Position Overview
The Connected Leaders Platform (CLP) supports the Foundation’s five-year climate strategy by driving the Foundation’s global convening capacity; designing high-level gatherings; deepening engagement with key leaders, corporations, governments, and non-profit organizations; and galvanizing networks. The Connected Leaders Platform is a defining part of the Foundation’s unique model of change.
The Special Projects & Partnerships team, part of the CLP, leads the RF’s work to influence global agendas through high production value Signature Convenings and partnerships.
The Director, Special Projects & Partnerships will partner with and report to the Managing Director, Special Projects & Partnerships to deliver 20-30 annual Institutional Signature Convenings that advance RF’s institutional agenda; and build partnerships with global convening initiatives to advance RF’s strategic goals. In addition, the Director will work closely with the SVP, Connected Leaders Platform to manage cross-departmental work, including communications, budgeting, and team meetings.
Pay Range: $160,000- $224,308. This represents the present low and high end of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.
Work Schedule: This role is on a hybrid work schedule, and required to be in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Principal Duties And Responsibilities
Signature Convenings & Partnerships
- In collaboration with the Managing Director, help plan, develop, and execute Institutional Signature Convenings, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s strategic goals and delivering high-impact outcomes.
- Focus on Signature Convenings content development, stakeholder engagement, and overall event success, in collaboration with the Managing Director. This includes:
- Implement the vision and content strategy to ensure each convening effectively meets its objectives and advances the Foundation’s priorities.
- Manage the project management process, including driving timelines, managing deliverables, and ensuring critical next steps are met.
- Align key stakeholders, ensuring seamless decision-making and collaboration across teams to ensure successful execution.
- Set clear agendas that drive meaningful conversations and outcomes.
- Identify and prepare senior speakers, ensuring they are aligned with convening themes and contribute to the event’s goals.
- Review and finalize all event materials to ensure consistency, quality, and relevance to convening objectives.
- Oversee convening communications, ensuring clear, engaging, and strategic messaging to all stakeholders.
- Support the Managing Director in the coordination and execution of high-priority convening events, such as RF’s annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) convenings and key meetings during the Spring and Fall World Bank sessions.
- Implement robust monitoring and evaluation for Signature Convenings, including collecting feedback through surveys, tracking qualitative impact data, and ensuring data are captured in Salesforce. Regularly report key findings to leadership to inform strategic decision-making and future event planning.
- Manage partnerships with global convening leaders and strategic partners, strengthening long-term relationships that enhance the Foundation's visibility and impact in key global forums, in collaboration with the Managing Director
- Process charitable donations to partners, ensuring that contributions align with the Foundation’s philanthropic priorities and are managed efficiently and effectively.
Cross-Department Support & Special Projects
- Drive CLP communications and storytelling efforts to elevate the impact and visibility of Institutional Signature Convenings. Act as the primary liaison with the RF Communications team to ensure cohesive messaging and integration across all communication channels.
- Provide surge capacity to other CLP teams during critical moments, such as the Bellagio residency selection process or major convening events like the UNGA, ensuring the team is well-supported and critical deliverables are met.
- Contribute to CLP budget management and performance metrics, including the department scorecard and ensuring timely submission of program highlights every quarter. Ensure that financial and operational goals are met.
- Partner with the SVP to set the agenda for and facilitate monthly all-CLP team meetings, identifying opportunities to strengthen collaboration, enhance team synergy, and drive cross-departmental connections that further the Foundation’s strategic objectives.
- Manage select cross-functional projects, ensuring that these initiatives are aligned with the broader organizational strategy and are delivered on time and within scope.
Education, Experience, And Skills
- Generally expected to have 10+ years of relevant experience in events and program management.
- Bachelors preferred.
- Entrepreneurial and strategic mindset, with demonstrated experience leading work independently from strategy to execution, ensuring accountability for results along the way.
- Deep experience in developing and managing relationships with complex, geographically diverse, global organizations of all sizes.
- Committed to using software and data to produce outputs, track outcomes, and deliver results, independently and proactively.
- Ability to travel regularly both domestically and internationally and has done so in previous roles.
- Computer proficiency in MS Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint, and the ability to learn new applications quickly.
Qualifications And Competencies
- Balances Stakeholders: Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders.
- Develops Talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
- Directs Work: Provides direction, delegating, and removing obstacles to get work done.
- Manages Complexity: Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
- Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives and commits to inclusion, equity, and diversity in every aspect of work.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at http://rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.
The Rockefeller Foundation offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes health insurance programs, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment, a generous 401K, parental leave, and various forms of paid time off, all to help our employees feel energized, cared for, and engaged.
As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything that we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without the diverse perspectives and experiences of our team members. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.
The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status.
The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
