Associate Director, North America
Location: New York
Job Code: 150
# of openings: 1
Description
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICA
The World Economic Forum USA is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging industry leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Incorporated as a non-profit business league (approved §501(c)6 of the IRS code) and based in New York, the World Economic Forum USA is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests. It is the North American affiliate of the World Economic Forum, a non-profit foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland, under the supervision of the Swiss Federal Government.
The World Economic Forum’s North America Team develops and implements the Forum’s regional strategy in North America, managing relations with the United States and Canadian governments, as well as other critical stakeholders in the region, in an effort to increase their participation in Forum activities.
The successful candidate joins a small team based in New York City that is at the forefront of ensuring the World Economic Forum has in place all the necessary relationships to effectively carry out its mission in the United States and Canada.
Duties and Responsibilities
Reinforce the Forum’s work at the intersection of public policy, business and civil society in the United States and Canada
Present the broad nature of the Forum’s work to officials across all levels of government, both in national capitols, and in states, provinces and cities
Assume full ownership of a subset of these relations and be responsible for year-round engagement of those political figures in relevant Forum activities
Design effective platforms where the Forum’s groundbreaking and multistakeholder research helps inform policy debates on such topics as climate change, competitiveness, gender equity or energy policy; these conversations might include representatives from business, government, civic organizations, media and academia, as well as youth leaders
Provide guidance for the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the United States, as it contributes original research related to the United States’ role in the world
Drive the online strategy for the North America team to amplify its impact in digital platforms, both internal and external to the Forum
Serve as a recognized authority and “go to” resource for colleagues in-house seeking insights on major policy issues facing North America
Manage and supervise the North America team and numerous projects, as well as stand in for the head of North America on a regular basis
Qualifications and Skills
Master’s degree in Public Policy or a related discipline, coupled with a broadly curious personality and the ability to be a “quick read” on a diverse set of topics and issues
7-10 years of progressive responsibility at the intersection of business and public policy
Experience working inside of, and with, the political establishments of the United States
Possess keen understanding of, and interest in, the main foreign policy, political economy and societal issues that dominate public policy debates
Significant exposure to international trends and issues, and a demonstrated comfort working in a multicultural environment
Complete understanding of the evolving digital landscape and mastery of the potential to combine virtual tools with face-to-face interaction
Experience working in a fast-paced, often hectic, client-facing environment; ability to prioritize effectively under pressure and multitask under shifting deadlines
Possess exceptional project management skills, with a creative flare and the ability to think out of the box to deliver results
Strong desire to work in a mission-driven organization and believe deeply in the power of curating conversations that challenge the status quo, while offering practical, innovative ideas and solutions
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate with people at all levels of an organization
Being a team player is a must, and just as important is the ability to act independently
Fluency in both written and spoken English; proficiency in a second language a strong asset
