Overview

The Principal, Annual Meeting Programme, Sponsorship and Partnerships is responsible for strategically shaping the programme of the Annual Meeting and Business Forum, providing expert advice in developing event streams and programme structure aligned with the Bank's strategic priorities and the Annual Meetings' themes. The role manages the overall Annual Meeting marketing efforts, the Sponsorship Programme, the AM website and mobile app, and contributes ideas to innovate and improve participants' experience. It also oversees Regional Fora activities, the sponsorship programme where applicable, and branding and marketing in collaboration with the Communications Department. The role requires close collaboration with Communications, the President's Office, Corporate Strategy, Business Development, Procurement, Banking teams, Host Government Authorities, sponsors (including EBRD clients), media partners, various Banking teams and Resident Offices. It is based in the Office of the Secretary General (OSG), which acts as secretariat to the EBRD Board of Governors and Board of Directors and their committees and as the official channel of communication with shareholders. The role supports concept development and advisory on the strategic direction of the AM programme, steering teams responsible for narratives of panels and sessions in the Business Forum, and oversees all AM marketing activities, the AM website and mobile app content, and the sponsorship programme to support cost recovery up to £800,000 per annum. It is also responsible for preparing Annual Meeting papers and reports for ExCom, the Board and its Committees.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic input on the Annual Meeting and Business Forum theme, event streams, and concept development.
• Advise event leads on shaping Business Forum sessions in line with the thematic direction and key messages.
• Ensure the overall programme is cohesive and aligned with the Bank's strategic priorities.
• Contribute ideas to improve participants' experience at Annual Meetings.
• Manage key internal and external stakeholder relationships and oversee content development engagement.
• Collaborate with the Principal, Annual Meetings Event Management to maximise synergies between event design and delivery.
• Participate in preparatory missions and act as the primary EBRD contact with Host Authorities to align on themes and harmonise marketing and sponsorship activities.
• Prepare detailed reports on Annual Meeting planning and consolidate input across workstreams.
• Report on marketing and sponsorship targets and ROI.
• Provide expert advice regarding tenders and contracts for outsourced registration providers and designers.
• Sponsorship: Manage financial targets and budget adherence, design and trial sponsorship strategies, and identify pre-approved sponsor targets in cooperation with senior leadership and departments.
• Negotiate sponsors' deliverables and contractual work for each AM; monitor implementation.
• Lead the Analyst responsible for implementing the AM sponsorship programme and related Regional Forum events where applicable.
• Advise on developing the Host sponsorship programme to ensure cooperation and manage conflicts of interest.
• Marketing: Devise AM marketing campaigns and secure external media partner agreements to reduce costs and achieve participation and cost recovery targets.
• Collaborate with Communications to structure impactful social media campaigns for in-person and remote audiences and expand AM promotion reach.
• Lead creation of outreach and marketing narratives and manage relationships with professional design agencies for branding, website, and app visuals.
• Supervise the Analyst, Marketing & Sponsorship; set objectives and provide coaching as needed.
• Drive marketing efforts to attract up to 500 business-paying guests and associated revenue targets.
• Sustainability: Design strategies to increase sustainable marketing efforts and report emissions data in collaboration with CTO Transformation Office and Climate Strategy and Delivery (CSD).
• Coordinate sourcing of environmentally friendly merchandise; implement sustainable initiatives with external providers to reduce carbon footprint and track emissions data.
• Monitor accessibility and inclusivity efforts and coordinate communications with Health and Safety.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent; extensive professional experience in event production, programme management, content development, marketing and strategic communication, preferably in an international organisation.
• Strong management experience with solid understanding of project management tools and timelines.
• Extensive experience in marketing campaigns, sponsorship revenue, or fundraising in an international events context.
• Experience in inter-departmental and international collaboration, engaging with other departments, government authorities and external companies at management/Minister level.
• Ability to operate sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relationships with clients, counterparts and colleagues.
• Experience in third-party supplier management: leading tender processes, contract reviews, commercial arrangements, and service reviews.
• Attention to detail with ability to produce clear, concise reports and engaging narratives; well-developed analytical capabilities.
• Excellent communication and diplomacy skills in navigating diverse stakeholder interests; strong presentation skills in English (other EBRD official languages are advantageous).
• Experienced manager; willing to travel and spend short periods away from home as needed.

Benefits

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience. You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation and use your talents to make a real difference. The EBRD values—Inclusiveness, Innovation, Trust, and Responsibility—are at the heart of how we work, reflected in our Workplace Behaviours: listening, collaboration, decisiveness, and simplification.

Diversity is one of the Bank's core values. We seek qualified candidates from member countries and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. The EBRD provides a varied, stimulating environment with a hybrid workplace, a commitment to sustainability and digital transformation, and competitive benefits. Please note that due to high application volumes, detailed feedback cannot be provided to non-shortlisted candidates.