Director, ForWard Initiative (AHLAF)

American Hotel & Lodging Association • Full-time • Washington, DC, US • $90k - $105k / year • 1d ago

The hotel and lodging industry is vibrant, innovative, and full of dynamic opportunities for upward mobility while serving and supporting its most important assets: its people. The AHLA Foundation works to inspire, support, and advance the people who make this industry strong. By connecting employees, employers, and their communities, we seek to continuously nurture a culture of professional growth and belonging. The Foundation is a dynamic, entrepreneurial organization poised for growth. The Director would join a nimble, collaborative team passionate about elevating the hotel workforce.

Position Summary:

The AHLA Foundation is seeking a director to lead ForWard, an industrywide initiative focused on elevating and championing women in the hospitality industry. Reporting to the President of the AHLA Foundation, this role will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the strategic direction of ForWard. The director will be strategic yet hands-on and will be responsible for the leadership and implementation of ForWard's growth, impactful content and events, business development, and building a vibrant, connected community. Maintaining strong relationships with internal and external partners, the director will demonstrate resourcefulness and creativity to identify and secure the necessary resources to ensure effective execution of all aspects of the ForWard initiative.

Responsibilities:

Strategy and Measurement

Work in partnership with the President to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy that identifies areas of collaboration and expansion of the ForWard Initiative
Identify and prioritize key focus areas within ForWard, based on industry stakeholder feedback, and set KPIs that align with these focus areas
Align with and advise Programs & Impact team on the development and implementation of ForWard professional development programs
Collaborate with the Foundation's marketing and communications, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and program teams to ensure overall alignment with Foundation goals and objectives; collaborate across key AHLA departments as appropriate
Collaborate on relevant industry research and analyze trends to inform program design, strategic direction, and impact measurement

Business Development and External Engagement

Work in collaboration with fundraising team to identify and pursue diversified funding opportunities, including corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and grant funding, to support ForWard
Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including industry leaders, corporate sponsors, and potential funders, to reach visibility and fundraising targets
Develop persuasive and compelling proposals, presentations, and communications that highlight the business case for ForWard and the impact of the initiative's work
Serve as external liaison and representative on behalf of Foundation where relevant and appropriate
Serve as support to staff liaisons of the relevant Foundation and member committees, including meeting facilitation, speaker identification, and agenda setting, and logistical support as needed

ForWard Event Planning and Content

Collaborate with the AHLA events team on the planning, execution, and evaluation of ForWard events, including conferences, roundtables, and workshops for hospitality professionals
Partner with industry leaders, subject matter experts, and influential voices to deliver inspiring, impactful programming that addresses gender equity challenges and opportunities in the hotel industry
Coordinate and support speaker identification and outreach, agenda development, and event talking points
Support the evaluation of post-event reporting to gauge event success and continually enhance future programming

Community Building

Mange the strategy, engagement, and content for the ForWard Network, creating and fostering a supportive community that provides opportunities for learning, mentorship, peer support, and professional growth
Develop and manage online and in-person community engagement activities, including webinars, networking events, and regional/local engagement
Establish and implement a communications strategy to regularly engage and inspire the ForWard Network, sharing resources, success stories, and program updates
Partner with relevant organizations to build a coalition that strengthens and extends the Foundation's gender equity mission within the hospitality sector
Work with the Foundation's VP of Impact Marketing and Communications on content creation for inclusion of ForWard in social media

Requirements

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree or related experience, master's degree preferred
7-10 years of experience in nonprofits required; hospitality industry experience a plus
Deep knowledge of and experience working on gender equality issues strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience growing and managing networks, chapters, or communities comprised of thousands of members/participants with varying needs and interests
Experience managing 1-3 employees
Experience building external relationships and managing stakeholder partnerships required; business development or fundraising experience preferred
Proven project management experience - including management of multiple projects simultaneously

Skills And Attributes

Strong writing skills required, with a proven ability to use writing to inspire engagement
Computer and software literacy, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and CRMs - Salesforce preferred
The ability to source, analyze, and report on data, including presenting organized themes and findings to leadership team
Exercise daily problem solving and strategic decision-making with an ability to explain rationale
Positive attitude with customer service orientation and willingness to be flexible to adapt to changing needs and "roll up shirtsleeves" to get the work done
Proven communication skills, with an ability to clearly articulate initiative impact and outcomes to participants, stakeholders, and funders
Excellent relationship management skills
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across the organization, while maintaining attention to detail and "managing up" effectively
Ability to work under pressure, meeting key deliverable and reporting deadlines
Strong strategic thinking skills with an ability to identify challenges and opportunities to meet organizational, program participant, and both funder and industry needs

Other

Position based in the Washington DC area
Travel required (10-25%)
Hybrid work schedule: In-office Tues-Thurs and one in-office Monday per month
Salary: $90,000-$105,000

AHLA is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

EOE

Benefits