Events Operations Manager

About the University
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground‑breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better. The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region. We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes. Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

About the College/Department
The External Relations department brings together student recruitment, marketing, PR, social media, profile and reputation management, development and fundraising, alumni relations and stakeholder engagement into one dynamic, expert function. The team is responsible for telling the University’s story in the UK and internationally – shaping how we are seen, understood and experienced by our audiences. From creating compelling messaging and content across campaigns, digital channels and events, to building influential partnerships and driving sustainable income, External Relations delivers complex, high‑impact work that is central to the University’s success. Our work supports growth, strengthens trust and reputation, and makes a significant contribution to the University’s long‑term ambitions.

About the Events Team
Events are an integral part of the University of Derby and help to continually develop our profile and reputation, generate commercial income and offer opportunities to staff, students and external visitors to engage further with us. The Events team lead on the organisation and delivery of all high‑profile University events, including our Open Days and other recruitment events, University Court and inaugural lectures.

About the role
The successful candidate will lead the Events Operations team, line managing at least two Events Officers, which is part of the External Relations department that supports the University’s strategic objectives relating to Recruitment and raising the University’s profile, reputation and impact locally, nationally and internationally. The Events Operations team has responsibility for the strategic planning and delivery of a full and varied annual events programme, with a focus on delivering high quality events that have high impact. These include open days, interview days, schools and colleges visits, conferences, graduation, events hosted by the Vice‑Chancellor, community events, inaugural/guest lectures, virtual, live streams events and many others. The role of the Events Operations Manager is to ensure that all events are managed and delivered to the highest standard and deliver maximum external impact. You will be responsible for the operational planning and delivery of the annual events calendar, as well as occasional ad hoc events. The Events Operations Manager will support the Associate Director – Student Recruitment in constantly developing and enhancing the University’s events programme to ensure events at Derby continue to appeal to a wide audience and support our strategic objectives. Occasional weekend, evening and flexible working will be required.

About You
We’re looking for an experienced and strategic events professional with a proven track record of delivering high‑profile, large‑scale events and managing complex projects from concept to delivery. You will have significant experience influencing and working with senior stakeholders, leading high‑performing teams, managing substantial budgets and people, and using data and insight to drive decision‑making and continuous improvement. Experience within Higher Education and an understanding of student recruitment and marketing activity would be advantageous. The successful candidate will be an outstanding communicator who can build strong relationships across all levels of the organisation, provide expert advice, and confidently lead in a fast‑paced environment. You will be creative, highly organised and resilient, with excellent project management skills, a strong understanding of event compliance and health and safety requirements, and the ability to deliver exceptional experiences that enhance reputation, engagement and recruitment outcomes. Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, and the ability to travel as required, are essential.

Principal accountabilities
Take the strategic lead on the development and implementation of an impactful annual events strategy, securing senior leadership support, that meets University objectives, to raise the profile, reputation and influence of the University to support student recruitment and experience.
Lead the planning and delivery of all student recruitment and high‑profile events – managing the complexities that come from delivering multiple events for stakeholders across the University, including for the Vice‑Chancellor and other University Executive Board members.
Represent the department on the graduation steering group, positioning yourself as an expert in your field, confident to provide advice, guidance and challenge where appropriate.
Jointly work with Registry to deliver multiple high‑quality awards ceremonies at Buxton and Derby involving senior stakeholders including Governing Council and high‑profile dignitaries, ensuring a best in class experience for all attendees.
Lead the idea generation for key events, including graduation, spearheading new ways of working based on industry best practice and sector knowledge. To include digital and other innovative ways of event delivery.
Take responsibility for ensuring the University is compliant with, and cognisant of industry regulations to ensure compliance with regards to health and safety and potential security risks with a view to mitigating potential risks at university run events. Ensure knowledge and expertise in this area is kept up to date through continuous professional development (CPD).
Effectively lead the Events team, positioning yourself as a senior manager within the External Relations department, inspiring and empowering colleagues to deliver their best work, ensuring a collaborative approach to working and a focus on continuous improvement and quality.
Trouble shoot and respond at pace with solutions to challenges that arise in the moment due to the unpredictable and challenging nature of live event delivery.
Position yourself as the events expert at Derby providing expert advice and guidance to colleagues, including the Vice‑Chancellor and her Executive team, to ensure the highest quality delivery of events aligned to the wider strategic direction.
Have oversight of all events taking place at the University of Derby and lead the University Events Working Group, ensuring that events across the University comply with university objectives and standards. To include managing the Derby calendar in consultation with colleagues, to ensure no conflict of business/event clashes.
Represent the Events Operations team and Student Recruitment teams at senior leadership meetings as required, providing strategic events advice and input to help evolve the University’s reputation and profile.
Work with teams across the department and lead on events promotional and communication plans, including email, SMS, and outbound calling to ensure that events attendance targets are met, and ensuring that the attendee receives a high quality customer service.
Ensure effective communication with senior stakeholders such as University Executive Board (UEB) and University Leadership Group (ULG) and other internal teams regarding operational requirements throughout the event delivery process, including fully briefing all relevant members of the delivery team prior to an event and acting as a key point of client contact at all stages.
Prepare and manage designated budgets linked to the events programme and measure the effectiveness of spend regularly. Work with the Head of Undergraduate Recruitment to ensure appropriate metrics and performance criteria are in place for all events organised by the team, taking a lead in the evaluation of these and developing and championing methods of evaluation and feedback. Oversee annual events budgets, ensuring spend is maximised to achieve KPIs, whilst not compromising on quality. Promote enhanced standards of service and operational delivery of events to ensure the very best level of customer service.
Carry out any other duties required appropriate to the post as directed by the Head of Undergraduate Recruitment or Associate Director – Student Recruitment.

Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
Relevant first‑degree qualification or significant comparable experience
Experience
Extensive experience and demonstrable success in planning, implementing and delivering high profile events
Extensive experience of planning with defined resources and delivering to this plan successfully
Experience of influencing at the highest level, with the ability to present ideas and secure stakeholder buy‑in, with the confidence and gravitas to push back
Evidence of operating effectively at management level, with the ability to lead and inspire a high performing team
Experience of the content creation and approval process
Evidence of the use of insights to inform and influence strategic decisions
Extensive project management experience, including large‑scale, multiple and complicated projects
Evidence of success in using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and data to drive conversion activities
Experience of managing large events budgets
Experience of providing marketing leadership and advice
Skills, knowledge & abilities
Up to date knowledge of health and safety and security best practice to ensure events are compliant
Strong communication and inter‑personal skills – written and verbal – with proven ability to engage with senior colleagues and communicate complex information to a variety of audiences
Demonstrable and deep understanding of student recruitment in the Higher Education sector
Demonstrable and extensive knowledge of all aspects of marketing campaigns, with in‑depth knowledge of media‑buying and channel strategies
Creative and innovative with a strong eye for detail
Demonstrable ability to motivate, inspire and lead a high performing team
In‑depth understanding of brand guidelines, tone of voice and writing for different audiences
Resilience and the ability to remain calm, professional and focused at all times
Proven ability to plan and organise individual and team activities, short and long‑term
Knowledge of legal issues e.g. data protection, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) guidance and copyright
Business requirements
Evidence of continuous professional development
Full driving licence or ability to travel in a cost‑effective and timely manner
Willingness and flexibility to work outside of normal office hours, as and when required
Ability to work outside of normal working hours (including some evenings and weekends), to support the business during key University events, such as Graduation, Clearing and Open Days.

Key contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Hannah Wright, Associate Director – Recruitment via h.wright@. For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@.

Important information
Visa Sponsorship Eligibility
This role is eligible for sponsorship by the University, however, your individual circumstances must meet the criteria set out by UKVI; this includes meeting the English Language requirement and earning a salary that meets the highest of either the going rate for the SOC code or the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route (41,700 per annum, as of 22nd July 2025). If the role is eligible, but the offered salary is less that the going rate for the role, you may still be able to apply for a Skilled Worker visa if: Your job is on the Immigration Salary List, You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training, You have a PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job, You have a postdoctoral position in science or higher education. Please note that the University cannot confirm your eligibility for sponsorship until an offer is made and your individual circumstances have been considered. For more information, please visit Applying from Overseas.

Equity, diversity and inclusion
The University of Derby is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, regardless of age, disability, trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief (or none), sex and sexual orientation. We are Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes. Further, we are committed to ensuring an environment which is trans and non‑binary‑inclusive for all our staff, students, partners, and visitors, and continuously review our policies, guidance and training. When applying to join the University, you can choose your preferred title, including the gender‑neutral title ‘Mx’. We also ask our candidates if they would like to share their preferred pronouns. This is voluntary but demonstrates our commitment to inclusivity for trans and non‑binary candidates. Once employed, you can add pronouns and preferred names onto our system. The University of Derby undertakes anonymised shortlisting during the staff recruitment process. This means that, when shortlisting, panel members will not be able to see an applicant’s name and will see an applicant number instead. This demonstrates the practical steps we are taking to remove barriers to recruitment by minimising the possible impact of our unconscious bias. However you identify, we actively celebrate the knowledge, experience and talents each person brings. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds; therefore we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who will help our leaders and teams be more reflective of our student population. Read more about equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Derby.

Environmental Sustainability
At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050. Don’t miss your chance – join the team and make a difference today! The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern. Please find our Safeguarding pages including our Safeguarding Policy.