Associate Manager, Events

ISEAL is looking for an experienced events professional to manage a range of in-person and virtual events for its global stakeholder base. This is an exciting role for someone with a strong track record in organising events of differing sizes for in-person, online, and hybrid audiences, and who is interested in sustainability.

Events are a vital part of ISEAL’s work to communicate with, influence, and engage our key stakeholder groups, including policy makers, multilateral organisations, donors, companies, NGOs, producers, and, of course, ISEAL’s own members. To support these aims, ISEAL hosts at least one major public forum, conference or symposium each year. In 2026, this will be a Global Sustainability Symposium and will take place in Accra, Ghana in June with around 200-300 participants. Additionally, ISEAL organises Members’ Week, an annual multi-day event for ISEAL Community Members that typically attracts 60-100 participants per day.

With support from the Events Coordinator, the Associate Manager will be responsible for all aspects of event management for the events described above. The role will also work closely with ISEAL programme teams and senior colleagues to coordinate the development of event agendas, content and sessions.

In addition, ISEAL’s events programme includes a range of smaller workshops and roundtables, both in Europe and in other locations, including China, India, Ghana, Indonesia, and Latin America. ISEAL also runs a busy webinar programme. The Associate Manager will work with senior colleagues to agree the level of support given by the Events Team to each of these smaller events/event series. While the Events Team is not expected to directly organise every event, the Associate Manager will also maintain and develop event planning resources, and guidance to support the organisation to consistently deliver high-quality events.

To succeed in this role, you will have significant existing experience in organising events, ideally including international events for high-profile audiences. Given the range of international events, you will also have a sensitive approach to cultural diversity and, ideally, some additional language skills. This role is responsible for line managing the Events Coordinator.

The key responsibilities we entrust you with:

• Manage the production and delivery of in-person and virtual events, with a particular focus on sustainable event delivery.
• Implement project management processes to deliver on events, including developing work-back plans and RACI charts, organising and chairing planning meetings, and leading on internal communications.
• Lead supplier selection for in-person events, collating requirements, researching venues, completing contracting with venue and major suppliers, and communicating event needs to all suppliers.
• Coordinate promotion and outreach for events, working closely with the Communications and Membership teams to promote events across all relevant channels.
• Oversee registration for events, setting up and monitoring relevant systems & provide internal updates.
• Collaborate with senior and programme staff to develop event agendas and content, organising and chairing content meetings, drawing up session schedules and ensuring logistical requirements are met.
• Prepare written event materials and other collateral, including web copy, programmes, invitations and participant communications, feedback surveys, travel reimbursement policies and other documents.
• Provide excellent customer service to attendees, speakers, and staff involved with events, acting as an advocate for attendee experience.
• Deliver internal briefings for staff in the lead up to events and create staffing plans to ensure smooth delivery on the day.
• Carry out risk assessments and lead on contingency planning for events.
• Track budgets, liaising with budget holders and coordinating with ISEAL finance team about invoicing and reimbursement.
• Manage events follow-up such as feedback survey analysis, preparation of post-event materials and reports, and internal evaluation meetings/surveys.
• Monitor and report on the environmental impact of events, including waste and GHG emissions, using these learnings to improve event sustainability wherever possible.

Event strategy, guidance, policies, and procedures:

• Contribute to developing the annual event schedule, including making recommendations based on the event team’s capacity and referring to ISEAL’s strategic objectives.
• Maintain and develop event planning guidance, templates, tools, systems, and other resources.
• Support the Events & Engagement Manager to maintain and develop event-related policies, including the Event Code of Conduct and the Event Sustainability Policy.
• Organise data and maintain relevant mailing lists, including updating contact and attendance records.
• Maintain an updated list of venue choices that have high sustainability credentials in key cities where ISEAL may wish to hold small and large events.

Other:

• Line manage Events Coordinator, and oversee their development and growth, identifying appropriate learning and development opportunities.
• Supervise contributions of other assistants and coordinators to event planning and delivery.
• Participate actively in team and organisational planning and activities.
• Participate in internal staff management processes such as performance reviews, supervisory meetings.
• Be a collaborative and effective team member, liaising with colleagues at all levels across the organisation.

Essential attributes / skills / knowledge:

• Track record of working on large in-person professional events, ideally in an international setting.
• Strong interest, and ideally experience, in delivering sustainable or “green” meetings and events.
• Strong project management skills, with an ability to comfortably juggle a number of different deliverables and deadlines at any given time.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with others (via e-mail, Teams, phone and in person).
• Self-motivated and able to work independently to high standards, with attention to detail.
• Capable of taking initiative to take action and solve problems within an agreed scope.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with cross-functional teams in a fully remote, international environment, including regular international time-zone calls.
• Experience in line management, able to delegate effectively and develop direct reports.
• Ability to work confidently and sensitively with a diverse global community.
• Confidence in using IT systems, familiarity with virtual meeting tools (e.g. Teams, Zoom), and proficiency in MS Office. Experience with running webinars and online events.
• Comfortable with some flexibility in working hours (specifically in 3-4 weeks leading up to major events).
• Interest in sustainability issues or in convening people around sustainability issues.

Additionally desirable:

• Experience organising international events and/or large hybrid events.
• Experience working or interning in an international NGO/ membership organisation.
• Working knowledge of other languages (e.g. French, German, Spanish, Portuguese).

About ISEAL:

ISEAL supports ambitious sustainability systems and their partners to tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges – from the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis to human rights and persistent poverty. ISEAL Community Members include many of the most respected sustainability schemes worldwide and are active across a diverse range of sectors.

ISEAL’s culture and how we will help you thrive:

Our values are Connection, Empowerment, Inspiration, Wellbeing, Effective Working and Creativity. These are traits we value in each other and in the organisation overall and we instil these in all our processes and interactions. The issues we work on are of a global nature and our team reflects this, with individuals from many different backgrounds and nationalities. We know this diversity adds to the high quality of work we deliver as an organisation and through our commitment to diversity and inclusion we want to add strengths and perspectives in our team with each recruitment. Diversity for us includes race and gender identity, age, disability status, sexual orientation, religion and many other areas forming part of someone’s identity. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

As an organisation, we also support our people in their personal and professional development, with specific budgets and processes enabling individuals to take advantage of growth and development opportunities. We offer 25 days of annual leave, to which we will add a day a year after 2 years (to a maximum of 30 days), as well as an extra five days as a one off once you have been with us for a full five years.

We recognise individuals’ preferences when it comes to where and when to work through a hybrid working model with a minimum of 4 days per month in the London office as well as the opportunity to apply for flexible working arrangements to suit individual’s needs.

Other relevant information:

• Term: This is an initial contract of one year with the possibility of extension.
• Working hours: 80 % (30 hours) – 100 % (full time, 37.5 hours per week), depending on preference.
• Salary: £45,800 – 49,800, depending on experience (pro rata for less than 100%).
• Location: London is the preferred location. Applicants will need to provide evidence that they are entitled to work in the UK. An ability and willingness to work in a hybrid work environment is required.
• International travel: The post holder will be required to undertake occasional international travel.
• Ideal start date: asap.

About applying:

Specific enquiries about this role and the application process can be sent to the recruitment@isealalliance.org. Deadline for applications is 8 March, 5pm GMT. Please note that we will only contact shortlisted applicants. Please note that we would like to see candidates’ own writing in the cover letter and discourage the use of AI for this purpose.

Interview process:

Please note that we will endeavor to keep to this schedule, but some dates may be subject to change. Screening interviews (Teams): 11-13 March. Pre-interview timed exercises (between 60 & 90 minutes from home): 13-17 March. Panel interviews (in person): 18/19 March. Decision: w/c 23 March.

Accessibility:

If candidates require additional time or other considerations for the interview process, we are committed to accommodating any reasonable requests. Please note that ISEAL will cover travel expenses for in-person interviews for candidates travelling from outside of Greater London. ISEAL also covers caring expenses for candidates who are carers and need to arrange cover for the duration of the interview/exercises.