Director of Event Strategy and Policy Programming

Company: Columbia University
Location: New York
Posted on: April 22, 2024

Job Description:

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
  
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
  
• Hours Per Week: 35
  
• Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000
  
  The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
  
  Position Summary
  Reporting to the Senior Director of Communications and Policy Strategy, the Director of Event Strategy and Policy Programming will manage the events team and oversee all public, private, and online events for the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
  The Director of Event Strategy and Policy Programming will advance CGEP's thought leadership and research focused on global energy and climate policy through events, meetings, and other public and private convenings. The incumbent and their team will be responsible for planning and executing CGEP's annual global energy summit; events at major national and international energy and policy conferences; and all CGEP-hosted public and private events, including briefings, workshops, and webinars for policymakers, industry executives, researchers, Columbia University students and faculty, as well as the general public.
  The Director of Event Strategy and Policy Programming will work closely with CGEP's Founding Director, Senior Director of Research, Communications and Policy Strategy Team, research scholars and other staff on events organized by - or including CGEP staff - to generate programming; speaker and topic ideas; manage content, run-of-show, invitations, and event logistics; develop and execute event marketing plans and creative promotional content; and staff and execute day-of event logistics. They will also communicate regularly with key internal and external stakeholders, as well as event participants and attendees to ensure all aspects of CGEP's events are planned and executed successfully. They will also be the Center's liaison with Columbia University events staff, and responsible for working closely to ensure CGEP events are in-line with University standards and acceptable guidelines.
  The Director of Event Strategy and Policy Engagement will be responsible for supervising and mentoring a team of events staff with significant authority to delegate planning and execution to team members as multiple events take place concurrently within CGEP year-round. Candidates must have experience working with senior executives, supervising direct reports, and collaborating with other mid- to senior-level colleagues within the Center's organization.
  The majority of events will take place on the Columbia University campus in New York City, with additional event locations at other venues throughout New York, within the United States, or alongside high-profile international energy industry conferences. This role will interact with a wide array of Center stakeholders including senior policymakers, private sector executives, NGO leaders, and Columbia faculty.
  A particular focus for the organization is the impact of issues of racism, environmental justice, gender equality, and inclusion in our energy and climate systems. The Center supports a culturally diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment, reflected across our staffing, leadership, scholarship and operations. This position will be responsible for ensuring these values are reflected throughout the Center's public and private events and programming.
  
  Responsibilities
  

• 
  
• Working with Communications and Policy Strategy Team, Operations Team, Founding Director's Office, Senior Director of Research, and Research Scholars, construct and manage a structured process to facilitate an intellectual exchange of ideas through expert panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, webinars, and briefings. Serve as event content developer on organization-wide projects and programs as needed.
  
• Working with Columbia University facilities management on execution of on-campus events.
  
• Provide creative leadership for all CGEP events, working with teams across the organization to envision, plan and execute innovative events that help strengthen the Center's research, brand, engagement, and partnerships.
  
• Independently manage and direct the events team as a center for excellence, ensuring information, event resources (including budgets, templates and best practice guidelines) are accessible to teams across CGEP.
  
• Oversee all event activities including: preparing project plans and tracking deliverables; coordinating all event logistics (including A/V, catering, venue selection, online marketing and registration, speaker and participant communications); developing and maintaining a library of event media (including events photos and videos).
  
• 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. Draft and oversee planning documents, such as marketing and communications plans, agendas, speaker invitations, and tracking for all events.
  
• Create, develop, and manage CGEP's events calendar with senior leadership and research teams, to define optimal cadence, formats, and goals.
  
• Manage budgets, work plans, external agencies, CGEP and university-wide stakeholders and vendors, to juggle complex parallel events, assigning appropriate staff and resources.
  
• Draft topic and speaker ideas, considering regional, topical, and speaker diversity. Consider how events and topics will position CGEP in the energy landscape of institutions engaged in research and analysis, how they further the Center's agenda and mission, and topics relevant and forward-thinking on energy and climate issues.
  
• Develop briefing materials for senior CGEP leadership as well as external stakeholders participating in official event programming, and conducting pre-event briefings with program participants as needed.
  
• Project manage, execute logistics, and lead content development for CGEP's presence at marquis global events, such as Davos, the Munich Security Conference, CERAWeek, Climate Week and other key energy and climate gatherings.
  
• Lead and manage CGEP's annual Columbia Global Energy Summit which brings together approximately 500 global and domestic policymakers, business executives, and thought leaders to address the most pressing energy and climate issues.
  
• Keep apprised of the energy sector and key stakeholders, organizations, news, and like-minded programs in the field. Factor in audience development, identifying new and diverse constituents and deepening relationships with existing contacts.
  
• Develop strong working relationships with scholars, faculty, staff, and external partners associated with the program; manage scope of delivery and regularly inform stakeholders of program related activity and/or decisions. Track and analyze program content and materials and recommend improvements.
  
• Work with the CGEP finance team on budget development and tracking related to events and CGEP development team to engage potential partners in the event series.
  
• Collaborate with CGEP's Communications team on promotion of events to ensure a targeted audience attendance.
  
• Track and report on event metrics. Analyze data for attendance trends to help develop and implement continuous improvements to maximize impact of CGEP events.
  
• Increasing diversity efforts of CGEP through events by ensuring diverse panelists, topics of discussions, audiences, inclusive program materials, and others.
  
• Ensure compliance with University policies and procedures and applicable legal rules and regulations.
  
• Perform other duties as assigned and assist in special projects.
  
  
  Minimum Qualifications
  
  • 
    
  • Bachelor's Degree.
    
  • 10 years of related work experience, including 5-7 years of experience with managing and executing events involving high-level public figures, national and international political leaders and policymakers, c-suite business executives, and organizers of large-scale convenings.
    
  • Minimum of 5 years supervising direct reports and leading a team of event staff with responsibilities for budgets, performance reviews, goal setting, and mentorship.
    
  • Proven experience working directly for an organization's top official on events, logistics, and protocol, such as an elected representative, senior policymaker, CEO or C-suite executive, or head of a large NGO or school at a university.
    
  • Experience briefing or preparing an elected representative, senior policymaker, CEO or C-suite executive, or head of a large NGO or school at a university on public event participation or stakeholder engagement.
    
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously, while meeting deadlines, maintaining strong attention to detail, and possessing organizational and time management skills.
    
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, maintain professionalism, and possess the ability to exercise excellent judgment, tact, confidentiality, and diplomacy in all interactions.
    
  • Extremely well organized, obsessive attention to detail, and the highest standards of service-delivery and audience/participant engagement.
    
  • Considerable demonstrated experience and expertise in virtual, and hybrid events, and relevant technology and tools; existing relationships with virtual platform vendors strongly preferred.
    
  • Professional attitude, with experience working with people at all levels, both externally and internally.
    
  • Excellent judgment, and creative problem-solving skills, including contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and contingency planning.
    
  • Self-starter, and a team player who thrives in atmosphere focused on building an organization rather than individual success.
    
  • Comfortable with flexible working hours and dependable to be available via phone or email during these times.
    
  • Strong Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite and content management skills.
    
  • Ability to foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization.
    
  • Travel will be required on occasion.
    
    
    Preferred Qualifications
    
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    • Direct public or private sector professional expertise related to energy, climate change, public policy, and/or international affairs.
      
    • Possess deep knowledge of the energy sector and key stakeholders, organizations, news, leading industry events, and like-minded programs in the field.
      
    • Master's degree in a relevant field
      
    • Events marketing experience (e.g. Mailchimp, Greenvelope).
      
    • Experience with graphic design (e.g. Canva, InDesign, PPT).
      
    • Experience with Salesforce or other database management systems.
      
    • Prior political campaign events or Advance experience.
      
      
      Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
      Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.
      

Keywords: Columbia University, Jersey City , Director of Event Strategy and Policy Programming, Executive , New York, New Jersey