At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead travel and event services, ensuring seamless logistics and strategic workforce planning.
- Company: Join SailGP, the thrilling global sailing championship with a diverse and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Hybrid working model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with a focus on collaboration and innovation.
- Why this job: Be part of an exciting team shaping the future of sports events and sustainability.
- Qualifications: Strong project management skills and experience in event operations or branding.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
SailGP is the world’s most exciting racing on-water. The annual, global championship features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing's best athletes racing in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h who compete for the sport's top prize money, with US$4.3 million at stake over the season. SailGP is a global organisation with defined values that shape the culture of its diverse team: deliver quality, break boundaries, make an impact, stand together and strike a balance.
The Head of Travel and Event Services is responsible for building and leading a high performing, strategically driven travel and event services function. With ownership of the master event workforce list, you will drive workforce planning, ensure deployments align with the One Event Plan and transition the department from reactive booking to proactive planning and procurement. By reducing operational inefficiencies and maintaining strong financial discipline, you will build a scalable, professionalised operating model that supports efficient event delivery and SailGP’s 2030 growth ambitions.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Workforce Planning & Optimisation
- Centralised Tracking: Maintain the ‘Single Source of Truth’ master ledger for all global event deployments to ensure total operational visibility.
- Roster Optimisation: Partner with department heads to audit and ‘right-size’ rosters, leveraging ‘dual roles’ and ‘leapfrog’ scheduling to maximise efficiency.
- Milestone Alignment: Link the Master Travel List directly to the ‘One Event Plan’ (OEP) so travel dates are driven strictly by operational necessity.
- Proactive Planning: Utilise a 12-month runway to lock requirements early, shifting from reactive bookings to cost-optimised group procurement.
- Global Travel Operations & Systems
- End-to-End Management: Oversee global travel logistics, including flights, accommodation, ground transport, visas and immigration compliance.
- Policy & Governance: Develop, standardise and continuously improve global travel policies, processes and booking tools across all regions.
- Data & Sustainability: Monitor travel metrics, KPIs and financial data to drive continuous improvement, efficiency and cost control.
- Event Services Integration & Supplier Management
- Functional Integration: Align travel operations with wider event services (e.g., workforce management, crew catering) to ensure a seamless, high-standard delivery.
- Procurement & Performance: Lead global supplier strategy and negotiations for travel and event services, establishing robust KPI and SLA frameworks.
- Continuous Improvement: Lead comprehensive post-event reviews to identify optimisation opportunities across travel and event services.
- Leadership, Finance & Stakeholder Engagement
- Team Leadership: Direct and develop the event services team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration.
- Financial Oversight: Manage the event services budget with direct ownership of the travel budget, ensuring strict cost control, accurate forecasting and transparent reporting.
- Stakeholder Alignment: Partner with internal business leaders to ensure travel solutions and resource allocations directly support league requirements.
Key Expectations:
- Promotes SailGP Values and contributes to a positive culture.
- Fosters a work environment where diversity is valued, respected, and celebrated through inclusive leadership.
- Develop creative solutions that allow for quality work to be delivered.
- Drive collaboration and teamwork within their team and amongst the wider department recognising their personal impact and utilising this effectively.
- Promote working practices that enable a healthy work-life balance within the team and celebrate wellbeing.
- Supports and displays out-of-the-box thinking guiding this to align with SailGP's strategic objectives.
- Support teams with developmental goals and growth plans utilising a coaching mindset to enable and empower.
- Seizes opportunities to impact Better Sport, Better Planet.
- Strives for the commercial sustainability of SailGP considering this at all parts of budget management.
- Effectively presents with impact.
About You:
- Highly organised and detail-oriented, with strong project management skills.
- Experienced in branding production, event operations, or a similar role.
- Confident coordinating across creative, marketing, and operations teams.
- Skilled at managing suppliers - from issuing RFPs to overseeing delivery.
- Commercially minded with experience in budgeting, POs, and cost control.
- Strong eye for design, ensuring all branding aligns with visual identity standards.
- Proactive problem solver who can work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
- Passionate about sustainability and committed to responsible production practices.
- Excellent communicator with a collaborative, can-do attitude.
- Able to balance creativity with operational efficiency to deliver outstanding event branding.
Location: SailGP HQ in London, United Kingdom. Hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days per week in the London Office. This role will have some event travel.
SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.
Head of Travel and Event Services in London employer: SailGP
SailGP is an exceptional employer that champions a vibrant and inclusive work culture, where diversity is celebrated and collaboration is key. With a focus on employee growth and development, the Head of Travel and Event Services will thrive in a dynamic environment that prioritises innovation and sustainability, all while being based in the heart of London. The hybrid working model offers flexibility, ensuring a healthy work-life balance, making SailGP a truly rewarding place to build a career in the exciting world of sports events.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Travel and Event Services in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in travel and event services. Share specific examples of how you've optimised processes or led successful projects. Let them see the value you can bring to their team!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching SailGP’s values and culture. Think about how your own experiences align with their mission to deliver quality and make an impact. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly understands what they’re all about.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the SailGP team. So, get that application in and let’s make waves together!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Travel and Event Services in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Events:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for event management shine through! Share specific experiences that highlight your love for creating memorable events and how you align with SailGP's values.
Be Detail-Oriented:As the Head of Travel and Event Services, attention to detail is key. Make sure your application is free from typos and clearly structured. This shows us that you can manage complex logistics effectively!
Highlight Your Leadership Skills:We want to see how you've led teams in the past. Use your application to showcase your leadership style and how you've fostered collaboration and high performance in previous roles.
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor it to reflect the specific responsibilities and expectations outlined in the job description. This will help us see how you fit into our vision at SailGP.
How to prepare for a job interview at SailGP
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into SailGP's mission and values. Understand their approach to event services and travel logistics. Being able to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals will show that you're not just interested in the role, but also in the company itself.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As the Head of Travel and Event Services, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and high performance. Highlight any creative solutions you've implemented that align with strategic objectives.
✨Be Data-Driven
SailGP values efficiency and cost control. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive improvements in previous roles. Bring specific metrics or KPIs you've worked with to demonstrate your ability to monitor and enhance operational performance.
✨Emphasise Sustainability
With a focus on responsible production practices, it's crucial to express your passion for sustainability. Share any relevant experiences where you've implemented eco-friendly practices in event planning or travel operations, showing that you can contribute to SailGP's commitment to a better planet.
