Lead, Communications and Events

Lead, Communications and Events

Please Note: This role requires the ability to work onsite 3 days per week per institution policy.

The annual salary range for this role is $115,000 - $125,000 in San Francisco or New York.

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change. In this spirit, the Forum engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas and solve shared global challenges.

Why we are Recruiting

Cities are home to a growing majority of the world’s population and generate more than 80% of global GDP. As such, they serve as essential incubators and testbeds for new solutions and the businesses of tomorrow. Amid rising geopolitical tensions, cities and local communities also serve as a vital testing ground for public-private collaboration and an essential means for scaling up impact.

In 2021, World Economic Forum established the Centre for Urban Transformation with a mission to catalyse and accelerate global progress and build a more prosperous future through collective action in cities and local communities. To this end, the centre mobilizes public- and private-sector leaders to commit expertise and resources to invigorate local economies, improve quality of life and make communities more resilient.

Reporting Lines & Interactions

The Lead, Communications and Events reports to the Head of the Centre for Urban Transformation. S/he will also work closely with the Centre’s Head of Strategic Initiatives, Centre colleagues, and other relevant counterparts across the Forum, to support the holistic design of the Centre sessions across Institutional and Centre events. S/he will also design and implement the communications for the Centre and contribute to enhancing the consistency of interrelated pieces across the Forum.

Breakdown of main responsibilities

The Lead will drive the Centre for Urban Transformation’s events programming and communications. Key areas of responsibility include the following.

Events Program Curation

• Lead events program curation and narrative development of the Centre for Urban Transformation’s programs at Forum institutional events (e.g. Annual Meeting, Annual Meeting of New Champions, Sustainable Development Impact Summit), collaborating with Centre teams and working closely with Global Programming counterpart(s)
• Work closely with the relevant Centre teams, and cross-Forum counterparts in curating the Centre’s participation in events (including sessions), and engagement in key multilateral events (e.g. COP, G7, G20)
• Contribute to the design, development, and delivery of flagship Centre events (e.g. Urban Transformation Summit), working closely with Centre program teams
• Be the focal point between the Centre for Urban Transformation and the Forum Programming team for events

Communications

• Develop and manage the Centre’s overall communications planning and strategies, in close collaboration with Centre events program teams and Forum global communications teams
• Manage the Centre’s social media channels and engagement, including managing the Centre’s social media accounts, and collaborating with the digital team to develop institutional videos and social media videos
• Coordinate with the media team to manage, strategize and prioritize Centre media engagement, such as Centre spokespersons’ interview engagement
• Develop the supporting material for media intervention
• Provide communications strategy support to each program team
• Be the focal point between the Centre for Energy and Materials and Forum Global Communications team

Products

• Create input and output materials as needed in support of flagship and multilateral events (e.g. a two-pager going into events and a digital outcome post-event)
• Develop and manage internal communications materials including Centre Welink site, Centre weekly highlight submission
• Manage the submission of the Centre’s input into key institutional materials such as the Forum Annual Report
• Develop, manage and disseminate external-facing Centre marketing materials (e.g. Centre marketing deck, newsletter for partners, Centre external-facing website, impact stories), in partnership with the dedicated global communications colleagues
• Oversee the development and delivery of a Centre for Urban Transformation e-newsletter for Centre stakeholders

Requirements and experience

• Broad intellectual background, with an advanced university degree (Masters or higher) in public policy, communications, business management, or similar fields. A focus on urban development preferred or related areas
• 7+ years of experience in communications, public relations, event management, event program design, media or project management in a relevant business or not-for-profit organization, with experience in urban development or other related areas
• Proven track record of hands-on experience from communications strategy development to creation of publications and other outputs, including social media, video production, and photo editing.
• Highly collaborative team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proactiveness and strong problem solving, analytical, and synthesizing skills, with the ability to communicate complex information succinctly and tailor to audience
• Demonstrated abilities to thrive in a fast-paced, multicultural work setting, with strong flexibility, adaptability, and ability to deliver under pressure
• Ability to quickly develop and effectively communicate clear perspectives on strategic issues combined with excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written language skills in English; other languages are an asset

Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!