Event Manager

A business-to-business media company with a focused portfolio of market-leading events and brands. Across the company we create products our customers value to help drive their success, which in turn drives our own growth. Our product focus is around paid-for subscriptions, conferences, awards, digital insight and bespoke marketing solutions.

Overall Purpose of the Role:

As an Event Manager you are part of an enthusiastic and busy event operations team, running conferences, exhibitions, bespoke business events and award ceremonies. Your role is key to the successful execution of our events portfolio. You will have operational responsibility from concept to delivery, using creativity and a keen eye for detail to deliver industry-leading events. Your aim is to produce commercially successful events that create quality business engagement for clients, enhancing and strengthening products and brands involved. emap brands rely on high-quality events, and close relationships with the industries they operate within. As an Event Manager your role is at the forefront of those relationships, both internally and externally. This is a collaborative role that is both fast paced and challenging while also being social.

Responsibilities:

• Managing a portfolio of pre-defined leading industry awards and conferences on time, below budget and to the required standard – ensuring that brand values are met.
• Managing P&L/budgets for individual events with a focus on value for money and on maximising the contribution to the wider business.
• Tracking and monitoring P&L of individual events – including revenue, costs and profit.
• Demonstrating thorough knowledge and tight control of the cost base for each event, ensuring profit targets are beaten.
• Building cross-functional relationships with internal stakeholders to support the success and strategic aims of the event and/or brand.
• Building strong relationships with suppliers, including AV teams, venues, entertainers, etc, and negotiating to ensure the best value is achieved.
• Managing customer relationships with critical and strategically important sponsors, speakers and delegates, acting as a point of contact. Problem solving, decision making and escalating issues as they arise. Ensuring that the overall experience is positive and exceeds expectations. Collating customer feedback and identifying areas for improvement.
• Fulfilling partnership deliverables with attention to detail to maximise return on investment.
• Analysing year-on-year performance and leading or participating in event debrief discussions, identifying future trends or improvements.
• Identifying areas for event growth and future opportunities for brands.
• Proof reading content throughout the event process.
• Coaching and mentoring junior team members to ensure that the whole team is working to emap standards, values and processes.
• Taking ownership of, and demonstrating accountability for, all logistical elements of the allocated events.
• Scheduling and implementing event timelines and planning cycles according to the planning framework, ensuring all deadlines are adhered to.
• Managing and assisting with the full awards entry process.
• Managing awards judging days – both in person and virtually. Inviting and maintaining regular communication with judges and VIPs.
• Communicating with speakers and hosts pre-event, and on site. Collating presentations, headshots and bios, and co-ordinating AV requirements.
• Regularly updating and cleaning event databases in accordance with GDPR rules.
• Accurate and regular reporting upwards of revenues, profits and KPIs vs targets, recording weekly entries and shortlist conversion rates. Reporting in project meetings and monthly.
• Communicating regularly and coherently all relevant information and key developments to line manager and full project team.
• Working with AV providers to create first-class full-scale event production. Collating shortlists, winners and sponsors’ content to create awards presentations, etc.
• Liaising with event venues on menus, final numbers, specific event requirements and function sheets.
• Producing risk assessments and collating health & safety documentation from all third-party suppliers.
• Working with the Marketing and Editorial teams to deliver on-brand digital and print collateral, including proofing and testing event websites, ensuring all event content is brand aligned and meets guidelines.

Skills and Experience:

• Relevant demonstrable experience of working in a similar events role, preferably in a B2B environment.
• Experience of delivering full-scale events – through the complete event life cycle, from conception to delivery.
• Demonstrable knowledge of managing costs within a budget.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Experience of risk assessments/health & safety/contingency planning.
• Client management experience preferred.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience of working under the pressure of conflicting priorities.
• Experience with CMS platforms, such as Evessio, beneficial.
• Advanced in Microsoft Office.

Core Competencies:

• Exceptional verbal and written communication, with strong negotiation skills.
• A strategic thinker with excellent planning and organisational skills.
• The ability to work well under pressure, maintaining high standards in a fast-paced environment while meeting multiple deadlines.
• Commercially focused with a strong understanding of finance, P&L statements and budgets.
• Able to read and interpret data effectively.
• Takes a creative approach to everyday challenges.
• Ability to multitask effectively, and prioritise a high-volume workload across multiple projects.
• Can demonstrate sound judgement with the ability to interpret and analyse complex and sensitive information.
• A team player, but secure working independently and on own initiative.
• Proactive and confident. Not afraid to constructively challenge ideas, where appropriate.
• Confident at building strong working relationships both internally and externally.
• Flexible with working hours in the lead-up to events, based on needs of the business.

Personal Attributes:

• A confident and enthusiastic event professional.
• Organised and resourceful.
• Self-motivated, self-sufficient and accountable.
• Deadline driven and results orientated.
• Team player.
• Has sharp attention to detail.
• Adaptable and flexible.