Events Manager- NetZeroCities

Events Manager – NetZeroCities at Climate KIC

Job Description: Job Title: Events Manager – NetZeroCities Contract: 1 year fixed‑term Level: Intermediate/Advanced Salary: Competitive for not‑for‑profit organisation Start Date: ASAP Location: UK, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Poland

About Climate KIC

Climate KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community) is Europe’s foremost climate innovation initiative. We operate as a not‑for‑profit foundation 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, SMEs, municipal and regional governments, universities, research institutes, NGOs 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. Our remote‑first approach means colleagues work from home in any country where we have a branch, and we meet in person annually. We also consider the climate impact of our own actions, such as travel and catering.

About the Role

NetZeroCities is a cornerstone of Europe’s climate ambition, designed to accelerate the transition to 100 climate‑neutral cities by 2030. 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 maximises 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

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 (Office365, Microsoft Teams, 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.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Management and Manufacturing