Senior Operations Manager - B2B Exhibitions
London - Hybrid working, 4 days in the office
Ready to own large-scale shows from first plan to final breakdown? This is a chance to take the operational lead on major UK exhibitions with a fast-growing, people-first events business.
Our client is an ambitious, investor-backed events and media business running market-leading exhibitions across a range of vital industries, with offices around the world. The business has grown fast, and with all shows moving in-house next year, they're strengthening their operations team.
Their culture is sociable, open and supportive, and they put their people first.
The role
Reporting To The Head Of Operations, You'll Own The Operational Delivery Of Your Own Large-scale Shows. That Means Managing Budgets Of Seven Figures And Running Multiple Features At Once, From Initial Planning Through To Onsite Delivery And The Post-event Review.
You’ll Be
- Owning end-to-end operational delivery of your allocated events
- Working with Exhibition Directors on event plans, budgets and forecasts
- Building and managing critical paths, and flagging risks early
- Overseeing floorplans, consolidations and exhibitor manuals
- Managing operational budgets, tracking spend, reporting variances and negotiating with suppliers
- Coordinating suppliers across security, traffic management, catering, furniture, AV and feature build
- Bringing creative flair to features that look great and enhance the visitor experience
- Leading health and safety planning, reviewing RAMS and monitoring contractor compliance
- Acting as the senior onsite contact across build-up, open days and breakdown
- Leading debriefs, post-event reporting and budget reconciliation
What you'll get
- £50,000-£53,000 basic salary plus up to 20% bonus, based on staying within budget, the look and feel of your shows and teamwork
- Hybrid working, with 4 days in the office and 1 from home
- Full ownership of major UK exhibitions
- A well-organised team that plans ahead, so you won't be firefighting at the last minute
- A sociable, supportive culture in a business that's growing quickly
About you
- Significant operations experience in exhibitions or comparable large-scale events
- You've owned complete shows yourself, not just supported someone else's
- You've owned an operations budget from start to finish and delivered within it
- Experience running multiple features at once on large exhibitions
- Strong knowledge of floorplans, exhibitor services, contractor coordination, build-up and breakdown
- Good event health and safety knowledge, including RAMS
- Calm, decisive and solutions-focused when things are live onsiteStrong Excel skills and experience with CRM, event management and floorplan systems
- Adaptable and open to new systems and processes, while bringing fresh ideas
- Happy to travel and work extended hours, including evenings and weekends, around shows
- IOSH or a similar health and safety qualification is a bonus. Contractor-side experience is also welcome.
Senior Operations Manager - B2B Exhibitions employer: Disrupt Talent
Farm Fest Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where creativity and leadership thrive. Located in the vibrant setting of Hertfordshire, employees benefit from a culture that values innovation and collaboration, alongside opportunities for professional growth in the exciting world of outdoor events. With a focus on delivering memorable experiences, team members are empowered to take ownership of their roles, making a meaningful impact in the events industry.
