IPW Program Director

U.S. Travel Association

. Coordinate the success of U.S.

Posted 10/3/2026full-timeUnited StatesLead💰 $130,000 - $140,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates expertise in program and project management, with a focus on coordinating complex, multi-workstream initiatives and large-scale events. Proficient in stakeholder engagement, risk management, and strategic planning within the travel and tourism industry.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Program ManagementMaster Timeline ManagementRAID Log ManagementStakeholder EngagementPMP Certification

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Program ManagementProject ManagementMilestone TrackingRisk IdentificationDecision DocumentationStatus ReportingEvent PlanningVendor ManagementEscalation Framework DesignInterdisciplinary Team Facilitation

Soft Skills

Excellent CommunicationTrust BuildingAlignment DrivingCuriosityNeutral Mediation

Tools & Technologies

Event Registration TechnologyExhibit-Sales Technology Platforms

Certifications & Qualifications

PMPPgMP

Industry Keywords

TravelTourismHospitalityAssociation EnvironmentsTrade Shows

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PMP

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Coordinate the success of U.S. Travel’s IPW, its signature annual event driving $26.1 billion in travel to the United States
Integrate event strategy, operations and delivery, marketing and digital, communications, member engagement, sales and sponsorship, and buyer/media recruitment workstreams
Lead development and oversight of the annual IPW business plan, including assumptions, event goals and key performance indicators
Develop and monitor a master IPW schedule consolidating milestones and supporting tasks across contributing teams
Maintain visibility into IPW scope, requirements, budget, risks, decisions and issues
Identify stakeholders and facilitate regular cross-functional meetings
Identify dependencies and sequencing conflicts before they affect the schedule
Develop and maintain a DARCI matrix for IPW requirements
Establish program management standards for milestone reporting, risk identification, decision documentation and recovery planning
Maintain decision, risk and issue logs with ownership and target resolution dates
Escalate milestone risks to the executive sponsor and facilitate resolution of competing priorities
Produce recurring IPW status updates and present event readiness in leadership forums
Serve as the primary contact for cross-team questions about IPW scope, timeline and ownership
Lead development of the multi-year IPW strategy, including purpose, target audiences and growth paths
Establish strategy success metrics and monitor progress
Manage strategy project plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables
Manage the relationship with the outside strategy vendor
Build trust-based relationships with contributing team leads and act as a neutral broker between teams
Onboard new or rotating team leads to the IPW coordination model

Requirements

What you’ll need

7+ years in program or project management roles requiring coordination across multiple departments without formal reporting lines
Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-workstream programs or large-scale events involving several independent teams or vendors
Strong command of master timelines, milestone tracking, RAID logs (risks, assumptions, issues, decisions) and status reporting
Demonstrated experience facilitating interdisciplinary teams through decision-making processes
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience briefing senior executives
Proven ability to build trust and drive alignment among peers with competing priorities and no reporting relationship
Deep curiosity and passion for interdisciplinary work and making connections between teams
Experience designing or operating within a formal escalation framework
PMP, PgMP or equivalent program/project management certification preferred
Experience with trade shows preferred
Experience in travel, tourism, hospitality or association environments preferred
Familiarity with event registration and exhibit-sales technology platforms preferred
Experience managing outside vendors or agencies functioning as an extension of an internal team preferred
Position is required to be in Washington, D.C.
Some travel is required, up to eight times a year

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonus potential
Comprehensive healthcare package with fertility coverage
Generous paid leave including family leave
Routine staff functions and opportunities for social connection
Transportation and cell phone benefits
Robust wellness initiatives and Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
Education and professional development assistance