The IUCN World Conservation Congress (the Congress) takes place every four years, and brings together several thousand participants for a 9 day event, including a four-day IUCN Members’ Assembly, preceded by a four-day Forum with several hundred events open to the general public, plus an opening day. The Congress also includes an exhibit hall with an estimated size of 11’000m2) featuring up to 200 small scale (9m2), 15 medium scale (55-80m2) and 10 large scale exhibits (150-200m2). Each Congress is hosted by a different country, which ensures coverage of about 60% of the Congress costs (mostly onsite) either directly or by finding sponsors. The Host Country and date of the 2020 Congress will be decided by the IUCN Council in May 2018.
The Event Sponsorship Coordinator will be responsible for designing and implementing a resource mobilization strategy for the Congress, and actively mobilise support and funds for the Congress to cover the costs which are not covered by the Host Country (mostly pre- and post-Congress costs).
The fundraising target for the Congress 2020 (IUCN target only) is estimated at CHF6million+.
The Event Sponsorship Coordinator will report to the Congress Manager and work closely with the IUCN Global Strategic Partnerships Unit, the IUCN Global Business and Biodiversity Programme, the IUCN Global Communications Team and the Directors of IUCN Global Programmes. The incumbent will also work closely with the Host Country Focal Point and the Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) who will be responsible for the exhibition sales and management services. An internal Congress fundraising Committee will be set up to maximize synergies with other fundraising efforts and avoid overlaps with ongoing business engagement while opening up new doors for new IUCN funding channels.

SPECIFIC TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Event Sponsorship Coordinator will design and implement a Resource Mobilization Strategy to secure all funds to cover costs directly related to the delivery of the Congress. This will involve identifying, targeting and establishing contacts with potential institutional, private sector, philanthropic, and individual sponsors for the Congress based on:

• Congress themes/Congress objectives;
• The IUCN Business Engagement Strategy and the Operational Guidelines for Private Sector Engagement;
• Synergies between sponsors/donors and IUCN;
• Clear understanding with Host Country on roles and responsibilities related to resource mobilization/ on common and respective approach to prospective sponsors/donors.

More specifically, he/she will

1. Design a Sponsorship Recognition Programme which can be customized for each sponsor;
2. Work with the IUCN Global Communications team on the content, design and branding of marketing materials for potential sponsors;
3. Identify potential sponsors for the Congress, carry out due diligence assessments and develop customized sponsorship offers to qualified targets to secure Congress funding (unrestricted and restricted);
4. Prepare and negotiate contracts with confirmed sponsors in collaboration with the IUCN Legal Office including internal sign-off, ensuring with different internal departments that IUCN deliverables can indeed be met as per the requirements in the contract;
5. Work with the Congress team on the design and layout of the exhibits;
6. Work with the PCO or responsible organization on the sales of exhibits;
7. Track all new and existing sponsorship and exhibit sales, prepare regular pacing reports, and maintain a list or database of sponsors (successful and unsuccessful) including points of contact, status and key metrics on each;
8. Manage communication with each sponsor;
9. Ensure donor and sponsor needs are met, manage partnerships toward success for both parties, and ensure that sponsors and donors receive appropriate recognition before, during and after the Congress;
10. Deliver progress and final reports to donors and sponsors, as required by each specific contract;
11. Prepare final post-Congress report on success of sponsorship strategy including identification of efficiencies and challenges in the sponsorship process;
12. Ensure coordination with IUCN thematic and regional Programmes and National Committees.

The above job description contains the main duties and responsibilities for this position. However, in an organization such as IUCN, staff members are expected to show flexibility in their approach to work and be willing to undertake other tasks that are reasonably allocated to them but which are not part of the regular job description. When any task becomes a regular part of an employee’s responsibilities, the job description would be changed in consultation with the employee and the Human Resources Management Group.


In your application please include a list of references from previous employers and sponsors you have worked with. We will only contact them if you are selected for the position.