Job Summary

The Events Director is the creative and driving force behind the most compelling and engaging events and convenings that advance UN Foundation priorities, strengthen brand position as the UN’s closest strategic partner, and help demonstrate the UN’s unique value to the world.

With a strong creative vision as well as first-rate skills in planning and execution, they will help the Foundation push the boundaries of high-impact events by combining of the best of physical, virtual, and hybrid event production.

From high-profile, and multi-day convenings with large numbers of people and major public figures, to small white-glove private workshops and briefings, the Events Director demonstrates the ambition, vision, drive, and practical skills needed to build on UN Foundation’s reputation for excellence and take the organization’s events and convenings to the next level, continually innovating on formats and virtual/hybrid technology to drive engagement.

With experience across both physical and virtual events, this person will roll up their sleeves as well as lead a team of skilled events staff, manage contractors and suppliers/vendors, and provide strategic and tactical expertise to marketing teams across the Foundation.

The Events Director is a member of the Public Affairs Team, reporting to the Senior Director, Communications & Special Initiatives, and working closely with leaders and teams across the organization.

This position is based in Washington, DC (hybrid schedule).

Responsibilities

• Provide creative leadership for all Foundation events, working with teams across the organization to envision, plan and execute innovative events that help strengthen UN Foundation brand, engagement, and partnerships.
• Leverage the events team as a center for excellence, ensuring information, event resources (including templates and best practice guidelines) are accessible to teams across the UN Foundation.
• Create, develop, and own a busy Foundation events calendar, including collaborating to define optimal cadence, formats, and goals.
• Manage budgets, workplans, external agencies, and vendors, including juggling complex parallel events, assigning appropriate staff and resources, and executing personally as needed.
• Ensure comprehensive planning, on-time delivery, and exceptional execution for in-person, hybrid, and virtual convenings, while managing contingencies, changes and evolving needs and expectations.
• Build, manage, and inspire a team of events staff, fostering a creative, entrepreneurial culture and driving constant learning and skills improvement, including digital.
• Provide strategic support to the Senior Manager of International Engagement and Advance on international trips and Congressional Delegations.
• Closely collaborate with Integrated Development on executing key fundraising moments for the Foundation.
• Maintain oversight for the Event team’s project management software (currently Monday.com) and the Foundation’s event registration platform (currently SplashThat).
• Grow a roster of external creative and technical agencies, vendors and producers to maximize the Foundation’s creative agility and deliver varied events with different audiences and for different goals.