Job Description

About Middle East Institute

Founded in 1946, the Middle East Institute is the oldest Washington-based institution dedicated solely to the study of the Middle East. It is a non-partisan think tank providing expert policy analysis, educational and professional development services, and a hub for engaging with the region's arts and culture.

Job Summary

The Middle East Institute is seeking an Events Coordinator with 1-2 years of experience in event planning and outreach and/or communications. The ideal candidate will be creative, organized, a team player, and able to work effectively under tight deadlines.

This role will support MEI’s event and communications initiatives by collaborating with a small team to plan, promote, and execute conferences, panel discussions, private briefings, Zoom webinars, fundraising dinners, MEI’s annual gala and other special events as requested by department heads and the leadership team.

The Coordinator must be flexible with a growth-mindset and can-do attitude, and be willing to bring creativity and initiative to this small, fast-moving team. The Coordinator will contribute to advancing MEI’s mission of promoting knowledge and understanding of the Middle East.

The Events Coordinator must be a highly organized, motivated, and passionate individual who brings the following skills and qualifications:

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in event planning or digital communications.
• Excellent organizational, communication, negotiation, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure while maintaining a customer-support mindset.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and troubleshooting skills in event management.
• Flexibility to work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Strong writing and editing abilities.
• Familiarity with Middle East policy issues.
• Willingness to learn backend website management.
• Preferred experience in graphic design and photo/video editing (e.g., Canva and Adobe Creative Suite).
• Experience with data management.
• Bachelor’s degree in journalism, international relations, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with MEI’s Events team to coordinate weekly Zoom, hybrid, and in-person events, including managing speaker communication, logistics, travel coordination, invitation lists, and producing event materials.
• Work closely with department heads and MEI leadership to plan and oversee all event preparations.
• Develop event marketing materials aligned with MEI branding to effectively drive event registration including writing, editing and design.
• Produce regular metrics reports for the department head.
• Track and manage event budgets and expenditures.
• Maintain an up-to-date database of institutional contacts.
• Set up conference rooms for live and hybrid events, including ordering food and managing event-related logistics.
• Create and manage engaging content across all social media platforms.
• Identify compelling stories from content produced by MEI’s policy experts.
• Serve as the point of contact for all internal meeting room reservations and setup (e.g., catering, AV, room configuration).
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• MEI offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Health Savings Account / Flexible Spending Account options
• Paid holidays, plus vacation and sick leave

Work Environment

The role is in-person, five days per week, based out of our Washington, DC, Headquarters. Accommodation may be made for individuals with disabilities. The noise level is generally moderate.

The pay range for this role is: 50,000 - 55,000 USD per year (Washington, DC)