Senior Project Manager - Auto (Events)

Location: London and Brackley - Hybrid (plus travel as required)

We are Strata! Imagine being part of a fast and exciting brand experience agency whose clients include specialists in new technology, creators of some of the most stunning electric vehicles on the planet, financial institutions, and global leaders in pharmaceutical solutions. As an agency, we elevate these brands and make them heard through immersive and memorable virtual and face-to-face experiences.

As a people-first business, we encourage ambition, support and reward. We’re always listening and open to your ideas, just as we do with our clients.

Job Overview

The Senior Project Manager plays a pivotal role in the Auto Team and will take a lead role in the success of the accounts. You will help to plan, coordinate and deliver a calendar of live events for key automotive clients. These events will be across the UK, including the delivery of National, Roadshow and test-drive events. This role will play a key role in maintaining this client relationship through flawless project management. Previous experience working in an events agency with automotive clients is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Project management
• Provide first port of call on operational decisions from the wider team, supporting the Head of Automotive Operations and client account lead.
• Working with the Head of Automotive Operations and the Resource Manager to resource live projects both pre-event and onsite utilising internal resource where possible, and minimising external time costs.
• Interpretation and delivery of the client’s brief through compelling, creative and thorough proposals where required, in conjunction with the wider team.
• Liaison with clients on a project-by-project basis to implement their requirements with an ability to challenge and suggest alternatives as necessary.
• Provide a first line level of project management day to day.
• To work closely with the nominated team of core staff and freelance crew and lead on-site when required.
• Communicate with Account Managers, Account Directors and the wider team to ensure cohesion with client objectives from a project delivery perspective.
• Ensure all project material is systematically logged, stored and maintained on behalf of the client and in-line with Strata operational processes.
• Provide continuous clear communication, via all means; email, phone, in person etc. on all managed projects.
• Responsible for the preparation and management of budgets, ensuring 100% accuracy and close management and communication of any changes and fluctuation.
• Monitor project costs against agreed plans, in particular time booked to the project, and ensure project profitability.
• Responsible for the positive project cashflow on all projects.
• Ensure that day to day project administration is filed and dealt with correctly.
• Prepare onsite schedules and critical paths and input on SOW’s where required.
• Manage any scope creep as it arises, with Client Services support as needed.
• Liaise with other departments (e.g. Technical, Warehouse Operations, Studio) within Strata ensuring that deadlines and budgets are met and projects delivered on-time and to expectation.
• Demonstrate an understanding of AV / technical solutions specifically in regard to EVs and charging solutions.
• Demonstrate an understanding of technical automotive outdoor events, test-drives and exhibitions.
• Liaise with suppliers; Lead on briefing, negotiating, agreeing commission, adding markup and ensuring deadlines and budgets are met.
• Leadership of the pre-event and onsite teams (PM’s/Pro-Co’s etc) ensuring the delivery of the event is seamless and exceeds the client’s expectation.
• Ensure that all stakeholders – clients, speakers, crew are well looked after on site and dealt with professionally and with a duty of care.
• Prepare and collate all health & safety and crisis management documentation to ensure proactive and thorough disaster recovery is in place for all events.
• Ensure Quality Management of the project from start to finish, to ISO9001 standards.
• Record and communicate planning updates to the Account Lead during the delivery phases of the project, including any project changes.
• Line management of junior team members within the group – Project Managers/Project-Coordinators, where required.
• Provide guidance, coaching and a point of escalation to junior team members working on projects led by the SPM.
• Brief taking and pitching
• Work on proposals and pitches in conjunction with the Account Team and specialist service departments within Strata.
• Writing elements of the pitch and creating presentations.
• Provide input and take a lead in contributing to the requirements of the project with client and team needs, in mind.
• Confidently participate in face-to-face pitches for new business should the need arise.
• Reconciliation and post event
• Ensure projects are reconciled and information is passed in a timely fashion to accounts, for billing and ensure projects are commercially viable and in a positive cash position.
• Manage internal and external debriefs for the purposes of review and continual improvement.
• Develop client relationships to encourage organic growth of accounts.
• Knowledge sharing: encourage information and learnings are shared amongst the team from an operational, technical, content and venue perspective.
• Manage the post event administrative process, including working with the Marketing function to create a case study for each project.
• Creative
• Encourage broadminded thinking and open creative approaches.
• Keep abreast of and research new approaches to present to clients and the wider Strata team.
• External
• To ensure an excellent level of customer service and to anticipate client requirements at meetings, on-site and location.
• Be the gatekeeper at all times for compliance, ensuring the high standards of the events are met but within the requisite guidelines.
• To uphold good production values on-site and location.
• To monitor the quality of all client deliverables.
• Develop positive client relationships and be the main contact for all things operational.
• To be a good ambassador for the Company.
• To promote the sale of other Strata products e.g., Digital, Creative Services.

Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus usual Bank Holidays
• Birthday day off
• Private Health Insurance*
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hybrid working arrangement*
• Upon successful completion of a 6-month probation period

We are a people-first brand experience agency with a set of core principles that guide our every action by measuring:

• A win for the client
• A win for the company
• A win for the team
• A win for you
• A win for the planet

Diversity at Strata

At Strata, people are at the heart of who we are. We recognise and value the diverse and unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that each individual brings. We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and empowered. We strive to create an innovative, creative, and inclusive environment where all employees and applicants can thrive. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Recruitment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and business needs. Embracing diversity isn't just our goal, it's our strength, driving us towards a more inclusive future.