Senior Event Organiser

UCAS is at the heart of connecting people to higher education.

UCAS is the world’s leading shared admissions service for higher education. We provide application services for UK universities and colleges as well as delivering a wide range of research, consultancy and advisory services to schools, colleges, careers services, professional bodies and employers.

We’re a successful and fast-growing organisation, which helps hundreds of thousands of people every year. We're committed to delivering a first-class service to all of our customers — they're at the heart of everything we do.

Led by Dave Penney, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer. This broad business unit and incorporates the following functions:
• UCAS Media education and industry Sales
• Education and Industry Marketing
• Digital Marketing Operations
• Events
• Partnerships
• Apprenticeships
• Public Affairs, Press and Communications
• Insights

The business unit is set up to deliver against the objectives of UCAS charity and operate UCAS Media (UCAS’s commercial subsidiary) to help fund UCAS’s charitable operations. For the charity, our objective is to provide everyone with the information, advice and guidance they need to make informed decisions on their next steps. We deliver on this via our media ecosystem which consists of information, advice and guidance on ucas.com, our social media feeds across various channels, email, live events and webinars,

For UCAS Media, our business objective is to generate revenue through paid collaborations with higher education providers who wish to improve their position in the market, and commercial brands who want to reach students. All brands wishing to use our media ecosystem and insight services must align with our framework. All profits generated are gift aided to UCAS the charity and in turn fund the charitable objectives, such as our recent announcement that students in receipt of free school meals will no longer need to pay the UCAS application fee.

A key part of the events team responsible for the delivery of a best-in-class programme of virtual, physical, hybrid exhibitions and conferences.

Key Accountabilities:

• Project manage and have complete responsibility for the delivery of events you are managing which could include physical or virtual exhibitions and conferences.

• Source a range of venues in varied locations around the UK (including negotiating venue contracts up to the value of £130,000) that are within budget and meet the needs of the event.

• Manage the delivery of events on-site, including speakers, exhibitors, staff and contractors.

• Manage deadlines, including the gathering, distributing, and proofing of all event-related content.

• Confident and excellent customer focused communications with speakers, exhibitors and attendees.

• Management of all onsite team and external suppliers responsible for the implementation of events.

• Manage event budgets to ensure that each event is in profit, including planning, forecasting and reporting to finance.

• Support with planning event content by research and feedback analysis, as well as liaising with colleagues, customers, stakeholders, external bodies and relevant industry speakers to ensure a high-level of quality.

• To work with the Technical Operations manager to produce Risk Assessments, implement and oversee safe methods of working and control measures.

For full job description, please see role profile attached.

• Experience in events management and producing project plans across physical and digital experiences.

• A high degree of self-organisation, and the ability to manage multiple priorities, as well as the ability to solve problems on the ground, and remain calm when dealing with unforeseen circumstances.

• Excellent interpersonal, organisational, oral, and written communication skills with an ability to work to and meet deadlines.

• Awareness and interest of current trends and innovations in the events business to be able to contribute ideas and views to expand our digital and physical events offer.

• A proven ability to plan multiple events across the calendar being able to draw on expensive project management experience.

• A strong team player, with experience of supporting to manage a team, creating a motivating and developing team.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage time appropriately.

• A good team player with the ability to support colleagues in their duties.

• Able to travel, and network with new clients/colleagues, including overnight stays at short notice.

• Working knowledge of MS Office Packages.

• Knowledge of the higher education sector, particularly the decisions facing young people when they leave school, is desirable, but not essential.

• Event Management degree or five years’ experience of managing a range of events across different channels.

• Full clean driver’s licence, and a willingness and ability to travel across the UK, including overnight stays.

Part time - 21 hours

Salary - up to £30,000 (Full time equivalent)

• Purpose-driven work in a charity-led organisation connecting people to education and opportunity

• Internal training, mentoring, and access to industry-recognised certifications through our development academies

• Hybrid working model built on trust and flexibility, with a 35-hour week and flexible contracts

• 30 days annual leave, 3 concessionary days over Christmas, bank holidays, and the option to purchase additional leave

• Everyday wellbeing support through Perkbox, offering discounts and wellness tools

• Onsite facilities including a subsidised gym, café, and free parking at our Cheltenham office

• Inclusive culture supported by employee networks, wellbeing champions, and Mental Health First Aiders

• Recognition and reward through our quarterly employee scheme and an ex-gratia bonus for going above and beyond