access the resources required to create ever-expanding opportunities for themselves and their broader communities.

The Milken Institute’s events and programmatic activities, involve the exchange of ideas with leaders from around the world. The Institute hosts more than 200 events each year, with our annual flagship event, Global Conference, bringing together 4,500+ participants from around the world, featuring more than 900+ speakers throughout 200+ sessions over the course of the event.

The Milken Institute is seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Associate Director, Global Event Operations to oversee the planning and execution of high-profile events worldwide. This role will play a critical part in managing the operational and logistical aspects of our global event portfolio, ensuring seamless coordination across internal teams, external partners, and key stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in event operations, vendor management, budget oversight, and large-scale event logistics. They should excel in high-pressure environments, possess exceptional organizational skills, and be adept at balancing multiple projects with competing deadlines.

• Oversee end-to-end event logistics, including venue selection, contracts, rooming lists, catering, audiovisual needs, and event production.
• Manage and maintain event specifications, production timelines, and staffing plans to ensure all milestones and deadlines are met.
• Work closely with event programming, engagement, and development teams to align operational plans with strategic event objectives.
• Serve as the main point of contact for vendors, suppliers, and venue partners, ensuring compliance with contractual agreements and service standards.
• Lead all site selection and RFP processes, negotiating contracts for hotels, venues, production vendors, and third‑party agencies to maximize cost efficiencies.

• Develop, track, and manage event budgets, ensuring adherence to financial targets and ROI goals.
• Conduct cost analysis and forecasting, identifying opportunities for cost savings while maintaining quality standards.
• Lead post-event financial reconciliation, ensuring all vendor invoices are reviewed and processed accurately.

• Manage relationships with AV production teams, sourcing agents, event production firms, and third‑party vendors to deliver high‑quality experiences.
• Work closely with internal teams, including Communications, Business & Program Development, and Outreach & Engagement, to ensure operational success.
• Oversee registration processes and attendance tracking in collaboration with internal stakeholders.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of…