Events Manager

About The Organization

ReFED is a U.S.-based nonprofit working to catalyze the food system to take evidence-based action to stop wasting food. We do this by cultivating and convening the food community, delivering actionable evidence and insights, and seeding and accelerating food waste solutions. Starting with the 2016 Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste, ReFED has produced first-of-their-kind tools and resources, providing a full-supply-chain picture of U.S. food waste, cost-effective solutions to reduce it, and methods to track progress. In 2021, ReFED launched the Insights Engine, an online data center serving as the next generation of data, insights, and guidance on U.S. food waste reduction. Reducing food waste will have a significant impact on mitigating climate change, optimizing the use of water, land, and other resources, and providing meals for the over 47 million people in the United States who currently face food insecurity. We are continuing to grow our team to further build our capacity to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food system that makes the best use of the food we grow.

We are a team of doers, and we get a lot accomplished. We create outsized impact, and everyone on the team contributes to accomplishing our shared goals. Learning and professional development are heavily embedded in ReFED’s culture. We promote cross-functional work to embrace diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills to ensure we are an inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.   

Learn more at www.refed.org. 

The Events Manager, working remotely and reporting to ReFED’s Director of Community Engagement, will be responsible for leading overall project management, operational planning, and execution for ReFED’s annual Food Waste Solutions Summit. The Manager will also be responsible for developing and overseeing a cohesive event strategy for ReFED’s virtual and in-person events, including Food Waste Action Network (FWAN) events, webinars, Food Waste Funder Circle (FWFC) events, current and potential funder events, and more. Total responsibilities will span approximately one large ~750-person event, 3-5 smaller in-person events, and multiple webinars each year. The Manager will be working closely with ReFED’s programmatic, communications, development, and operations teams, as well as managing external contractors and vendors to coordinate and lead some of these events. 

Jacquelyn Chi is the hiring manager for this position. Applications must be received by October 24, 2025, to be fully considered.

• This position is expected to fulfill the following responsibilities and duties, as well as responsibilities and duties that may be assigned during the course of employment such that they are aligned with the job purpose. 

• Execute ReFED’s annual Food Waste Solutions Summit (65%)
• In partnership with the Director of Community Engagement, lead overall event project plan for ReFED’s annual Food Waste Solutions Summit, including operational logistics and vendor management.
• Manage internal administrative and cross-functional support and external contractors and vendors to fulfill Summit and other event logistics needs, such as event production and F&B, communications and marketing, registration, exhibitor management, etc.
• Manage all aspects of sourcing, contracting, and coordinating with the Summit venue on event logistics, including implementing food waste mitigation and other sustainability practices wherever possible.
• Work with the Manager of Development to execute Summit sponsor benefits and logistics.

• Event Strategy & Support (35%)
• Engage with the ReFED team and key stakeholders to determine strategy, principles and goals for ReFED events, as well as relevant opportunities to launch new events.
• Create and manage organization-wide strategy, processes, tools, and resources to support event planning, production, retrospectives, and impact tracking.
• Support the development and lead technical execution of FWAN, FWFC, and other programmatic events, including but not limited to speaker prep call facilitation, technology, day of event logistics, etc.
• Support ReFED team and external partners in executing project-specific events, such as partnership convening, webinar series, pitch events, external exhibiting opportunities, etc.

• 5+ years of demonstrated event planning or event management experience, including experience running large-scale educational conferences or summits with 500-1,000 attendees, multiple mainstage and breakout sessions, and offsite field trips.
• Strong capabilities in budget and vendor management, including experience managing RFP and contract processes.
• Exceptionally detail- and results-oriented with strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work independently and as a self-starter.
• Ability to build authentic relationships with diverse stakeholders with proven, strong facilitation skills.
• Strong professional written and verbal communications skills.
• Commitment to hosting low-waste, sustainable events, and familiarity with strategies and guiding principles for doing so across all operational facets.
• Proficiency with G Suite, MS Office Suite, Slack, Zoom, and database management (including Salesforce) with a willingness and ability to learn new systems and tools.
• Food industry experience, a general understanding of food waste and its connection to climate change, and working knowledge of food systems and sustainability (preferred).

• Bring together various and diverse stakeholders of the food waste “big tent” to celebrate wins, discuss challenges, share ideas and best practices, and build a community that they can draw on for continued support. 

• Translate zero- and low-waste principles and strategies into real practice across all operational facets of ReFED-hosted events.

• Have a strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives with complex and potentially overlapping timelines concurrently.
• Have a hospitality mindset and demonstrated experience designing and executing memorable, inspiring, and educational events.
• Can remain cool under pressure.

• Are comfortable with ambiguity and thrive in a fluid, entrepreneurial and collaborative environment, with a willingness to “roll up your sleeves” and extend beyond formal responsibilities as needed for the work.
• Can absorb, synthesize, and act on large amounts of information.
• Have a proven commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Are comfortable working in a cross-functional and remote environment.
• Identify as a lifelong learner who seeks incremental improvement every day.

• A specific degree or certifications

ReFED values a diverse range of skills and experiences and encourages all interested candidates to apply, even if they don't meet all of the criteria listed. Our organization recognizes that everyone brings unique perspectives and strengths to the team, and we are committed to considering all applicants fairly and thoroughly. If you are passionate about our mission and excited about the role, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself!

Our Recruitment Process

Our recruitment process includes the following steps:

* Initial screening interview over video call.

* 2-3 interviews over video call with different members of the team.

* Skills assessment over video call which may or may not include an assignment to complete beforehand and present during the skills assessment meeting. All necessary information and guidance will be provided in advance.

* References, usually three, will be requested, and reference checks will be conducted.

We strive to maintain clear and frequent communication throughout the recruitment process, however, due to capacity limitations we may not be able to respond to every initial application. Our process always includes input from multiple team members with diverse backgrounds and perspectives from across the organization.

Our Operating Environment

ReFED is a distributed organization, with a team of 35+ working remotely from various locations across the United States. We use a range of digital collaboration and connectivity tools to facilitate our work, including Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Airtable, Salesforce, Miro, MS Office, Adobe, and Insperity. 

Our remote culture is built through a variety of means, including 3-4 annual in-person gatherings. These events include our annual team retreat, department retreats and the Food Waste Solutions Summit, a national convening of the food waste movement that we host annually. We also foster team connections through informal virtual get-togethers, ask-me-anything sessions with our Board and Advisory Council members, and peer recognition on our shoutouts channel in Slack. We have a “Big Dill” spot bonus program and engage in conversation through our watercooler channel in Slack. Our in-person events are essential for team building, learning, and fun.

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Commitment

ReFED is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where all individuals have equal opportunities to contribute and grow. We recognize that our success is rooted in the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of our team members, and we strive to foster a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to recruiting, hiring, developing, training, and promoting individuals regardless of their gender identity, sex, race, religion, age, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. We acknowledge that systemic barriers limit opportunities for certain groups, and we are dedicated to actively working to remove those barriers and promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in all aspects of our organization. Our commitment to JEDI is an ongoing journey, and we are committed to continuously learning, listening, and improving our practices to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for all.