Senior Events Manager

About the Role

The Center for International Development (CID) is Harvard University’s hub for cutting-edge research on the world’s most pressing international development issues. Based at Harvard Kennedy School, CID brings researchers and practitioners together across the university to collaborate, using the latest analytical tools to address pressing development challenges. CID organizes global talent worldwide by investing in people, places, and ideas to build a thriving world for all.

CID has an opening for a Senior Events Manager to lead the strategy, design, and execution of CID’s public-facing events in Cambridge and globally.

This role is ideal for a candidate who enjoys developing innovative event strategies that advance CID’s mission while also taking ownership of the operational excellence required to deliver exceptional experiences and strengthen global engagement.

The Senior Events Manager will serve as the Center’s lead on all CID events and convenings, shaping the overall vision and annual event portfolio, advising leadership on programming priorities, and directing the development and execution of conferences, student seminars, and strategic convenings for the CID community, including staff, fellows, Harvard students, global alumni, and external practitioners and researchers.

This position will report to CID’s Senior Director of Communications and coordinate closely with the Associate Director, Student and Fellow Programming, and the broader CID team.

As a small, collaborative team, CID staff are responsible for both planning and executing programming. They must have the ability to interact and collaborate closely with a variety of stakeholders, including students, fellows, faculty, donors, development partners, and prominent individuals and organizations with tact and diplomacy.

This position requires working independently and as part of a team, as well as a high level of maturity and good judgment. Given the nature of this position, the candidate will be required to work mostly in-person at the CID offices during the academic year, with more flexibility over the summer.

Responsibilities

Strategic Event Planning & Program Development

• Develop and lead a comprehensive annual events strategy that advances CID’s mission, research priorities, institutional visibility, and community engagement across Harvard and globally.
• Lead financial planning and stewardship for CID’s annual events portfolio, developing budgets, allocating resources strategically, monitoring expenditures, and identifying opportunities to maximize impact and efficiency.
• Lead the design and delivery of CID’s event portfolio, including ongoing programming and marquee events such as CID’s flagship annual Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM).
• Work with faculty and leadership to identify priority themes, curate speakers, shape program content, and engage target audiences.
• Advise CID leadership on the annual events calendar, prioritizing programming opportunities and balancing institutional goals, faculty interests, budget, and organizational capacity.
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that expand the reach and impact of CID programming.
• Advise leadership on opportunities for external speaking engagements, collaborations, and new event initiatives that strengthen CID’s visibility and influence.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to faculty and leadership in developing programming that elevates CID research, responds to emerging policy issues, and strengthens relationships across Harvard and the global development community.
• Establish metrics to evaluate event success, analyze participation trends and audience feedback, and recommend improvements to programming strategy, engagement, and operational effectiveness.

Event Operations & Delivery

• Manage all logistical aspects of events, conferences, and speaker visits, including venue coordination, catering, travel, audiovisual needs, registration, and on-site execution.
• Support logistics for regional programming off campus as needed.
• Anticipate, troubleshoot, and resolve operational and technical challenges during event planning and execution, exercising sound judgment under pressure.
• Develop, manage, and reallocate budgets for conferences, event series, and outreach.
• Negotiate contracts as needed and manage internal and external vendors, including facilities, catering, media and technology services, security, and other vendors.
• In collaboration with the CID Communications team, coordinate communications and event promotion through Harvard and external channels, including weekly newsletters, event posters, and social media posts.
• Initiate post-event communications, including event write-ups and content for CID’s YouTube channel.
• Manage event registration and attendance tracking through Salesforce and other systems.
• Ensure registration information is collected effectively to support successful events.
• Process event-related invoices, reimbursements, and financial documentation.
• Oversee support for hybrid and virtual programming, including Zoom webinar setup, livestream coordination, and audiovisual troubleshooting.
• Contribute to a collaborative team environment by supporting additional CID initiatives and operational needs as required.
• Operate independently in a fast-paced environment while demonstrating exceptional attention to detail, initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with limited oversight.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• BA/BS degree.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in event management, program management, higher education administration, or a related field.

Additional Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Economics, Public Policy, or International Development preferred.
• Professional work experience in international development and a deep understanding of the development sector preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading the strategy and management of complex events, programs, or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Master’s degree preferred in Economics, Public Policy, International Development, or a related field requiring substantial quantitative coursework.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to adapt, multitask, and maintain excellent attention to detail.
• Highly motivated and detail-oriented, with the ability to meet tight deadlines and strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills with experience providing complex administrative and programmatic support.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively as part of a team.
• Strong proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Canva, and AI tools.
• Experience running online webinars and live streams using Zoom and other software.