The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Since its founding in 1949, the Institute has been driving change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most critical challenges facing communities in the United States and around the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners.

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE)

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is a program within the Aspen Institute. ANDE is a global network of organizations that propel entrepreneurship in emerging markets. ANDE members provide critical financial, educational, and business support services to small and growing businesses (SGBs) based on the conviction that SGBs will create jobs, stimulate long-term economic growth, and produce environmental and social benefits. Ultimately, we believe that SGBs can help lift countries out of poverty.

Launched with 34 members in 2009, ANDE now comprises over 270 members who collectively operate in more than 150 countries. Members of ANDE include both for and nonprofit investment funds, capacity development providers, research and academic institutions, development finance institutions, foundations and corporations from around the world. Based in Washington, D.C. with eight offices in emerging markets, the ANDE team works hard to support members globally, and locally, while building strong ecosystems for entrepreneurial growth. ANDE develops unique initiatives to address systemic challenges and seize opportunities that can only be approached through collective action.

Our Values

The candidate will self-identify with and may have worked in an environment previously that aligns with ANDE’s values. At ANDE we:

• Are motivated by the urgency of the global challenges we are trying to address
• Embrace diverse experiences and perspectives
• Value community and collaborative action
• Leverage limited resources for maximum impact
• Work hard and have fun

You are a “yes, and…” type of person. You are excited about taking on new tasks and challenges and are eager to create great experiences for others from executing on a well-planned event to curating a great conversation between two people who have never met but should have. You think of yourself as the ultimate team player and leader and your team knows they can count on you to keep all the balls you are juggling in the air. You are as good at taking charge to get things done as you are at delegating tasks to a project team. You are the first to jump at the chance to host a potluck dinner and love not only organizing the menu but also picking out the best finishing touches to put on the dinner table. In pandemic life, you organized the best virtual hang outs for your friends and family, bringing everyone together online complete with fun activities while far apart.

Not only are you great at the details, but also you understand how small tasks can be essential to big, audacious goals like alleviating poverty. You love the idea that your organizational skills could contribute to a better livelihood for an entrepreneur in a developing country. You are resourceful and when you see a problem, you jump at the chance to fix it. You don’t shy away from high- or low-level tasks; you just like getting things done. Your initial instinct when developing a new process is to make it as efficient as possible because while the details are essential, you know that efficiencies are just as important. You are cool under pressure and are excited about the opportunity to connect with people from around the world and from diverse cultures daily.  

The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), a global network of organizations that propel entrepreneurship in emerging markets, is looking for a new Events Manager for our Washington, DC office. They will initially work remotely until conditions permit a return to the office.

Job Responsibilities

Day to day work involves a wide variety of tasks from event management to membership communication and training curriculum research. Each day will be different, but this role will provide exposure to a wide variety of skills experience and topic areas throughout the small and growing business space in developing countries. Specific responsibilities include:

• Day to day work involves in person and virtual event and training management of convenings from 30 – 300 people.
• Leading the team and our regional staff with day to day event support like organizing an event or training with clear timelines, deliverables and communication.
• Overseeing ANDE’s Annual Conference, the largest event of the year of 300 people bringing together ANDE members globally in person and virtually for networking and sector building in addition to the overseeing the execution of smaller events like ANDE’s London Member Meeting, ANDE’s Metrics from the Ground Up conference and a few professional trainings like the Investment Manager Training throughout the year.
• Working in collaboration with events teams which vary by event/training and typically includes an administrative support staff person. The event manager does not have direct managerial responsibilities.
• Each day will be different, but this role will provide exposure to a wide variety of skills experience and topic areas throughout the small and growing business space in developing countries.
• Please note: ANDE is not conducting in-person events until it is safe to do so. We expect that the Annual Conference in September will at minimum have a virtual component. If it is not safe to meet in person, the event will convert to 100% virtual.

The ideal candidate for this role has the following desired skills/experience:

• Skilled professional Event Organizer with 4-7 years of experience with international events as a major portion of experience. Plus if with a membership based or network building organization.
• Experience running interactive virtual events – more discussion than webinar presentation based.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Organized, proactive, goal-oriented and excels at handling multiple priorities at once.
• Has strong customer service orientation: Can represent ANDE to high level event participants, support ANDE staff as internal clients, and interface with external vendors.
• Has significant event management experience and can demonstrate ability to plan and execute events of varying size and scope.
• Is a true team player and is excited about engaging with many cultures and learning about the small and growing business sector.
• The successful candidate will have a track record in international development, impact investment or small business development in event management
• Well-developed writing and people skills. Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with senior leaders.
• Ability to travel internationally as needed, up to 25% of the time.
• Cross cultural competency or willingness to learn to work across cultures.
• Second language skills such as Spanish, Portuguese or French a plus.

Application Instructions - please submit a cover letter including salary expectations, and a resume, through the online portal. Applications without cover letter and salary expectations will not be considered.

The Aspen Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all District and federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status and will not be discriminated against.

Candidate must have the ability to work under pressure and handle stress. Candidate must also have the ability to meet the regular attendance policy of the Aspen Institute.