Convening Lead

Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage the annual master plan and critical delivery timeline for the Convening.
• Oversee the entire project lifecycle, ensuring all activities, milestones and deliverables are completed within agreed timelines.
• Develop and manage the event budget in collaboration with the host nation.
• Maintain project documentation, risk registers, change logs and departmental delivery checklists.
• Lead engagement and partnership activities with the host government.
• Coordinate the development and execution of the Host Nation Partnership Agreement.
• Manage the joint steering committee involving and relevant government representatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with government officials, investors, development partners, foundations, NGOs and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee venue selection, negotiation, contracting and preparation.
• Personally supervise venue planning, including space design, seating arrangements, branding, décor, signage and catering.
• Coordinate vendors, suppliers and service providers to ensure quality delivery and adherence to agreed specifications.
• Recruit, coordinate and lead a team of ten or more departmental leads across the Secretariat, Media, Event Production, Hospitality, Logistics and Protocol, Programme and Project Team.
• Establish clear responsibilities, deliverables and reporting structures for all team leads.
• Coordinate regular team meetings and monitor departmental performance.
• Serve as the central escalation point for operational challenges and cross-functional issues.
• Work closely with the Programme Lead and Speaker Team to coordinate speakers, sessions and the event running order.
• Ensure the programme runs according to schedule and that all speakers and participants are properly coordinated.
• Work alongside the Floor Manager and Show Producer during the event to manage real-time operations.
• Make timely decisions and resolve unexpected challenges to ensure smooth event delivery.
• Ensure all departments have completed and signed off their readiness checklists before the Convening opens.
• Coordinate post-event stakeholder appreciation and ensure thank-you communications are sent within 48 hours.
• Organise post-event debrief sessions within 72 hours of the Convening.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of the event Impact Report within four weeks.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, International Relations, Event Management or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in project or programme management, with at least five years leading large-scale events, summits or programmes.
• Demonstrable experience managing events involving 500 or more participants and budgets exceeding US$1 million.
• Strong experience within the non-profit, development or public sector.
• Proven experience working with government institutions, senior public officials, heads of state or equivalent high-level stakeholders in at least one African country.
• Established professional network across the public, private and non-profit sectors, particularly foundations, NGOs, funders and civil society organisations.
• Proven experience managing venues, event production, vendors, décor, catering, logistics and event-day operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary teams of ten or more people.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with fluency in English.
• Willingness and ability to travel across Africa and spend extended periods in the host country ahead of the Convening.
• Professional certification in Project Management, such as PMP, PRINCE2 or APM
• Experience managing international summits and events with live broadcast components.
• Working knowledge of French, Portuguese or Arabic.
• Knowledge of the African Union (AU), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other

Location: Abuja

Remuneration: NGN 2,000,000 monthly