Events Project Manager, Funder Collaborations

Department Summary – Funders Collaborations

Built to serve results-driven philanthropy, ClimateWorks leads collaborations that enable funders to strategize, learn, and execute new and existing climate initiatives. Our suite of best-in-class collaborations empower the largest global climate funders to increase individual and collective impact. We facilitate a wide range of international collaborations designed to build high-trust relationships, create strategic alignment, and facilitate coordinated actions across the climate philanthropy ecosystem, including funders, grantees, and other climate leaders. As part of our commitment to excellence, the Funder Collaborations team provides consistent, high-quality leadership and support for our collaborations that drive philanthropy’s impact on climate change mitigation.

In a pivotal aspect of this service, the Funder Collaborations Department spearheads two to three high-caliber international convenings a year for climate funders, held in locations such as the U.S., Europe, and India. These events are multi-day, multi-faceted VIP gatherings of 80-200 people from across the globe, with high-touch customer experience, and strong design to encourage participant engagement. During the pandemic, the convenings have been held virtually and we anticipate that in the future the events will combine strong in-person with virtual platforms to create new forms of engagement and inclusion. Staying at the forefront of event design and collaboration provides essential services that enhance the impact of our department and our broader community. 

 

Job Summary

The Project Manager, Funder Collaborations will report to the Associate Director, Funder Collaborations, and will be based in the ClimateWorks San Francisco Office, supporting the department leadership as they organize multi-day international climate funder meetings and projects that tackle a breadth of climate mitigation and related strategies globally. This can include supporting CWF and other program staff in accomplishing their goals in funder meetings, bridging programmatic, collaborative and logistical work. The ideal candidate will possess an innate joy and curiosity for the art of event design and how events foster relationships, connection, and collaboration. They will be proactive, strategic, and detail-oriented, with a solutions-oriented project management approach and experience with both in-person and virtual events. This person will play a leadership role managing varied special projects, will naturally “connect the dots” in projects with multiple moving parts, and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. The Project Manager must possess a strong ability to anticipate needs, plan-ahead, and consistently operate with a high-touch client-service orientation. 

As part of the Funder Collaborations team, they will be responsible for managing the execution of two to three major multi-faceted international hybrid convenings annually, plus coordinating and providing support to varied and evolving internal and external coalition projects. The Project Manager may also manage key internal operational and infrastructure projects to support the collaborations. 

 

Essential Tasks 

Manage the planning and execution of multi-faceted international hybrid events

 

• Manage a high-functioning event team to plan, organize and implement an average of two to three complex international convenings annually, with responsibility for managing and  implementing the event planning, logistics, and operations to create successful and impactful events. Possible 2022-23 event locations include US, Europe, and India.
• Organize and coordinate project execution and strong cross-team communication by setting process and standards, creating and managing to timelines; recording and issuing notes, delegating and tracking action items; following up with team members on progress and execution, helping staff and consultants accomplish their tasks, and filling gaps as needed.
• Proactively support teamwork through dynamic project plan development and coordination, helping to balance competing priorities, anticipate upcoming needs and tasks to ensure that deadlines are met.
• Design and manage events systems to support a robust participant meeting experience both in-person and virtually.
• Manage event consultants and vendors to deliver in a timely, process-driven, and collaborative manner.
• Organize and coordinate conference site selection and event contract processes; update and maintain key departmental operations; manage contact and file management systems for assigned projects and events, as well as other systems and infrastructure; partner with CWF’s IT, development, and other teams.

• Manage, track and implement key event financial processes around project budgets, invoicing, and expenses, partnering with CWF’s finance team.
• Stay abreast of event best practices and how we might apply them in our work, particularly in the emerging hybrid event space. 

 

Collaboration project support

•  Work closely with the Associate Director, Senior Advisor, other ClimateWorks leadership and philanthropic partners to manage and/or support a variety of short- or long-term funder collaboration projects, programs, meetings and/or discussion groups, both within ClimateWorks and externally. Often these collaborations are in development or evolving, and are described as “making the path as we walk it.”
• Facilitate planning meetings and lead processes that support multiple stakeholders to build trust and find the common ground that enables coordination and new work. This will include but not be limited to:

• Working with and/or coaching group leaders and participants to set clear project goals and desired outcomes, as well as plans and timelines on an ongoing basis for evolving projects.
• Planning and organizing participants to keep projects on track to success: planning, doing advance work and creating materials, implementing, logistics; setting sharp meeting/call agendas, and organizing clear plans and timelines.

• Represent the department on cross-departmental projects or task forces that are advancing internal cross-team work.
• Other event and project management projects and tasks as needed. 

 

Required Qualifications

• 6-9 years of relevant experience managing and implementing deadline-driven project-planning processes and high-caliber events
• Demonstrated history of organizing successful multi-day convenings, both in-person and virtually, and comfort using tools and platforms in both environments
• Enthusiasm and passion for the role events can play in social change work
• Solutions-oriented and flexible management style, able to navigate ambiguity to bring projects to successful shared outcomes
• Experience building and maintaining flexible systems and plans for projects and events
• Assiduous attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and passion for creating seamless logistics
• Excellent collaborative skills, including strong communication with diverse stakeholders from other cultures
• Able to work with diverse individuals to help them meet project goals, facilitating meetings and working across programmatic, collaborative, and logistical workstreams
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with diplomacy and discretion (plus, a sense of humor)
• Experience with event platforms, keen to utilize technology platforms and a quick learner with new programs and platforms
• Proficiency with project management software and Microsoft/Google office suite
• Ability to travel internationally, typically about 20 days a year
• BA or BS degree
• Experience in nonprofit organizing or advocacy work, fundraising or stewardship, coalition projects or philanthropy preferred
• Passion for social change, environmental, social justice or climate communities is a plus
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently (both virtually and in-person) with minimal supervision
• A commitment to a diverse, inclusive and equitable work environment
• Commitment to the mission of ClimateWorks Foundation

 

  Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. Our offices are closed due to Covid-19, and employees are working from home. We anticipate transitioning back to in-person work in our office in line with health and safety guidelines sometime in the second half of 2021.

Commitment to Racial and Social Justice

At ClimateWorks Foundation, we are driven by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. We aim to foster an inclusive workplace that values diverse lived experiences and emphasizes the voices of marginalized people — especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color — who are most vulnerable to climate impacts, and whose voices, ideas, and leadership are crucial to winning the climate fight.

To ensure that we are making meaningful progress, we have made a set of diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments across all dimensions of our work to further our mission and realize our vision. For more information, please visit: Fostering Racial and Social Justice in Pursuit of our Mission