Senior Events Project Manager in Manchester

Your purpose at DRPG is to enable audiences to seamlessly experience incredible events like never before. Because of you, jaws will drop, memories will be made, and futures will be transformed for the better.

Responsibilities

• Organising stellar events, conferences, roadshows, product launches, and gala dinners, including full end-to-end planning and communication.
• Implementing and executing delegate logistics solutions.
• Managing delegate, staff, and client travel arrangements.
• Interpreting client requirements accurately, influencing where appropriate, and producing full production proposals to co-ordinate within DRPG.
• Exceeding client expectations through effective leadership and direction of team members.
• Managing client and colleague expectations through proactive planning and realistic deadlines.
• Managing budgets carefully to achieve and ideally exceed targeted profits.
• Building strong relationships with third-party providers, ensuring best value and delivery against agreed service levels.
• Proactively informing DRPG of any irregularities, non-adherence, or issues that could negatively impact the project.
• Participating in regular meetings with the senior team and mentoring junior team members.
• Delivering projects (including international) on time, within budget, and to agreed objectives—exceeding client expectations.
• Gathering feedback from delegates and key stakeholders, particularly on logistics and communication processes.
• Developing client contacts and increasing revenue.
• Recording key reconciliations of accounts, spends, and travel arrangements.
• Working alongside a Project Director, where applicable, on creative aspects to ensure cohesion and consistency.
• Planning and overseeing all aspects of production, liaising with assigned individuals from each department, and scheduling deadlines for internal and client use.
• Co-ordinating all internal and external project meetings, setting agendas, ensuring constructive outcomes, documenting, and following up on actions.
• Constantly monitoring project progress to prevent delays.
• Controlling, negotiating, and efficiently communicating expectations and requirements with all third-party suppliers (including venues).
• Identifying problem areas and challenging concerns that may negatively impact the final outcome.
• Producing and overseeing all supporting documentation such as final event information and scripts.
• Planning and ensuring all logistics for DRPG crew (including third-party crew where applicable) are in place and well communicated.
• Overseeing and managing all delegate logistics including pre-communications, registration, arrival, hotel check-in, and on-site processes.
• Providing on-site support and direct supervision where required, including health and safety standards.
• Managing post-event debriefs internally and externally.
• Undertaking any other duties required as part of a project, business activity, or as requested by the department leader.

Additional Responsibilities

• Managing client budgets and multiple projects.
• All aspects of individual project budgets, ensuring projects deliver on expectations.
• Raising purchase orders for all departments/projects and maintaining accurate records and procedures.
• Obtaining documented client sign-off on all aspects of budgets, from initial acceptance through to confirmation of additional spend.
• Producing all final invoices.
• Completing full reconciliation reports.

What’s in Your Toolbox...

• At least 3 years’ experience in a Project Management role.
• Running logistically challenging events.
• Implementing and maintaining delegate logistics plans.
• Event reconciliation (with a proven track record).
• Working with hotels and venues.
• UK end-to-end management of events for over 500 people (essential!).
• Leading, directing, or co-ordinating teams through event management (also essential).
• Excellent rapport-building, active listening, and communication skills, supported by proven internal and external relationships.
• Financial and budget management.
• Managing multiple clients and events simultaneously.
• Knowledge of production elements including technical, design, print, video, multimedia, and presentation.
• All financial, commercial, administrative, and customer-focused competencies commensurate with project management responsibilities.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Good computer literacy skills (particularly Teams, Outlook, Trello).

Get to know us...

We’re one of the most unexpectedly all-round capable communications agencies that’s been on the go for years—ever since our head honcho set up shop in a shed back in 1980. We’ve grown a lot, but wherever we have moved, we’ve kept everything that made us great, back from the very day we first started out.

Location

The role will be based primarily in Hartlebury, Manchester, or London offices, but there will be times when you’ll need to work from other locations and undertake other related commercial duties both in the UK and overseas. Flexibility is key!

Equal Opportunity

DRPG is an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone can be their best, so if you’re excited about this role, we would love to hear from you and look forward to receiving your application.

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