Lead, Events ZSP (UAEN)

Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company); Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 280,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) seeks a senior events leader to drive the planning, delivery and continuous enhancement of the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s events portfolio. You will oversee end‑to‑end execution of high‑profile local, regional and international events, coordinating with internal teams and external partners to uphold brand standards and budgets.

The role requires managing agencies, suppliers and cross‑functional teams, delivering on timelines and learning from post‑event

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Event Management, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of progressive experience in planning, managing and delivering corporate events.
• Experience managing external agencies, suppliers and vendors with budgets, timelines and quality standards.
• Experience delivering events within international, government, sustainability or corporate environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, delivery and enhancement of the prize’s events portfolio.
• Oversee end‑to‑end planning, including awards ceremonies and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week events.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams, agencies and suppliers to meet brand standards and budgets.
• Monitor timelines, risks and post‑event evaluations to improve future events.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Communication

Time management

Arabic language advantage

Education

Bachelor's degree in Event Management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Event management software

Job description

Job Overview

To lead the planning, delivery and continuous enhancement of the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s events portfolio ensuring the successful execution of high-profile local, regional and international events that strengthen the Prize’s global reputation, stakeholder engagement and strategic objectives. The role is responsible for end‑to‑end planning and execution of the Prize’s events, overseeing event agencies and suppliers, coordinating cross‑functional teams and ensuring all events are delivered in line with the Prize’s brand standards, budget, quality expectations and operational requirements.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead planning, coordination and implementation of the Prize’s annual events calendar, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and stakeholder engagement objectives.
• Identify and evaluate key local, regional and international events that strengthen the visibility, positioning and global reach of the Prize.
• Lead planning and coordination of the Prize’s participation in strategic global events throughout the year, ensuring successful execution and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans for all Prize‑led events, ensuring delivery against agreed objectives, timelines and quality standards.
• Identify, manage and coordinate external agencies, suppliers and service providers required for successful event delivery in accordance with procurement requirements.
• Coordinate procurement and requisition processes related to event delivery, ensuring timely engagement of vendors and compliance with internal procedures.
• Monitor event budgets, timelines and deliverables, proactively identifying risks and implementing corrective actions where required.
• Lead post‑event evaluations and reporting, capturing lessons learned and measuring event success against defined objectives.
• Lead end‑to‑end planning and delivery of the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s flagship events, including the annual Awards Ceremony and associated events during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
• Deliver the Prize’s events and activations locally, regionally and internationally, working closely with internal teams and external partners.
• Develop and manage detailed event plans, schedules and operational timelines, ensuring all logistical requirements are delivered in accordance with agreed standards, budgets and timelines.
• Coordinate all event logistics, including venue selection, branding, production, technical requirements, delegate management, protocol, hospitality, transportation and event collateral.
• Develop creative briefs and event concepts in collaboration with the Brand and Communications teams, coordinating with agencies to ensure alignment with objectives, brand standards and stakeholder engagement goals.
• Coordinate procurement and vendor onboarding processes required for event delivery, ensuring compliance with internal procurement procedures.
• Manage external event agencies, production companies, suppliers and service providers to ensure all deliverables are completed to the required quality, budget and timeline.
• Oversee on‑site event delivery, proactively resolving operational issues and ensuring the successful execution of all event activities.
• Ensure all event deliverables meet the Prize’s quality, brand and operational standards while continuously identifying opportunities to enhance the participant and stakeholder experience.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the successful planning and delivery of the Prize’s events and marketing activations.
• Manage day‑to‑day relationships with event agencies, production companies, suppliers and service providers, ensuring services are delivered in accordance with agreed scope, quality standards, budgets and timelines.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams—including Brand, Communications, Research, Outreach and Operations—to ensure effective coordination and delivery of event requirements.
• Provide guidance and coordination to external vendors throughout the event lifecycle, ensuring clear communication, timely issue resolution and successful delivery of agreed outcomes.
• Build and maintain a network of relevant industry contacts—venues, suppliers and service providers to support the continuous enhancement of the Prize’s events portfolio.

Qualifications

• Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Marketing, Communications, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• Preferred Experience: At least 5 years of progressive experience in planning, managing and delivering corporate events, conferences, exhibitions or stakeholder engagement initiatives, including experience coordinating high‑profile events from concept through execution.
• Preferred Experience: Experience managing external agencies, suppliers and vendors, with responsibility for budgets, timelines and quality standards.
• Preferred Experience: Experience delivering events within international, government, sustainability or corporate environments would be an advantage.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships with internal teams, external partners and senior stakeholders.
• Strong project and event management skills, with the ability to manage multiple events and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Experience managing event agencies, suppliers and service providers to deliver high‑quality event experiences.
• Strong organisational, planning and coordination skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to proactively identify risks, solve problems and deliver effective solutions in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate event performance and recommend improvements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and familiarity with event management and collaboration tools.
• Excellent time‑management skills with the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken); Arabic language skills would be an advantage.