Events Manager- NetZeroCities

Job Title:  Events Manager– NetZeroCities 

Team:  Cities 

Contract: 1 year fixed-term contract

Level: Intermediate/Advanced 

Please refer to our Capability Framework  

Salary:  Competitive for Not-for-profit organisation  

Start Date: ASAP 

Location: UK, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Poland

ABOUT US  

At Climate KIC, we are wholeheartedly committed to building a diverse and representative team and an inclusive workplace that values different life experiences and perspectives, and we encourage personal development, learning and growth.   

When recruiting, we look to achieve diversity in the candidate pool. We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and are happy to consider reasonable adjustments that will foster success in potential colleagues from diverse backgrounds and life situations. And because our team has differing needs and personal circumstances, we offer a high degree of flexibility to accommodate working patterns. We’re happy to discuss your situation during the interview and see how best we can support you. Don’t let Imposter Syndrome stop you from applying!   

Climate KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community) is Europe’s foremost climate innovation initiative. We understand that global temperature rise is exceeding 1.5C and this demands unprecedented change. It requires new social dynamics, ways of doing business, capital flows, policymaking, economic models, and new ways of living. That is why our mission is to leverage the power of systems innovation to transform whole places, industries and value chains by 2030, working across sectors to develop and scale ambitious programmes. Climate KIC’s strategy 2024-2030, Transformation, with Urgency, is available here.    

Climate KIC operates as a not-for-profit foundation working through public-private partnership, wielding both public and private funding. Established in 2010 and headquartered in Amsterdam, we orchestrate a community of more than 150 organisations including large corporations and SMEs, municipal and regional governments, universities and research institutes, as well as non-governmental organisations and civil society actors.     

Climate KIC leads the implementation of the European Union’s Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities and the launch pilot of the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, both with the objective of catalysing rapid and deep transformation on a large scale, creating the precedent and economic transition conditions for demonstration, learning, capacity building, fast followership and investment. Achieving the EU Cities Mission will mean avoided scope 1 and 2 emissions alone of an estimated 0.7GT CO2e between now and 2040.    

Climate KIC has a Remote-First approach, where colleagues work remotely from home based in one of the countries where we have a branch or employing entity (and can work out of local offices or co-working seats, where they exist). We meet at our local offices to exchange and connect and use online collaboration tools to work with each other and with our community. On occasion, we meet in person as teams, and once per year as an organisation.    

As a mission-driven organisation dedicated to climate transformation, we consider the climate impact of our own actions, for example travel, catering, or IT equipment.    

ABOUT THE ROLE  

NetZeroCities is a cornerstone of Europe’s climate ambition, designed to accelerate the transition to 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030. Climate-KIC, as lead of a 34-member consortium, orchestrates this transformation through systems innovation and collaboration across sectors. Visibility and engagement are critical to success—every event is an opportunity to amplify impact, forge partnerships, and position NetZeroCities as a leader in urban climate action, while also reinforcing Climate KIC’s broader brand positioning 

As Events Manager , you will ensure that NetZeroCities is present and influential at the most important convenings in the climate and urban sustainability space. Your role goes beyond logistics: you will design and execute an event strategy that aligns with programme objectives, identifies high-value opportunities, and maximizes visibility, ensuring that events also contribute to Climate KIC’s overall visibility and storytelling priorities.. You will map the European and global event landscape, prepare compelling talking points and briefing materials for senior representatives, and cultivate relationships with key players and influencers 

By connecting the programme to the right stages and networks, you will help accelerate collaboration and showcase the transformative work happening across Mission Cities. 

ABOUT THE ROLE  

NetZeroCities is a cornerstone of Europe’s climate ambition, designed to accelerate the transition to 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030. Climate-KIC, as lead of a 34-member consortium, orchestrates this transformation through systems innovation and collaboration across sectors. Visibility and engagement are critical to success—every event is an opportunity to amplify impact, forge partnerships, and position NetZeroCities as a leader in urban climate action, while also reinforcing Climate KIC’s broader brand positioning.

As Events Manager, you will ensure that NetZeroCities is present and influential at the most important convenings in the climate and urban sustainability space. Your role goes beyond logistics: you will design and execute an event strategy that aligns with programme objectives, identifies high-value opportunities, and maximizes visibility, ensuring that events also contribute to Climate KIC’s overall visibility and storytelling priorities. You will map the European and global event landscape, prepare compelling talking points and briefing materials for senior representatives, and cultivate relationships with key players and influencers.

By connecting the programme to the right stages and networks, you will help accelerate collaboration and showcase the transformative work happening across Mission Cities. 

Key Responsibilities  

• Map and monitor relevant events across Europe in the climate, urban, and innovation space. 

• Coordinate with DG RTD and CINEA to ensure consistent and strategic representation at events. 

• Develop and maintain a strategic calendar of engagements for the consortium. 

• Prepare talking points, briefing notes, and speaker support for high-level representation. 

• Identify key players, influencers, and opportunities for collaboration and visibility. 

• Coordinate participation in external events and lead on flagship NetZeroCities events. 

• Work closely with the NetZeroCities and Climate KIC communications and programme teams to align messaging and presence. 

• Support the wider Communications team in telling the NetZeroCities and the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission story 

Key Working Relationships  

• NetZeroCities Programme Manager (CKIC) 

• NetZeroCities Head of Communications (LGI) 

• NetZeroCities Communication Team 

• Climate-KIC Cities Comms Team 

• DGRTD, European Commission  

Key Responsibilities  

• Map and monitor relevant events across Europe in the climate, urban, and innovation space. 

• Coordinate with DG RTD and CINEA to ensure consistent and strategic representation at events. 

• Develop and maintain a strategic calendar of engagements for the consortium. 

• Prepare talking points, briefing notes, and speaker support for high-level representation. 

• Identify key players, influencers, and opportunities for collaboration and visibility. 

• Coordinate participation in external events and lead on flagship NetZeroCities events. 

• Work closely with the NetZeroCities and Climate KIC communications and programme teams to align messaging and presence. 

• Support the wider Communications team in telling the NetZeroCities and the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission story 

Key Working Relationships  

• NetZeroCities Programme Manager (CKIC) 

• NetZeroCities Head of Communications (LGI) 

• NetZeroCities Communication Team 

• Climate-KIC Cities Comms Team 

• DGRTD, European Commission  

ABOUT YOU  

You bring strong experience in event strategy, stakeholder engagement, and public representation, combined with a deep understanding of the European sustainability and urban transformation landscape. Highly organised and confident in preparing senior leaders for public engagements, you are a skilled networker with a proactive approach to relationship-building and supporting the seamless management of events from planning through execution. 

Education/Qualifications  

• Degree in communications, public relations, sustainability, urban development, or a related field. 

• Postgraduate qualification in sustainability, urban studies, or climate policy desirable. 

• Equivalent professional experience in event strategy, stakeholder engagement, or programme communications will also be considered. 

Experience  

• Proven track record in designing and delivering strategic events and high-profile engagements in the climate, sustainability, or urban innovation space. 

• Experience working within EU-funded or multi-partner programmes, ideally across public, private, and non-profit sectors. 

• Experience preparing and supporting senior leaders for high-level external engagements. 

• Strong understanding of European and/or global sustainability and urban policy landscapes. 

• Desirable: Experience working in or with cities, networks, or initiatives focused on climate neutrality or systems innovation. 

Skills  

• Fluent in English (additional European languages are an asset). 

• Experience or willingness to work with collaborative IT applications (we use Office365 and Microsoft Teams, as well as Miro, Zoom, Mentimeter etc.)   Excellent organisational and project management skills, able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling messaging for diverse audiences. 

• Skilled at stakeholder engagement and building professional networks across sectors. 

• Strategic thinking with the ability to connect communications, visibility, and impact. 

Qualities, Personal Style, and Approach  

• Collaborative, adaptable, and comfortable working in a matrixed environment across multiple teams. 

• Proactive and self-motivated, with a solutions-oriented approach and attention to detail. 

• Culturally aware and confident working in an international, multilingual environment. 

• Strategic yet hands-on, balancing creativity with disciplined execution. 

Location  

Candidates must have the right to work in the location they’re applying for (I.e. not require visa sponsorship) prior to applying for the position. Ideally, the successful candidate will be based close to a Climate KIC office, but we support fully remote or hybrid forms of working and offer a high degree of flexibility.  

Travel for this role will be approximately every 1-2 months.  

To ensure that we can respond to every single applicant, we will close the role once we receive a reasonable pool of candidates to assess.