Conference Operations Manager in Birmingham

Are you an experienced venue, hospitality or events professional who knows what it takes to deliver exceptional customer experiences? Can you lead operational teams, coordinate multiple moving parts and ensure events are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest standards? Could you use your operational expertise to help make IET Birmingham: Austin Court a venue that clients return to time and time again?

What you’ll be doing

• As Operations Manager, you'll lead the day-to-day operation of IET Birmingham: Austin Court, ensuring events are delivered smoothly, efficiently and to the high standards our customers expect.
• You'll play a key role in the successful running of the venue, overseeing event delivery, room set-ups, catering, facilities, AV and customer service.
• Working closely with clients, colleagues, contractors and suppliers, you'll ensure the right people, processes and resources are in place to support a busy and varied events programme.
• As a visible leader across the venue, you'll proactively resolve issues, maintain service standards and create a positive experience for customers and colleagues.
• A key part of the role will be leading and developing our Operations, Catering and AV teams.
• You'll foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement, ensuring teams are engaged, supported and empowered to deliver their best work.
• You'll also drive operational excellence across the venue by reviewing procedures, improving ways of working and ensuring compliance with health and safety, fire and operational requirements.
• Using operational insight and performance data, you'll identify opportunities to improve efficiency, customer satisfaction and commercial performance.

What we hope you can bring to the role

• We're looking for an experienced operational leader from a venue, hospitality, food and beverage, hotel or events environment who understands great customer service and how to deliver it consistently.
• You'll have experience managing busy operations, coordinating teams and resources, and maintaining high standards across multiple areas of responsibility.
• You'll be a confident people manager who enjoys developing teams, building engagement and creating a positive working culture.
• Strong organisational skills will be essential as you balance competing priorities while ensuring events, facilities and operational activities run smoothly.
• Just as importantly, you'll be a proactive problem-solver who takes ownership, builds strong relationships and continually looks for ways to improve service delivery.
• You'll bring a customer-focused mindset, commercial awareness and the ability to remain calm and decisive in a fast-paced environment.

A little more about the role

• Lead the day-to-day operation and successful delivery of events at IET Birmingham: Austin Court.
• Manage and develop the Operations, Catering and AV teams, including recruitment, training, performance management and workforce planning.
• Build strong relationships with clients, contractors, suppliers and colleagues, ensuring a professional and customer-focused service.
• Oversee venue operations, including room set-ups, AV requirements, facilities support and maintenance coordination.
• Communicate effectively with clients throughout the event lifecycle, proactively resolving operational challenges.
• Maintain and improve operational procedures and standard operating processes.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, engagement and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, fire regulations, data protection requirements and IET policies.
• Identify, manage and escalate operational and health and safety risks where appropriate.
• Support the achievement of operational, customer service and commercial objectives.
• Use operational insight and performance data to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery.

A little more about what we’re looking for

• Proven experience leading operational teams within a venue, hospitality, hotel, food and beverage, conferencing or events environment.
• Experience managing front-of-house and operational service delivery in a customer-focused setting.
• Strong people leadership skills, with experience developing teams and managing performance.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy operational environment.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
• Good knowledge of event operations, venue logistics and customer experience delivery.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Good understanding of health and safety responsibilities within a venue, hospitality or events environment.
• Commercial awareness and a focus on delivering operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

Please note, this is a fixed-term contract opportunity running until June 2027.