Senior Manager, Conferences and Events, Bloomberg Center for Cities

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University serves a global community committed to improving public management, leadership, and governance. The Center’s cross-Harvard collaboration unites expertise focused on cities across disciplines and schools to produce research, train leaders, and develop resources for global use. The Center is designed to have practical impact on the future of cities, where more than half of the world’s people now live, by informing and inspiring local government leaders, scholars, students, and others who work to improve the lives of residents around the world. This position will manage and lead the development, planning, and execution of high-profile events and convenings; partner with faculty and scholars to translate academic objectives into compelling event experiences; and manage planning, logistics, production, and technical execution for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. As a senior member of the Center Events team, this position will serve as the primary project lead for a portfolio of events and convenings, collaborating closely with faculty, center leadership, university partners, and external stakeholders to deliver exceptional event experiences and support the Center's mission. We seek to host and highlight university scholars, students, and practitioners. A conference series, events, and convenings at the center provide a platform for leading thinkers, rising academic stars, and accomplished leaders working on and in cities. The center seeks a dynamic, collaborative, and detail-oriented teammate to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of a growing portfolio of conferences, convenings, and special events.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 6 years of relevant professional experience with progressive responsibility in event-production
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends as needed

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated excellence in translating academic content into compelling educational sessions, events, and convenings for diverse audiences
• Proven track record of leading and executing complex, high-profile events and convenings involving multiple stakeholders
• Experience working in cities, local government, or adjacent community organizations with a strong understanding of urban challenges is highly preferred
• Extensive knowledge of events operations and process design
• Ability to drive towards big picture goals while maintaining extraordinary attention to detail
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives from concept through execution
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and coordinate effectively across internal teams, faculty, and external partners
• A strong work ethic and resolute integrity
• Excellent interpersonal skills that resonate with diverse stakeholders
• Strong relationship-management skills and the ability to build credibility with faculty, senior leaders, and external stakeholders
• Ability to maintain effectiveness under scrutiny and pressure, and willingness to do what it takes to get work done
• Skill in written communications, content development

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, design, and execution of center events and convenings, managing logistics, operations, staffing, timelines, and resource allocation across in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
• Lead the end-to-end planning and development of event concepts and experiences in partnership with faculty, scholars, and speakers, translating academic content into engaging and accessible programming for diverse audiences.
• Lead budget and financial oversight of $1.4M center event budget including allocation of budget to events, convenings, reconciling expense and responsible for financial planning of for event calendar.
• Lead communication and coordination with HKS partners, including catering, facilities, IT/media services, and security, while overseeing vendor relationships and ensuring seamless event execution.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve event planning systems, operational processes, timelines, and project management tools to support a robust and growing events portfolio.
• Lead planning and coordination meetings with faculty, speakers, city leaders, university partners, and external stakeholders, serving as a key point of contact throughout the event lifecycle.
• Provide leadership and oversight for event budgets, financial tracking, staffing plans, vendor contracts, and allocation of external resources to ensure responsible fiscal stewardship and operational efficiency.
• Partner closely with the Center’s Communications team to develop event branding, promotional materials, audience engagement strategies, and post-event communications.
• Manage collaboration with external production teams and technical vendors to support high-quality live-streamed, recorded, and hybrid event experiences.
• Anticipate, troubleshoot, and resolve operational and technical challenges during event planning and execution, exercising sound judgment under pressure.
• Lead the development and finalization of presentations, briefing materials, run-of-show documents, speaker materials, and related event content in collaboration with faculty and speakers.
• Manage post-event follow-up activities, including stakeholder communications, data collection, reporting, reconciliation, and coordination with Communications to distribute event recordings and related materials.
• Evaluate event outcomes and audience engagement metrics, using data and feedback to recommend improvements and enhancements to future programming.
• Operate independently in a fast-paced environment, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail, initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with limited oversight.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior