Conference Organiser in Manchester

The role of Conference Organizer is to provide logistical and organization skills for the EU/NA Conference team to plan, coordinate and execute high-quality in-person and online academic conferences and other corporate MDPI marketing events to enhance the positive visibility of the MDPI brand, its academic journals and open access mandate. This is a full-time, in-office role based in our Manchester city centre office, which is located next to Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the planning and execution of multiple academic-related events annually, including logistics, program development, marketing, on-site (or online) delivery, post-event reporting, and financial reconciliation.
• Liaise with all event stakeholders, including Chairs, journal editors and teams, academic societies, speakers, attendees, partners, and external vendors.
• Collaborate with the event team to manage the event platform and its content (e.g., website), including abstract submissions, registrations, and payment processing.
• Support market analysis and event feasibility studies in coordination with the event team.
• Co-develop, oversee, and execute the marketing and promotional plan, including design assets, in collaboration with the event team.
• Work with the design team to create visual and marketing materials as needed.
• Negotiate contracts with external vendors in line with the budget, under the supervision of the Conference Managers.
• Process abstracts and coordinate with contributors, speakers, and Chairs to build the event program, with oversight from the Conference Manager.
• Track revenues and expenses as part of budget management and process payments accordingly, under the supervision of the Conference Manager.
• Collaborate with the Conference Sponsorship Specialist to identify, contact, and fulfill sponsorship opportunities, integrating deliverables into event logistics.
• Participate in on-site event management with the event team.
• Support the event team in managing the event platform (website), focusing on abstract processing, registrations, and payments.
• Assist in building and defining the scientific program and align logistical planning accordingly.
• Apply organisational knowledge and adhere to corporate standards in all processes and procedures.

Additional Responsibilities

• Contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of departmental processes.
• Recommend enhancements to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Take appropriate follow-up actions to implement improvements.

What We’re Looking For

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Tourism, Communications, or a related field is preferred.
• Certification or accreditation in event management is required.
• A Master’s degree is considered an asset.
• 2–5 years of event coordination experience.
• Familiarity with academic publishing and scientific communities.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office, project and budget management.
• Experience with online registration systems (e.g., Sciforum).
• Strong attention to detail, communication, and customer service.
• Strong project coordination and organisational skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing needs.
• Scientific background is a plus.

Benefits

• Flexible Working Times: you may start work anytime between 7-9am and finish between 3pm-6pm.
• Special Days Off: if you get married or move house, you do not need to use up your holidays; MDPI offers paid time off for such occasions.
• Our Culture: a friendly working environment with monthly lunch parties, office snacks and seasonal events.
• Bonus Incentives: depending on your role, you may be eligible for a bonus scheme that rewards high-performing employees.
• Perkbox: you will have access to our benefit platform called Perkbox, providing a range of discounts and benefits across various retailers, including savings on food, drinks, tech, travel and more.
• Health Cash Plan: after passing probation, employees are enrolled in our private health membership with Bupa. You can claim money back on dental, doctors and prescriptions alongside many other health services.
• Modern City Centre Office: located next to Piccadilly Gardens, our office is a 10‑minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Road train stations. Tram stops are also outside the building.
• Cyclescheme: save between 25-39% on a bike and accessories.
• Techscheme: save up to 10% on tax when purchasing tech equipment from places such as Ikea and Currys.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

At MDPI, we believe in fostering an inclusive work environment that respects and values individual differences and prioritises growth through continued learning, support and feedback. We are always seeking new initiatives to advance diversity and inclusion across all our offices to create a more equal workforce.