Project Director: Arctic Summit

We seek an event coordinator to take the lead in organizing a high-level meeting of influential corporate, media, government and non-profit leaders aboard the National Geographic Endeavour, Lindblad Expedition's flagship that will travel to Arctic Svalbard in the summer of 2008. 

The Project Director will work with the Arctic Summit Steering Committee to plan and execute a 4-day event with up to 100 influencers who will work to put global warming on the front burner in the U.S. and engender significant new commitments for action on climate solutions world-wide.

Responsibilities: 

• Direct the communications and organizational tasks of the Arctic Summit Steering Committee, acting as liaison to participating partner individuals and organizations;
• Research and identify potential Summit participants and create contact database;
• Work with the Steering Committee to approach, engage and secure the participation of influential participants in the Summit;
• Plan and organize the agenda for the Summit, working collaboratively with the Committee;
• Oversee staffing and coordinate the logistics for the Summit, including participant travel and accommodation;
• Coordinate public and educational outreach associated with the summit;
• Draft and edit promotional and informational materials related to the Summit, working with Steering Committee and related printers, designers and photographers;
• Assist with planning and execution of communications and media outreach plan; 
• Coordinate fundraising for the event with Steering Committee;

This is a challenging post that requires exceptional skills in the areas of project leadership, organizational saavy, interpersonal communication and time-management. This individual must be a self-motivated and persistent coordinator with a high ability to successfully juggle competing deadlines. The candidate will also need to have the experience, persistence, temperament and interpersonal skills to contact, engage and work with a diverse group of busy and influential leaders and their staffs.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of organizing comparable events, possess a well-developed sense of humor, enjoy working in a loose team of diverse personalities and be totally committed to the success of this project. Celebrity-wrangling experience is a definite plus as is a knowledgeable interest in environmental issues.

Required qualifications, attributes and skills:  

• Top-line oral and written communication skills
• Task oriented, creative and high-energy self-starter needing minimum supervision
• Highly organized
• Ability to travel on project business as necessary
• Computer literate, with proficiency in database, spreadsheet and word processing programs
• Bachelor's or Master's degree 

Conditions and compensation:

Negotiable. This post can be structured as a full or part-time position and as contract staff or consultant, ideally based in New York City.