Location(s): London; UK, New York, or Berlin

Job Purpose and Background in summary:

The purpose of the Director of Event Strategy & Operations role is to build the strategy, align the activation plans and enable the process mapping of the organization's global event portfolio. This role, which is a highly collaborative role in terms of consultation both
within M&C and across the organization, ensures that all events, from proprietary gatherings to high-profile external activations, are aligned with organizational goals, enhance brand visibility, and foster stakeholder engagement. The Director will facilitate
operational excellence across all event initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners to deliver impactful experiences that elevate the organization's leadership and influence in sustainability and climate action.
The Director will report into the CMCO and work with peers on the Marketing &
Communications Leadership Team to align event strategies with broader functional and  organizational goals, enhancing brand visibility and stakeholder engagement through impactful event experiences.
Event delivery will sit within the Market Activation teams in each strategic geographical location reporting into the Director of Global Market Activation – and there will be dotted line reporting of event delivery into the Director of Event Strategy & Operations.
The ideal candidate will bring a mix of creativity, strategic thinking, and operational expertise to elevate the organization’s event capabilities. This role requires strong leadership and communication skills to manage a cross-functional team, collaborate with key internal stakeholders, and build external partnerships.

The role includes:

Oversee event strategy for external activations, including key industry events (e.g., COPs, Climate Week, Davos) to maximize organizational presence and influence.
Ensure event objectives and KPIs are clearly established, defined, and met, including audience engagement, media reach, and lead generation.
Drive innovation across CDP’s events, exploring new formats, technologies, and approaches to increase engagement and impact.
Stay ahead of industry trends and competitor activities to ensure CDP’s events are leading in the market.

• Event Strategy and Planning:
  Develop and implement a comprehensive global event strategy that aligns with the organization's strategic goals, including brand visibility, thought leadership, and stakeholder engagement. 
• Oversee event strategy for external activations, including key industry events (e.g., COPs, Climate Week, Davos) to maximize organizational presence and influence.
  
• Ensure event objectives and KPIs are clearly established,
  defined, and met, including audience engagement, media reach, and lead generation.
• Drive innovation across CDP’s events, exploring new formats, technologies, and approaches to increaseengagement and impact.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and competitor activities to ensure CDP’s events are leading in the market.                                                  
• Operational Excellence:
• Develop and implement best practices for event operations,ensuring consistency, efficiency, and high-quality delivery across all events.
• Manage cross-functional collaboration with broader M&C teams, Corporate philanthropy, sponsorships, stakeholder teams, and regional teams to ensure event goals are aligned with organizational priorities.
• Optimize processes and systems to improve workflow and project management for the events team members.
• Regional Adaptation and Market Integration:
• Work closely with Market Activation team and relevant stakeholder teams to ensure events are locally relevant while maintaining a cohesive global framework.
• Support the creation of region-specific adaptations of global events to fit regional market needs, ensuring consistency, scalability, and local relevance.
  
• Leadership and Team Management:
• Lead, mentor, and support the events delivery team members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.
• Collaborate closely with regional leads to ensure the effective execution of events in key regions, while maintaining global alignment.
• Act as a senior advisor on event strategy to the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and other senior leaders.
  
• Develop talent across the team, providing coaching and professional development opportunities to ensure continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder and Partnership Management:
• Build and maintain relationships with key external partners, including sponsors, venues, vendors, and media outlets, where relevant.
• Collaborate with Corporate philanthropy teams to develop event sponsorship packages and execute sponsorship strategies for CDP’s events, ensuring they are cost-neutral or revenue-generating.
• Engage with senior-level stakeholders, both internally and externally, to drive event objectives and maintain strong relationships.
  Budgeting and Reporting:
• Manage the annual event budget, ensuring cost-effectiveness and alignment with overall organizational financial goals.
• Track and analyze event performance, providing data-driven insights and recommendations for future events.
  Own the events budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and adherence to financial targets.
•  Implement cost-effective event strategies while maintaining high-quality experiences for attendees.
• Oversee post-event evaluations, ensuring key learnings are incorporated into future events.
• Prepare and present regular reports on event strategy, performance, and ROI.

The role will partner with stakeholders across the CDP ecosystem as follows: Internal stakeholders, Marketing & Communications Leadership Team, Executive Leadership Team, Regional Directors, Key members of the Product and Sales Teams, External stakeholders, Partners and sponsors, Clients, Event speakers and attendees, Vendors and consultants.

The successful candidate will have the following capabilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Event Management, Business Administration, or related field. Equivalent experience in business strategy, operational development, event or project management, will be considered in lieu of formal education.
• 8-10+ years of experience in event strategy and operations, with a proven track record of leading large-scale events at a global level.
• Experience in event management, including planning, execution, and strategy development.
• Experience in sustainability and climate-related events is a strong plus.
• Exceptional project management skills, with experience in managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to lead a distributed team across multiple regions.
•  Ability to think strategically while maintaining a focus on operational details.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with experience in engaging with C-suite executives and high-profile external stakeholders.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and drive cost efficiencies while delivering high-quality events.
• Excellent face-to-face and interpersonal skills.
• Deep understanding of the regional market dynamics, culture, and regulations.
• Experience with event management software and digital platforms to drive virtual and hybrid events.
• Commitment to environmental sustainability and the mission of CDP.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset.
• Creative problem-solver with the ability to innovate in the face of challenges.
• Exceptional attention to detail while managing multiple priorities.
• Collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proactive and adaptable, with the ability to pivot as needed to meet organizational goals.

Final offer amount depends on multiple factors such as candidates experience and expertise, geographic location, total compensation, and market data. Benefits will be offered based on specific regional requirements. Interested applicants must be eligible to work legally in one of CDP’s registered offices. We cannot sponsor for this role.