The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Director, Meetings serves as the strategic and operational leader for ACI’s meetings, conventions, and engagement experiences, overseeing the planning and execution of a dynamic portfolio of member-facing and internal events that advance ACI’s mission, strategic priorities, and industry leadership.

This role plays a critical part in shaping how ACI convenes the industry, designing high-impact experiences that strengthen member engagement, support business growth, foster collaboration across the cleaning value chain, and reinforce ACI’s position as the trusted, science-based voice of the cleaning products industry.

Reporting initially to the AVP, Meetings and transitioning to direct reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) upon the AVP’s departure, the Senior Director will lead the operational strategy, execution, and continuous modernization of ACI’s meetings portfolio, including the Annual Meeting and Industry Convention, Spark Summit, webinars, and other strategic convenings.

The Senior Director is expected to bring a forward-looking mindset to event strategy and attendee engagement, leveraging emerging trends, technology, data insights, and operational best practices to continuously elevate the member experience and strengthen ACI’s ability to convene, inform, and connect the industry.

This position serves as a key cross-functional partner across the organization and will directly supervise the Manager, Meetings upon the AVP’s departure.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Meeting Planning & Operational Readiness:

• Implement ACI’s annual meetings and events strategy as set by the COO, translating organizational direction into detailed operational plans in coordination with the Innovation & Education Committee and key stakeholders.
• Develop and manage a master event calendar and operational plan for all ACI meetings, ensuring alignment with the COO’s strategic priorities and member needs.
• Stay current on trends in event design, member engagement, and convention management, bringing relevant insights and recommendations to the COO to inform convention strategy and programming decisions.
• Bring creative, operationally grounded ideas for improving meeting formats, content delivery, and attendee experience, and execute approved innovations with excellence.

Convention & Meeting Execution:

• Oversee all logistical and operational aspects of ACI meetings, including the Annual Meeting and Industry Convention, Spark Summit, Board of Directors meetings, and committee meetings.
• Manage venue selection, RFP processes, contract negotiation, and ongoing hotel and vendor relationships.
• Direct preparation and approval of all venue specifications, Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), and supplier coordination to ensure flawless on-site execution.
• Serve as the on-site staff lead for all events, managing staff, vendors, and real-time troubleshooting to ensure a seamless attendee experience.
• Coordinate speaker logistics, registration management, signage, event materials, and all attendee-facing touchpoints.
• Manage the development and delivery of ACI webinars and virtual event components as directed.

Budget & Financial Management:

• Develop, manage, and monitor all meeting and convention budgets within parameters approved by the COO, tracking expenses, flagging variances, and ensuring financial targets are met.
• Manage risk by working with In-House Counsel on reviewing contracts for compliance and organizational protection.
• Identify and surface cost-saving opportunities and revenue-generating ideas across the meetings portfolio for COO review and direction.

 Stakeholder Engagement & Communication:

• Serve as ACI’s primary operational contact and liaison for industry Meeting Planners, facilitating smooth execution of member business-to-business meetings and events.
• Provide staff support and facilitation management for the Innovation & Education Committee, including preparation of agendas, materials, and follow-up.
• Keep the COO proactively and transparently informed on all event-related issues, risks, and opportunities, escalating decisions appropriately and ensuring no surprises.
• Cultivate strong relationships with ACI members, vendors, venues, and industry partners to enhance ACI’s reputation as a premier convener.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Directly supervise the Manager, Meetings upon the AVP’s departure, providing clear direction, regular feedback, and professional development support.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture focused on excellence, accountability, and member service.
• Develop and implement internal processes and tools to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of meeting planning operations.

Evaluation & Continuous Improvement:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of all ACI meetings through attendee feedback, data analysis, and post-event debriefs.
• Prepare and deliver post-event reports to the COO with outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations to support COO-level evaluation and strategic direction for future events.
• Use data, attendee feedback, and post-event analysis to identify operational improvements and bring recommendations to the COO to inform future event direction.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• Professional certification in meetings and events strongly preferred (CMP, CEM, CAE, or equivalent).
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in conventions, meetings, and event management, ideally within a trade association or membership organization.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and execute large-scale conferences and multi-track events from concept through completion.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple events and competing deadlines simultaneously with precision and calm.
• Proven experience developing and managing event budgets, including revenue generation, expense control, and post-event financial reconciliation.
• Skilled contract negotiator with experience managing hotel, venue, AV, catering, and other event vendor relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; superior proofreading and editing ability.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with members, vendors, speakers, and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience supervising and developing staff, with a collaborative and coaching-oriented leadership style.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint); familiarity with event management platforms, registration systems, and events-related AI tools a plus.
• Ability to communicate effectively with scientific-minded professionals and industry members.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and work extended hours as required around event dates.

About American Cleaning Institute

The American Cleaning Institute's purpose is to serve the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry. Established in 1926, ACI is dedicated to advancing public understanding of the safety and benefits of cleaning products, and protecting the ability of its members to formulate products that best meet consumer needs. ACI serves both its members and the public by developing and sharing information about industry products with the technical community, policy makers, childcare and health professionals, educators, media, and consumers.

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