Engagement Type
Independent Contractor, 10-month engagement (September 2026–June 2027)
About the Human Rights Foundation
The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Each year, HRF produces the Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF), a global conference that brings together some of the world’s most compelling human rights advocates, journalists, artists, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and thought leaders to share ideas and build a community committed to advancing freedom.
Position Overview
HRF is seeking an experienced, highly organized, and resourceful Norway Producer to support the planning and execution of the 2027 Oslo Freedom Forum.
Based in Oslo, the Norway Producer will serve as a key member of the OFF production team and will take primary responsibility for a broad range of local operational and production needs. The role will oversee on-the-ground transportation, wayfinding, event staffing and volunteers, local partnerships, and other logistical elements critical to delivering a seamless experience for speakers, guests, partners, and staff.
The ideal candidate has significant experience producing complex events, strong knowledge of Oslo and the local vendor and events landscape, excellent judgment, and the ability to anticipate operational needs and solve problems quickly. This person should be equally comfortable developing detailed plans months in advance and responding calmly and decisively to changing circumstances during a live event.
Key Responsibilities
Event Logistics & Operations
- Work closely with HRF’s internal logistics and production teams to ensure that travel, accommodations, event schedules, transportation, and other operational elements are effectively coordinated.
- Oversee on-the-ground logistics for speakers, VIPs, staff, and other key participants once they arrive in Oslo.
- Serve as a local operational resource throughout the planning process and during the Forum.
- Anticipate logistical challenges and develop practical solutions to ensure smooth event execution
- Coordinate closely with external production partners, vendors, venues, and other stakeholders.
Ground Transportation
- Oversee the development and execution of the Forum’s comprehensive ground transportation plan.
- Coordinate transportation requirements across OFF events, venues, and participant groups.
- Determine appropriate transportation solutions based on passenger volume, scheduling, venue requirements, and event needs.
- Ensure transportation plans account for staff movements, production schedules, early venue arrivals, speakers, VIPs, and other operational requirements.
- Work closely with external transportation partners to ensure service standards, attendee experience, operational needs, and budget expectations are met.
Wayfinding & Signage
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive wayfinding strategy to facilitate seamless attendee movement throughout the Forum.
- Assess wayfinding needs within and between venues and at other key locations throughout Oslo.
- Determine requirements for freestanding, handheld, directional, and other operational signage.
- Develop plans for strategically deploying staff and volunteers as human wayfinders.
- Coordinate with transportation, production, venue, and event teams to ensure wayfinding plans are effectively implemented.
Staffing & Volunteer Management
- Develop an event-wide staffing plan for key operational areas, including registration, wayfinding, expo and activations, evening events, and production support.
- Determine staffing requirements and appropriate resource allocation across HRF staff, volunteers, and external personnel.
- Develop staffing schedules, assignments, and role descriptions.
- Recruit and coordinate volunteers as needed.
- Develop volunteer briefing and training materials and conduct training sessions in advance of the Forum.
- Develop and administer the OFF volunteer incentive program.
- Provide on-site coordination and direction to volunteers and event staff throughout the Forum.
Local Partnerships & Community Engagement
- Identify, cultivate, and manage relationships with local organizations that can expand the reach and visibility of the Oslo Freedom Forum.
- Develop potential partnerships with universities, venues, companies, cultural institutions, community organizations, and other relevant entities.
- Support the development and execution of locally focused OFF programming, which may include press events, university programs, film screenings, and community engagement initiatives.
- Coordinate prospective partnerships with HRF leadership and ensure that organizational relationships align with HRF’s mission and standards.
Production & Local Support
- Provide hands-on operational and production support throughout the OFF planning and execution process.
- Participate in venue walkthroughs, planning trips, and site visits with HRF and its production partners.
- Conduct additional local site visits as needed and provide timely information and recommendations to the broader production team.
- Use strong local knowledge and relationships to identify venues, vendors, suppliers, and other resources.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and manage costs, including local sourcing, event venues, receptions and dinners, transportation, and supplies.
- Support shipping, receiving, and other local production needs as required.
- Troubleshoot operational issues before and during the Forum and help ensure that problems are resolved quickly and effectively.
Qualifications
- Significant professional experience in event production, event operations, hospitality, experiential events, conferences, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience planning and executing complex, multi-venue events involving numerous stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge of Oslo, including its venues, transportation infrastructure, hospitality environment, and local event resources.
- Experience coordinating vendors, event staff, volunteers, and other external partners.
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with strong attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent judgment and demonstrated ability to anticipate problems, troubleshoot effectively, and make sound decisions under pressure.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with colleagues, vendors, senior leaders, VIPs, and external partners.
- Highly collaborative, flexible, resourceful, and comfortable working as part of an international team.
- Ability to accommodate the varying demands of a major international event, including increased availability and nontraditional hours during the lead-up to and execution of the Oslo Freedom Forum.
- Professional fluency in English required; Norwegian language proficiency is strongly preferred.
- Alignment with HRF’s mission and a strong interest in human rights and the Oslo Freedom Forum.
Additional Information
This independent contractor engagement is based in Oslo, Norway and requires significant on-the-ground presence throughout the planning and execution of the Oslo Freedom Forum.
The anticipated level of engagement will vary throughout the contract period, increasing substantially as the Forum approaches.
The selected contractor will travel to New York City for onboarding with HRF’s team at the beginning of the engagement.
The engagement is expected to run for approximately 10 months, from September 2026 through June 2027.
