The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland

Executive Director

Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors - International

Fort Collins, Colorado (remote)

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with the Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors – International to recruit the organization’s Executive Director.

The Association of Collegiate Conference and Events Directors - International (ACCED-I) is a global network of campus professionals dedicated to designing, marketing, coordinating, and planning conferences and events at colleges and universities worldwide. Founded in 1980, ACCED-I has grown to serve more than 1,100 higher education professionals at over 370 institutions across the United States and internationally.

ACCED-I’s mission is to promote and advance the collegiate conference and events profession while setting industry standards of excellence. The Association unites individuals responsible for conference and event services within educational organizations, upholds high standards of ethical conduct, fosters camaraderie among members, and supports the professional development of its members.

ACCED-I provides a comprehensive suite of member services, including the Annual Conference (now in its 47th year), professional certifications (the CCEP and OSS credentials), on-demand education, regional programming, a benchmarking study, a salary survey, a career center, and an active member community platform. The Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and relies on Action Teams, regional leaders, and committed member volunteers to advance its work. 

ACCED-I operates in a fully remote environment and does not have a physical headquarters. The Executive Director leads a remote professional staff and serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of ACCED-I, providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and organizational management in close partnership with the Board of Directors. The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the Association’s mission, ensuring long-term strategic and financial sustainability, cultivating a strong and engaged membership, and positioning ACCED-I as the leading resource for conference and events professionals in higher education. The Executive Director implements policies, procedures, and strategic priorities approved by the Board and serves as an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. This role requires close collaboration with volunteer leadership, Action Teams, committees, and a remote professional staff. The ideal candidate brings deep association management expertise, a member-centered mindset, and the operational acuity to lead a lean, high-impact organization. 

The Executive Director will partner closely with the Board of Directors to advance ACCED-I’s strategic priorities, strengthen governance, maintain official records, and ensure the Board remains informed about organizational performance, finances, risks, and opportunities. This role will provide executive leadership for day-to-day operations, administrative systems, compliance, risk management, technology platforms, and financial sustainability. The Executive Director will also lead and support a remote professional staff while overseeing membership recruitment, retention, volunteer engagement, committee work, and annual Board and regional leadership elections. In addition, this leader will provide oversight for conferences, education programs, regional engagement, communications, external relations, and ACCED-I’s visibility within higher education and the broader meetings and events profession.

The annual salary for this position is $120,000–$135,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a robust benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage; a retirement plan; paid vacation leave; 10 paid holidays annually; and occasional travel as required.

The search for the ACCED-I Executive Director is being conducted by The Moran Company. Questions about the position can be directed to John Gravley, The Moran Company; john (at) morancompany.com. To apply for this position, submit a cover letter and resume to John Gravley, The Moran Company, via the secure online portal. Resume should include all professional education and experience, dates of employment (month and year), position/title, and organization names. Cover letter should articulate relevant experience and fit with the stated preferences of the position. 

To view the full Position Profile and/or APPLY, click HERE

The ideal candidate will bring 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in association management, higher education, or a related nonprofit environment, along with demonstrated success in strategic planning, financial oversight, organizational growth, and volunteer-led governance. Strong candidates will also have experience leading remote staff, engaging membership-based organizations, using association management tools, communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders, and traveling as required.