Back Senior Manager, Events and Experiences, Communications

This is a hybrid position which requires 8 days/month in the office. You can be based in our office in Washington DC. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as WRI is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position. To be eligible for this position in US, you must be a resident of DC, Maryland or Virginia at the start of employment.

About the Program:

Now is the time to move from commitments to action on climate change—WRI is at the forefront of this urgent transition. WRI has the knowledge, convening power and tools to drive change.

This role will sit in WRI’s Communications and Global Development functions with a unique opportunity to optimize existing programming and co-create, propose and launch new events, meetings and experiences around the world.

Communications is crucial to WRI’s ability to bring about rapid, systemic changes to the health of society and the planet. The WRI Communications team works to expand WRI’s reach, reputation, and impact, and oversees strategy and outreach for the Institute in support of WRI leadership, programs and country/regional offices.

Job Highlight:

Reporting to Chief Communications Officer with a dotted line to the Head of Executive Office Communications, you will integrate equity into your work.

This is a new position to champion, coordinate and elevate WRI’s high-impact stakeholder events and engagements. You will draw on your proven record of success across at least 10 years in event strategy, end-to-end design, implementation and project management.

You will support the Communications team and works alongside the Executive Office team. It may also support events for other Programs and functions around WRI, including the Development team.

As leader on WRI’s Communications team, you will work with a group which provides global institutional leadership and support. WRI’s Events team supports events in our global headquarters and brings consistency and excellence to our major global events series at Climate Week in New York and COP, for example. We aim to build more profile, better engagement and a more strategic approach to our convenings. You will collaborate with cross-departmental teams, cooperate on high-level issues, and provide recommendations with a full understanding of cross organizational impact and needs.

You will be supported by the Events Team.

What will you do:

Events Strategy (40%):

• Partner with communications leadership on strategically aligned, high-impact events to optimize for greater engagement, Institutional impact and brand raising
• Work with Communications to improve WRI’s joined-up event strategy for events such as: Climate Week New York, Climate Week London, COP Biodiversity Conventions, COP Climate Conventions, Spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank

  Event Development & Implementation (40%):

  • Best-in-Class Experiences: Establish and maintain consistent, high standards for events and experiences. Develop, manage and facilitate all aspects of event and experience planning, including maintaining detailed workplans, timelines, and checklists, site selection, vendor negotiation, event registration, marketing, global travel logistics, insurance, onsite staffing, and post-event reporting
  • Strategic Alignment: Collaborate with Development, Executive Office, Program & Communications teams to ensure alignment across strategies and to maximize funder engagement to drive greater giving
  • Management: Provide assignments, direction, and support to colleagues supporting the facilitation of events and experiences; prepare and distribute materials; and maintain effective communication with teams and stakeholders.
  • Vision: Propose and implement new ideas to improve the event planning and execution process
  • Analytics and Optimization: After events, synthesize event metrics, and adapt future event strategies by conducting postmortem assessments
  • Budget: Build and manage budgeting for events and experiences associated with the Campaign for People, Nature and Climate
  • Communications: Prepare, oversee, and coordinate with communication and design colleagues and relevant development leadership on event materials including invitations, brochures and to arrange photography, videography, or other necessary elements

    Communications Management (20%):

    • Management: Provide assignments, direction, and support to colleagues supporting the facilitation of events and experiences in the US and globally; supervise colleagues managing in-person and virtual events, establish appropriate guidelines and standards, and provide coordination for a global network
    • Budget: Build and manage budgeting for events and experiences for the Communications team and establish clear charging guidelines. Manage contracting for additional event support and supervise subscriptions and payments

      What will you need:

      • Education: You have a completed a bachelor’s degree (master’s desirable) in communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Hospitality, or related field. Relevant work experience in lieu of degree is accepted
      • Experience: You have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in planning, managing, and executing events. Global experience preferred. Experience in fundraising events preferred. Experience in managing high-level stakeholders in high profile events essential
      • Proven project management and organizational skills; able to develop a strategic work plan, deliver on milestones, lead complex projects, and take ideas from conception to execution
      • Experience handling multiple projects, setting priorities, problem-solving and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced and complex environment
      • Experience managing staff, budgets, financial and legal aspects of events and donor trips
      • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, and effectively and diplomatically with external stakeholders
      • Must be able to travel 4-6 times per year domestically and 4 times per year internationally. This role will sometimes require working outside regular working hours to set up and manage events and will require being onsite at the WRI HQ or venue to do so.
      • Experience with both collaborative and independent work.
      • Experience with and knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, Asana, or other project management and event management tools
      • Languages: Proficiency in verbal and written English
      • Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position is based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

        Potential Salary: US salary range is between 116,000 and 139,000 USD. Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

        How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a required cover letter by the date of 05 March 2025. We may close for applications sooner if we receive a high volume of qualified applications.

        We are unable to consider your application without a cover letter in addition to your resume.

        You must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered.

        What we offer:

        • Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
        • The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities.
        • A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
        • The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
        • Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
        • Generous leave