Strategic Events Lead

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is seeking a Strategic Events Lead to drive the design and delivery of a high-impact, globally coherent events programme that directly advances SBTi’s wider organisational strategy. Sitting within the Impact Department and working in close collaboration with the Communications and Engagement teams, this role is responsible for creating and executing an events strategy that strengthens SBTi’s influence in climate action and private sector decarbonisation.

The Strategic Events Lead will position SBTi as a leading voice at the world’s most influential climate forums – including COP and Climate Week NYC – whilst ensuring that every event serves as a purposeful platform for advancing SBTi’s mission to drive ambitious corporate and financial sector decarbonisation. This role requires a seasoned events and stakeholder engagement professional who combines strategic vision with the ability to lead end-to-end programme delivery at scale.

This Role Plays a Critical Part in:

• Developing and delivering a global events programme that directly operationalises SBTi’s strategic priorities, integrating the work of Communications, Engagement, and technical teams into coherent and impactful external-facing activities.
• Positioning SBTi as a credible, visible, and influential leader across the international climate action landscape, leveraging events as a key tool for advancing private sector decarbonisation.
• Building the organisational capability, frameworks, and partnerships needed to sustain a world-class events function as SBTi continues to scale.

You Are a Great Fit for This Role If You:

• Are a strategic thinker and experienced events leader who thrives in complex, fast-paced international environments.
• Have a track record of designing and delivering high-impact events programmes that serve clear organisational objectives.
• Are skilled at influencing senior stakeholders, building cross-functional partnerships, and translating strategy into action.
• Bring deep knowledge of the climate action landscape and are passionate about using your expertise to accelerate decarbonisation at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a global events strategy that strengthens SBTi’s influence in climate action and private sector decarbonisation, ensuring events serve as purposeful platforms for advancing organisational goals.
• Position SBTi strategically within major international climate forums (e.g., COP, Climate Week NYC) to enhance leadership visibility and cultivate high-value partnerships.
• Build scalable event frameworks and toolkits to support consistent, high-quality delivery across regional and sectoral engagement activities.
• Identify innovative approaches and technologies to continuously enhance event delivery, audience engagement, and organisational impact.
• Establish clear metrics and evaluation frameworks to measure event impact, inform strategic decision-making, and demonstrate return on investment to senior leadership.

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships:

• Collaborate with senior leadership, regional teams, Communications, and technical experts to align the events programme with SBTi’s strategic priorities and external engagement goals.
• Secure and manage high-impact speaking opportunities and strategic event participation that elevate SBTi’s profile and influence.
• Monitor the external landscape for collaboration opportunities and advise leadership on strategic engagement, emerging forums, and positioning.
• Strengthen partnerships with peer organisations, funders, and key stakeholders, ensuring alignment across Communications and Impact teams.
• Oversee the development of event content, thought leadership materials, and presentations that reflect SBTi’s expertise and strategic messaging.

Programme Leadership and Delivery:

• Lead end-to-end planning, execution, and follow-up for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events, working with regional teams and the Events and Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator.
• Supervise event coordination processes and manage incoming event requests and approvals, ensuring strategic alignment and organisational priorities are upheld.
• Oversee event budgets, managing resources responsibly and ensuring financial accountability for all event-related expenditure.
• Train and equip staff to effectively represent SBTi at global events, building internal capacity and confidence across the organisation.
• Maintain up-to-date records of event plans, budgets, and communications using project and CRM platforms (e.g., Asana).

Experience and Skills:

• Substantial experience (typically 4+ years) in a senior events, stakeholder engagement, or communications role, ideally within a global NGO, intergovernmental organisation, or mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated track record of designing and delivering complex, multi-stakeholder events programmes with measurable strategic outcomes.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategy, and to translate high-level organisational objectives into coherent events and engagement activity.
• Experience leading or managing teams, with strong coaching, delegation, and performance management skills.
• Excellent influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage credibly with senior leaders, international partners, and diverse stakeholders.
• Strong project management capability, with experience managing large budgets, multiple workstreams, and cross-functional teams simultaneously.
• Proficiency in project management and CRM platforms (e.g., Asana, Salesforce or equivalent).
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience developing thought leadership materials and executive-level presentations.
• A bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field; a master’s degree or professional qualification in events, communications, or a related discipline is advantageous.
• Deep knowledge of the climate action, sustainability, or private sector decarbonisation landscape, including familiarity with key forums, actors, and advocacy dynamics.
• Direct experience managing SBTi-relevant events or engagement processes (e.g., COP, Climate Week NYC, CDP events, or equivalent).
• Knowledge of SBTi’s mission, frameworks, and standards development process.
• Proficiency in languages other than English is a plus.
• Experience working with virtual and hybrid event platforms and technologies.

This is a full-time role based in London with some flexibility to exceptional candidates that can frequently travel to London, with a salary dependent on experience. The salary for this role will depend on location and experience level. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract, with intention to renew. Interested candidates should be legally allowed to work in the specified countries and already be visa holders. The SBTi cannot sponsor working visas.

If you are interested, please complete our application form. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in SBTi.

What we offer:

• Working in one of the most successful and fastest-growing initiatives driving climate action.
• Exciting and challenging tasks in a dynamic, international, innovative, and highly motivated team.
• Training and development.
• Attractive holiday package plus public holidays in your country.
• Competitive NGO salary range.

SBTi is an equal opportunity employer - committed to building an inclusive workplace and diverse staff, where all can thrive. We welcome and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all identities and backgrounds, and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.