Event Manager

Role summary

Post Events Manager

Reports to Head of Corporate Services

Salary £37,000 - £40,000, depending on experience and qualifications

Contract 18-month temporary contract

Location Home working; mainland UK, with travel for meetings, conferences and customer visits as required

Start date ASAP

Working pattern Flexible working requests, including job share, will be considered

About BSA Group

BSA Group is the trading name of BSA Group Services Ltd. The Group comprises the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), the British Association of Independent Schools with International Students (BAISIS), the Health in Education Association (HIEDA), the Inclusion, Equity and Leadership Association (IELA), the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA), The Institute of Boarding (TIOB), BSA Group Legal Services Ltd and The Athena Programme Limited. Its mission is to support excellence in boarding, inclusion, safeguarding and health education. BSA Group delivers services for more than 1,700 organisations and individuals in 40 countries worldwide, including professional development, CPD, events and conferences, guidance, advice, lobbying, accreditation, consultancy and related member services.

Working at BSA Group

BSA Group is a remote-working team of 28 and is seeking an enthusiastic, well-organised team player to strengthen a customer-focused, business-minded, dynamic and ambitious organisation. The post-holder must have the right to work in the UK and be willing to travel for meetings, conferences or customer visits as required. Out-of-hours work will be required from time to time. Alongside a competitive salary, benefits include 25 days’ holiday per year plus bank holidays, three days at Christmas, a birthday day off, an excellent pension scheme with 10% company contribution, phone contribution, volunteering days and private healthcare.

The role

BSA Group is seeking an organised, proactive and commercially aware Events Manager to lead the planning, coordination and delivery of the Group’s CPD events programme on an 18-month temporary contract. The programme is high-volume and fast-paced, comprising 400+ digital events each year and approximately 20 in-person events. The Events Manager will support the Directors and Heads of each BSA Group brand to shape and coordinate an annual CPD programme that is relevant, timely and responsive to customer needs. The post-holder will work with the Head of Corporate Services and Business Support Team to ensure effective delivery, with particular focus on planning, contracts, suppliers, budgets, finances and logistics for in-person events. We are looking for someone with a positive, practical and solutions-focused approach. Candidates do not need to “know it all” from day one, but should be confident managing multiple deadlines, building strong relationships and improving processes in a busy events environment.

Main purpose of the job

To coordinate and manage BSA Group’s CPD and events programme, ensuring high-quality delivery, strong customer service, clear financial oversight and effective collaboration across the Group. The role will support the development of a coherent annual programme across BSA Group brands, ensuring digital and in-person events are planned, promoted, delivered and evaluated effectively.

Key responsibilities

• CPD programme planning and coordination
• Manage the planning and coordination of BSA Group’s annual CPD programme, including 400+ digital events and approximately 20 in-person events each year.
• Work with Directors and Heads of each brand to identify CPD priorities, sector needs, speaker opportunities and programme gaps.
• Maintain a clear schedule of events across the Group, ensuring appropriate spacing, sequencing and visibility.
• Coordinate programme information across internal teams so that events are set up, promoted, staffed, delivered and evaluated consistently.
• Support new CPD opportunities in response to member needs, sector developments and commercial opportunities.
• Event delivery and operations
• Oversee event delivery from inception to completion, excluding accredited training unless otherwise required.
• Work with the Head of Corporate Services and Business Support Executive to ensure operational delivery is well coordinated.
• Plan event logistics, including dates, speakers, delegate communications, staffing, resources, venues, catering, AV and technical arrangements.
• Act as host or lead contact for selected digital and in-person events, including speaker introductions, technical checks and live troubleshooting.
• Ensure trainers and speakers are briefed and that delegate materials, recordings and follow-up communications are accurate and timely.
• In-person events, contracts and suppliers
• Lead the practical planning and commercial administration of BSA Group’s in-person events.
• Source and liaise with venues, suppliers, speakers, contractors and other external partners.
• Manage venue and supplier contracts, ensuring terms, deadlines, cancellation clauses, deposits and payment schedules are understood and recorded.
• Coordinate event budgets, purchase orders, invoices, expense claims and supplier payments in line with internal finance procedures.
• Track risks, financial commitments and on-site requirements, including staffing, travel, accommodation, catering and AV.
• Budget management and reporting
• Maintain day-to-day oversight of the CPD and events budget in collaboration with the Head of Corporate Services and finance colleagues.
• Track event income, expenditure, profitability and financial performance.
• Provide accurate monthly reporting on bookings, attendance, income, expenditure and contribution.
• Maintain accurate financial records for bookings, supplier costs, trainer fees, venue costs and delegate income.
• Identify opportunities to improve financial performance, manage costs and support sustainable programme growth.
• Communications, promotion and delegate experience
• In collaboration with Directors and Heads of each area, draft and edit promotional copy for websites, email campaigns and delegate communications.
• Work with communications and marketing colleagues to ensure events are promoted effectively across BSA Group channels.
• Prepare regular communications for delegates and members, highlighting relevant upcoming events.
• Ensure all events are delivered with excellent customer service from initial enquiry and booking through to post-event follow-up.
• Monitor delegate feedback and use insights to improve future events.
• Systems, administration and data
• Maintain accurate event records using BSA Group’s email marketing, finance and event platforms.
• Ensure booking, attendance and delegate data is recorded accurately and kept up to date.
• Use event data to support reporting, evaluation, planning and marketing activity.
• Ensure administration is completed accurately and in line with internal processes and data protection requirements.
• Relationship management and wider contribution
• Serve as a key point of contact for internal teams, speakers, trainers, venues, suppliers and delegates.
• Build strong working relationships with Directors, Heads of brand, trainers, consultants and colleagues across BSA Group.
• Provide clear communication to colleagues about event plans, deadlines, responsibilities and risks.
• Represent BSA Group professionally to members, customers, partners, speakers and the wider public.
• Support the delivery of other BSA Group services and projects as required, including appropriate holiday or sickness cover.

Person specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following experience, skills and personal qualities.

Essential

• Experience of managing a busy events programme, ideally including both digital and in-person events.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple events, deadlines and stakeholders at the same time.
• Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and ability to prioritise effectively.
• Experience managing event logistics, including venues, speakers, suppliers, delegate communications and event materials.
• Confidence working with budgets, invoices, contracts, purchase orders and basic financial reporting.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear promotional and delegate-facing copy.
• Professional verbal communication skills, including a good telephone and online manner.
• A high level of IT confidence, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and Zoom.
• Experience using CRM, finance, email marketing or event management systems, or the ability to learn these quickly.
• A calm, practical and solutions-focused approach, especially when working under pressure.
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing positively to a team.
• A commitment to excellent customer service and to representing BSA Group professionally at all times.

Desirable

• Experience working in a membership body, education organisation, professional association or training provider.
• Experience delivering CPD, conferences, webinars or professional learning programmes.
• Experience using systems such as Salesforce, Campaign Monitor, Xero or similar platforms.
• Experience negotiating or reviewing venue and supplier contracts.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, boards, committees or sector specialists.
• An understanding of the education, safeguarding, boarding, inclusion or health education sectors.

Equal opportunities

BSA Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive working environment. This job description is intended as a guide to the general duties and responsibilities of the post and may vary from time to time according to the needs of BSA Group. It does not form part of the terms and conditions of employment.