Event manager in Hemel Hempstead

Are you the kind of person who makes events happen? Do you get satisfaction from turning a blank calendar into 2.5 days that 300 executives will remember? Do you enjoy the mix of strategic work (what should the program actually be about?) and operational work (is the bus coming on time?), and can you switch between the two without losing the plot? Do you like dogs and cats as well? Then this position might be for you.

We're a B2B media company for the international pet industry. Our flagship event, the GlobalPETS Forum, has been running for more than 25 years. It brings together senior executives from across the global pet industry for keynotes, networking and the kind of conversations that don't happen anywhere else. We're now launching a US edition too. You'll own both, reporting directly to the Managing Director.

The European Forum is a well-oiled machine after 25+ years: established processes, established timelines, established audience. Because the US edition is new, you're starting with a blank page there. We'll copy as much as we can from the European playbook, but you'll be the one making it real on the ground.

A note on our culture: We're a fully remote business, so you don't have to show up to an office every day. But if you love catching up with colleagues by the kombucha fountain, this is probably not a good fit for you. Since most of our team is in the CET timezone, it's ideal if you are too (or within one hour of it).

What you'll do:

• Own the program for both events: Pick the topics that matter to the industry, find and secure the right speakers, and shape an agenda that people will travel across an ocean for.
• Logistics & vendor management: Find and negotiate with venues, hotels, AV suppliers, and caterers.
• End-to-end operations: Run the operational side from timelines, supplier coordination and on-site execution to attendee experience, and communications.
• Travel: Travel a handful of times a year for site visits, live event execution and tradeshows.

What you bring to the table:

• A proven track record: You have actually run events end-to-end, not just supported them from the sidelines.
• Program development experience: Real experience curating content that draws a senior audience.
• Obsession with detail: The big-picture program work matters, but so does the spreadsheet, the run-of-show, and the badge order.
• The "fixer" instinct: Things will go wrong, suppliers will go quiet, speakers will cancel three weeks out. We need someone who chases, fixes, and finds a way.
• Language: Highly proficient (or native-level) in English.
• Relationship building: You can hold your own with senior executives, win over the speakers you want, and keep sponsors and partners close.
• Nice-to-have: Pet industry knowledge is a plus, but absolutely not a must.

This is not the right role for you if you expect a big team to handle the execution while you direct from above. We're a small, nimble team. You'll get strong support from the Managing Director, our ops team, and external suppliers, but you'll be doing the heavy lifting on many parts of both events. You need to genuinely enjoy getting your hands dirty.

Why join us?

• Ownership: You'll own a flagship event that the industry genuinely cares about, while simultaneously building a second one from scratch. Few event roles offer both stability and a blank canvas.
• A great community: It's a fantastic industry to work in - pet people are (unsurprisingly) a very nice, passionate, and friendly bunch.
• A respected brand: Because we've been around for 35+ years, our brand opens doors. Speakers take your calls. Sponsors return your emails. You're not starting from zero.
• Future: The US edition won't be our last new event. As we expand the portfolio, you'll help launch and shape what comes next.

How to apply:

Send an email to with your application. Don't apply here on LinkedIn. In your email, tell us why you'd be a good fit. And tell us about an event you ran that you're proud of: what it was, what you owned, and one thing that almost went wrong but didn't.