Event Director - World Refining Association (JR101527)

At Clarion, our people are at the absolute heart of what we do. We’re proud that our core values of PASSION , CARE , IMAGINATION , and TRUST define the way we carry out our work across all of our exhibitions and conferences.

If you share our values and want to be a part of a successful, dynamic, and creative global business then we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity:

The World Refining Association (WRA) is a platform for technology vendors to showcase the latest tech to refinery owners through events. This is achieved through a series of award-winning conferences and exhibitions. Recent event locations include Houston, Lisbon, Seville, and Rio de Janeiro.

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and commercially minded individual to join the World Refining Association (WRA) team in London. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the brand’s strategic direction, growth, and overall performance to maximize shareholder value. This individual will oversee all functional areas, including operations, finance, sales, marketing, and human resources, ensuring alignment with Clarion’s strategic objectives. The role will drive sustainable growth, foster a culture of innovation, and implement operational efficiencies across the organization.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative mindset that can report on commercial aspects of each event. The role will hold responsibility for helping with sales strategy, driving strategic growth, and expanding market share. This role involves managing a team, developing strategies, and achieving revenue targets across the WRA events. The role will collaborate closely with marketing and sales, and help drive product development to ensure alignment with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and execute the company’s strategic plan, aligning it with the overarching goals of the holding company.
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities, partnerships, and acquisitions that drive growth and enhance market position.
• Collaborate with the board and executive leadership to ensure consistent progress toward strategic objectives.

Financial Oversight:

• Lead financial planning and analysis to ensure robust forecasting, budgeting, and financial performance management.
• Manage the company’s P&L to achieve targeted revenue, profitability, and cash flow metrics.
• Drive initiatives that enhance revenue streams and cost efficiencies, maximizing return on investment.

Operational Excellence:

• Optimize operational processes to increase productivity and support scale.
• Implement data-driven decision-making to improve efficiency and streamline resource allocation.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements, operational standards, and risk management practices.

People Leadership & Culture:

• Foster a high-performance culture that encourages continuous improvement, accountability, and innovation.
• Lead talent acquisition, retention, and development initiatives to build a skilled, motivated, and agile workforce.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the company, promoting a collaborative and inclusive environment.

Stakeholder Management:

• Act as the primary liaison between the portfolio company and the holding company, ensuring transparent communication and alignment.
• Engage key stakeholders, including shareholders, customers, suppliers, and partners, to build strong relationships and support business objectives.
• Report regularly on business performance, strategic initiatives, and key developments to the board and executive leadership.

Business Development & Market Expansion:

• Develop and execute strategies to expand market share, enter new markets, and enhance customer reach.
• Oversee marketing and sales efforts to build brand equity and strengthen the company’s competitive position.
• Monitor industry trends and competitor activities to identify and capitalize on growth opportunities.

Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours:

• Develop and execute sales strategies aligned with company objectives and revenue targets.
• Analyse market trends and competitor activities to adjust strategies and maximize competitive positioning.
• Oversee the implementation of sales plans, forecasting, and budgeting for the portfolio.
• Recruit, train, and mentor new team members.
• Set KPIs and performance metrics, conducting regular reviews and feedback sessions for production within the portfolio.
• Foster a collaborative, results-driven culture, promoting continuous improvement and growth.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key clients and stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for upselling, cross-selling, and expanding existing accounts with the sales head.
• Act as the primary point of contact for top-tier clients, ensuring exceptional service and satisfaction.
• Implement data-driven insights to optimize sales tactics and improve conversion rates.
• Partner with marketing to align lead generation and promotional strategies.
• Work with product development to understand client needs and communicate market demands.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to set and achieve ambitious growth targets.
• Analyse sales data to identify trends, insights, and areas for improvement.
• Prepare and present detailed reports to monitor progress toward event targets.

Benefits:

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• End of year wellbeing shutdown (closed for the last week of the year)
• Celebration day off (e.g. birthday, Diwali, Eid, etc)
• Summer Hours in August (3pm finish on Fridays)
• Helping Our World (HOW) Days – one paid day per quarter to carry out charity work
• Pension Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Health Cash Plan
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a 24/7, 365-day confidential helpline
• Subsidised Café
• Season Ticket Loan
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Free on-site gym and shower facilities
• Free eyesight tests
• Free flu vaccination – offered on site once a year for all employees

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