Position Overview

The Manager of Events is responsible for hands-on planning and execution of UN Foundation Global Events at the highest level, including in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. With exceptional standards and expectations for excellence, the right person is focused on detail, creativity, participant experience, and delivering institutional goals and priorities, including supporting fundraising. This role is an individual contributor who will maintain relationships with contractors and vendors, contribute strategic and tactical advice to ensure all events are as good as they can be, and ensure events align with the Foundation’s mission, priorities, and brand.

 

The Manager is a member of the GCE Team and reports to the Director of Events.

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

Essential Functions

Core Event Planning and Execution

• Working with Director, conceptualize, develop, and implement UNF engagement activities, particularly in DC and New York.
• Manage and plan for a busy calendar of complex, often parallel, events, including assigning appropriate staff and resources.
• 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.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to create staffing, budget, work plans, and creative assets.
• Serve as Event team’s main point of contact with key DC colleagues, including regular planning meetings and leading on logistics for congressional visits to UN headquarters in NYC.
• Working with GCE colleagues, build on and further develop suite of physical materials to promote UNF brand.
• Support on UNF flagship events, including those during UN General Assembly, the annual awards dinner, UN Day Luncheon, and other marquee moments.
• Maintain relationships with external vendors and contractors in DC; oversee event space in DC office.
• Enhance and further develop playbooks, reusable assets, and best practices for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events to be shared both internally and externally.
• Coordinate with GCE digital team to ensure website and other virtual materials are updated with latest event information; ensure Event team public SharePoint site remains up to date.
• Working with Executive Office colleagues, lead on event logistics for biannual Board Meetings.
• Provide annual event reporting and support Director in budget forecasting.
• Manage annual DC-based summer events intern.
• Support Senior Manager, International Engagement and Advance, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Selection Criteria

 

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years of related professional experience.
• Preferred experience with UN/governmental protocol and events involving high-level public figures and celebrities, as well as large-scale convenings of on-the-ground practitioners, and activists.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in virtual and hybrid events.
• Ability to work effectively with people at all levels from policymakers and CEOs to children.
• Excellent judgment, and creative problem-solving skills, including contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and contingency planning.
• Self-starter and a team player who thrives in an atmosphere focused on building an organization rather than individual success.
• Ability to stay calm and make quickly thought-out, appropriate decisions in a changing environment and anticipate future needs.
• Experience of MS Suite, CRM databases, standard event software, and virtual event platforms.
• Previous use of Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) or equivalent programs preferred.
• Experience in fundraising a plus.
• Ability to travel and work domestically and internationally outside standard business hours including evenings or weekends when necessary.
• Ability to lift up to 50lbs.
• Ability to meet regular attendance/tardiness policy.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle stress.