Recruitment: Hackathon Manager

HACKATHON MANAGER, GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR TRADE FACILITATION
(2-year maximum-duration contract, renewable)

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Together with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Forum is part of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, a pioneering global initiative that brings together government donor support with business community skills and experience to accelerate the implementation of trade facilitation reforms that deliver commercially meaningful impact.

Why we are recruiting
The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation is piloting a highly innovative way to design and deliver trade-related projects. Inspired by the world of tech and adapted to the world of trade, the Alliance Tech Hackathon programme will support developing country governments in simplifying and expediting trade through agile, targeted and out-of-the-box solutions. The programme aims to disrupt trade facilitation by uniting governments, businesses, entrepreneurs and universities to deliver the next generation of trade reform. We are looking for an exceptional talent to manage this exciting programme, operating in a greenfield environment with lots to build and high exposure to a range of stakeholders.

Reporting lines and interactions
The position will be based in Geneva within the World Economic Forum and will report to the Director of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation.

Internally, this person will work with colleagues in the Alliance team based at the Forum and within the broader Global Platform for Trade and Investment.

Externally, the individual will work with a broad range of stakeholders, including Alliance host organizations and implementing partners, private sector partners, donors, universities, governments, and multilateral and non-governmental organizations.

Main responsibilities
The Hackathon Manager (Lead) will be responsible for managing the Alliance Tech Hackathons programme and will be the go-to expert for questions related to technological innovation and hackathon/accelerator initiatives.

The Hackathon Manager will be expected to translate the hackathon concept into the trade facilitation ecosystem by:
• Building and managing a community of practitioners: The Hackathon Manager is expected to curate and manage an advisory group composed of experts in the area of tech innovation and hackathons. This group will assist the Alliance in identifying the most relevant approaches and cutting-edge ideas applicable to the trade facilitation ecosystem.
• Designing, planning and executing Alliance Tech Hackathons: The Hackathon Manager will execute all tasks required to successfully conduct hackathons in selected developing countries, including liaising with beneficiary country governments and agencies, jointly defining a hackathon question, organizing and running the event, and following up with winning solution providers.
• Operationalizing hackathon solutions: The Hackathon Manager will work closely with the Alliance project teams to transform the Alliance Tech Hackathon solutions into projects for in-country implementation.

The successful candidate will be assessed on
• Delivery of successful Alliance Tech Hackathons whose solutions are translated into innovative trade facilitation projects in selected countries.
• Ability to effectively work across cultures and in a loose consortium team by generating interest and buy-in and aligning different points of view.

Preferred requirements and experience
• Broad intellectual background with a degree in a relevant subject (business administration, engineering, etc.)
• 5-7 years of experience in organizing or managing hackathons, innovation challenges or similar events, preferably in a multi-cultural/developing country environment
• Knowledge of trade and trade facilitation; although not essential, this would be an advantage
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English; fluency in another language is a plus
• Open and creative mind yet feet firmly on the ground to be able to deliver output accurately and on time
• Full of ideas, able to collaborate with all walks of life, solutions-oriented, and willing to travel up to 40% of the time

Why work at the Forum
We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change.

APPLY HERE