Senior Event Operations Manager in London

McBride Sport Executive Search is proud to be retained by Caledonian Concepts, part of the London Marathon Events (LME) Group, to manage the search for a Senior Event Operations Manager – a newly created and career-defining role based in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. This is more than just a job - it’s a lifestyle and long-term career move. If you’re ready to step into a senior role, move to live and work in one of the UK’s most picturesque regions, whilst being part of an organisation that blends community impact with world-class event standards and shape the future of mass participation events in Scotland, then we’d love to hear from you.

Founded and led by Malcolm and Caroline Sutherland, Caledonian Concepts delivers a growing portfolio of exceptional running and cycling events across the Highlands, including the iconic Loch Ness Marathon. Now, as part of the LME family, the company is poised for further growth and innovation, combining local expertise with the backing and resources of one of the UK’s pre-eminent event organisations.

As Senior Event Operations Manager, you’ll take a senior role in the planning and delivery of existing events and help shape the expansion of the event portfolio. Working closely with the company’s founders and in collaboration with colleagues at London Marathon Events, you’ll ensure the operational success and community alignment of all activities. This is a hands-on role for an assured and experienced operations professional with a track record in delivering high-quality, safe, and successful mass participation events.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the operational planning and delivery of running and cycling events across the Highlands.
• Work closely with local stakeholders, suppliers, and authorities to ensure seamless event delivery.
• Input strategically into the development of new events and improvement of existing ones.
• Collaborate with finance, procurement, and commercial teams across the LME network.
• Maintain rigorous safety and logistical standards throughout all planning and delivery stages.
• Manage complex budgets (upwards of £500k) and multiple concurrent projects.
• Motivate cross-functional teams and share best practices across the business.

We are looking to identify someone with proven experience in delivering large-scale mass participation events (ideally running and/or cycling events) coupled with strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to manage multiple workstreams, projects, and deadlines. You will be proficient in high-level meetings (e.g. SAGs, local authority, emergency planning), have knowledge of health & safety and community impact considerations for large events and have familiarity with project management tools and methodologies. This is a rare opportunity to take the next step in your mass participation event operations career while enjoying the lifestyle benefits of living in one of the UK’s most beautiful and vibrant regions.