At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and deliver high-profile live events, ensuring excellence in every project.
- Company: Join Metro Production Group, a dynamic agency within WPP, the world's largest communication services provider.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, enhanced parental leave, and tailored training programmes.
- Other info: Hybrid working model in a vibrant London office with international travel opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a creative environment that values innovation and operational excellence.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in event delivery with strong commercial acumen and leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Metro Production Group (MPG) is a leading event production agency, specialising in high quality, customised events across diverse sectors. As a proud part of WPP plc, the world's largest communication services provider, we are a dynamic and innovative Creative Events & Production Agency dedicated to bringing exceptional ideas to life. At MPG, we thrive on designing, building, and delivering cutting‑edge live, hybrid, and experiential projects for our high‑profile clients, ensuring every event leaves a lasting impact. Our passion lies in balancing creative ambition with operational reality, consistently delivering excellence that exceeds expectations.
The Role
We are seeking a Head of Projects to join our creative events agency reporting directly to the Executive Leadership Team. This pivotal and strategic role will be responsible for orchestrating cross‑functional collaboration, partnering with departmental heads to assemble and empower optimal project teams for both new business proposals and seamless client project delivery. The role will serve as a critical bridge between strategic direction and on‑the‑ground delivery. This senior role mandates critically assessing methodologies, driving initiatives to enhance cost efficiency, mitigate risks, and maximise margin growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee key projects: Ensure successful delivery within scope, timeline, and budget, consistently exceeding client expectations.
- Provide real‑time project pipeline visibility: Enable proactive resource planning and informed strategic decision‑making.
- Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks: Escalate critical concerns to the Executive Leadership Team or relevant stakeholders.
- Collaborate on new business proposals: Provide strategic budgetary expertise to ensure competitive, profitable pricing and timely capture of new opportunities.
- Line management responsibility. Allocate resources across the team based on project demands and individual capacity.
- Serve as the primary project liaison for production, creative, and business development teams.
- Proactively manage project expectations, ensuring clarity on deliverables and timelines.
- Monitor real‑time project costs, flagging variances and implementing mitigations.
- Critically review and challenge budgets/resourcing pre‑approval to maximise ROI.
- Proactively implement strategies to minimise margin leakage.
- Uphold and champion MPG’s creative production and delivery standards across all projects.
- Implement consistent project management processes across the delivery team.
- Conduct post‑event reviews to capture learnings and drive continuous improvement.
Who You Are
- 8+ years’ extensive experience in event or experiential delivery, ideally across diverse live event agency settings.
- Exceptional commercial and financial acumen, with a deep understanding of project profitability, managing complex budgets (£1M+), and maximising commercial return.
- Proven experience improving processes, enhancing delivery standards, and driving operational excellence across multiple projects.
- Calm, solutions‑focused, and confident navigating high‑pressure situations, challenges, and dynamic client needs.
- Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with stakeholders, clients, and teams at all levels.
- Innately balances ambitious creative vision with operational reality, consistently protecting both quality and margin.
- Strong understanding of logistics, technical production, 3D builds, fabrication, and critical safety/compliance protocols.
- Experience across both B2B and B2C projects is highly valued.
What We Offer
- 25 days annual leave + Volunteer Day
- Enhanced Parental leave
- A 1.5:1 matching pension structure
- Help@hand enhanced benefits app, TELUS tool, annual eye test and many more
- A company committed to investing in people with tailored training programmes and development budgets
- Enhanced and ongoing wellbeing & sustainability incentives and activities throughout the year
- International travel for work
- Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme
- SS workplace nursery & electric vehicle car scheme
- Life Assurance & Group Income Protection scheme
- Volunteering/ CSR Community Day
Our Values
At MPG, our values aren’t just words on a wall — they shape how we work, how we treat each other, and the standard we hold ourselves to: CREATIVITY ignites us, INTEGRITY defines us, TEAMWORK empowers us, EXCELLENCE drives us, PASSION unites us.
Why Join MPG?
This is an unmissable career opportunity to join a brilliant, integrated agency at a senior level. You'll have real influence, the chance to contribute to a business that deeply values creative, cultural, and operational excellence. We offer a hybrid working model, based in our vibrant London office within the WPP Campus. If you're ready to make a significant impact and lead our project delivery to new heights, we want to hear from you.
Head of Projects - Live Events employer: Metro Production Group
Metro Production Group (MPG) is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and innovative work culture, where creativity and operational excellence are at the forefront. With a commitment to employee growth through tailored training programmes and a supportive environment, MPG offers competitive benefits including enhanced parental leave, international travel opportunities, and a hybrid working model in the heart of London. Joining MPG means being part of a dynamic team that values collaboration, integrity, and passion, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the live events industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Projects - Live Events
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, connect with people on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to former colleagues. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Show them you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for their work and how your experience aligns with their goals. We want to see that spark!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills and experiences make you the perfect fit for the Head of Projects role. Keep it concise but impactful—think of it as your personal brand statement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at MPG.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Projects - Live Events
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in event delivery and project management. We want to see how your skills align with our values of creativity, integrity, and excellence.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of successful projects you've managed. We love seeing quantifiable results that demonstrate your ability to exceed client expectations and drive operational excellence.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value passion and teamwork, so don’t hesitate to share what excites you about the role and how you can contribute to our vibrant culture at MPG.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application directly through our website. This helps us keep track of all applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Metro Production Group
✨Know Your Projects Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into your past projects. Be ready to discuss specific examples where you successfully managed complex budgets and delivered exceptional results. Highlight how you balanced creative ambition with operational reality, as this aligns perfectly with what Metro Production Group values.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Projects, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead cross-functional teams. Prepare to share instances where you've empowered team members and collaborated effectively with various departments. This will show that you can bridge strategic direction with on-the-ground delivery.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in high-pressure situations. Think of examples where you identified risks and implemented strategies to mitigate them. This will showcase your calm, solutions-focused approach, which is crucial for the role.
✨Understand Their Values
Familiarise yourself with MPG's core values: Creativity, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence, and Passion. Be prepared to discuss how these values resonate with you and how you've embodied them in your previous roles. This will demonstrate your alignment with their culture and mission.