Job Description

Events Director

Foreign Policy (FP) is seeking an Events Director to drive high-level speaker recruitment, management, and engagement for our global convenings. This role sits at the intersection of editorial programming, high-level speaker recruitment, and hands-on event execution and centers on building the high-caliber speaker lineups that define FP Events. You will be responsible for securing and managing participation from world leaders, policymakers, C-suite executives, renowned scholars, influential philanthropists, celebrities, and other visionaries.

You will engage across teams to ensure all programming reflects our journalistic rigor, while also collaborating with external organizations whose expertise and priorities help shape event themes. The ideal candidate will excel at navigating this collaborative environment honoring FP's editorial standards while thoughtfully tailoring sessions to align with partner objectives and deliver meaningful, resonant conversations for our audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Speaker Recruitment & Management

• Lead end-to-end speaker recruitment for a portfolio of high-profile events, including public briefings, roundtables, and forums in Washington, D.C., New York, and internationally.
• Identify, research, and target compelling, diverse speakers across government, business, philanthropy, civil society, and academia, ensuring alignment with event themes and partner priorities.
• Drive outreach with persistence, creativity, and diplomacy to secure participation from high-profile and hard-to-reach individuals.
• Manage all stages of the speaker process from research and invitations to confirmations, pre-event briefings, and day-of management.
• Build and maintain relationships with top-tier speakers, their teams, and relevant stakeholders, fostering ongoing engagement for future events.
• Draft session and event sketches and briefing documents, including description language, titles, and guiding questions/themes of discussion. Consult and advise on content and programming to ensure alignment with FP's editorial standards and partner objectives.

Speaker Experience & On-Site Leadership

• Serve as the lead speaker wrangler during events, managing schedules, green rooms, AV preparations, and stage flow.
• Prepare and deliver speaker briefing documents, coordinate run-of-show details, and ensure a smooth, high-touch speaker experience from arrival to departure.
• Troubleshoot last-minute changes with professionalism and composure, protecting the quality of both the speaker experience and the audience's engagement.

Event Execution & Production

• Collaborate with FP's production team to integrate speakers seamlessly into event design and execution.
• Step into production support roles when needed, particularly for some smaller or international events, including vendor coordination, AV checks, and stage flow management.
• Maintain readiness to travel domestically and internationally to support events on-site (up to 25% annually).

Skills & Qualifications

• 610 years of experience in events, public affairs, public relations, journalism, or international policy, with a strong track record of securing high-profile speakers for large-scale or high-level convenings.
• A keen interest in and understanding of geopolitical issues relevant to FP's audience and clients.
• Exceptional relationship management skills and the ability to communicate diplomatically with partners, senior leaders and their staff.
• Proven ability to identify and recruit diverse, on-topic, and audience-drawing speakers.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and articulate compelling session concepts, including drafting descriptions, titles, and guiding questions/themes that support strategic programming goals.
• An ability to effectively synthesize complex topics pertaining to geopolitics, global markets, development, security, democracy, technology, and other areas into compelling, digestible session concepts.
• Comfort working within a programming model where editorial direction is shaped in collaboration with external organizations while maintaining FP's journalistic standards.
• Ability to effectively manage and communicate with outside contractors and partners who provide additional speaker and participant recruitment support; ensure alignment on goals, timelines, and messaging across all outreach efforts.
• Experience in event production environments, including run-of-show execution and speaker logistics.
• Highly organized, calm under pressure, and solutions-oriented.
• Bonus: Established network in foreign policy, philanthropy, global health, climate, energy, or tech spaces.

The salary range for this role is: $95,000-$115,000, depending on experience.

Why Join Us:

Foreign Policy Events convenes the world's leading thinkers and doers to drive conversation at the intersection of policy, influence, and impact. From intimate roundtables to flagship forums alongside global convenings like the United Nations General Assembly and the World Economic Forum, we bring unmatched editorial rigor and production value to global convenings. You'll join a nimble, high-performing team shaping critical conversations that matter. We offer great benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, paid parental leave, a pension plan, and a flexible hybrid work schedule.

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