We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our Sales and Marketing team as an Events Team Senior Manager on a 12 month, full-time, fixed term contract, based out of our London office.
This role is responsible for the planning, management and implementation of the firm's UK events strategy ensuring it is in line with the firm's strategic priorities and demonstrates maximum return on investment.
The successful candidate will lead the Events Team in the management and implementation of the events programme which covers circa 400 events per year. They will be responsible for the smooth-running and overall success of all events in the programme ranging from client in-person seminars, drinks receptions, dinners and corporate hospitality, to webinars and hybrid conferences, to internal town halls, partner meetings and large 1K attendee flagship events.
Key responsibilities
Management of the UK events programme
- Review and agree the UK events strategy with the Director of Communications, Marketing & Brand and the Head of Marketing at the beginning of the year.
- Build on client and internal feedback to ensure the highest level of client engagement with UK events programme.
- Co-ordinating team activity to ensure early identification and resolution of any potential conflicts or resource issues;
- Ensure seamless project management of all events (including using project plans, timelines, how-to guides, policies, templates and preferred supplier lists)
- Consistently deliver the "wow factor", setting OC events apart from those of competitor firms, through an understanding of industry best practice, maintaining an excellent network of supplier relationships and peer relationships and including the use of innovative and creative event formats and venues.
- Providing regular updates to event stakeholders;
- Collaborating with the communications team to ensure all event messaging is consistent with the firm's communications strategy.
- Agreeing in advance clear objectives and expected ROI for all UK events;
- Overseeing the accurate and timely recording of all event activity to the firm’s CRM system;
- Overseeing the management of the firm’s debentures and maximising ROI.
- End to end delivery of the firm's flagship projects including the International Partners' Conference, Summer Party, UK Partners' Conference, residential Practice Group Away Days. All elements from creative event conception, pitching to senior stakeholders, full budgeting, delivery and on-site management through to follow up.
- Responsibility for the firms supplier relationships (hotels, venues, AV, agencies), negotiating the most advantageous deals, looking for opportunities to save across multiple events and leverage surplus value where feasible
- Manage a team of 5 events professionals ensuring high performance, providing direction, motivation and development including recruitment, and objective setting.
- Lead on event best practice internationally, guiding and advising BD colleagues and events counterparts on best practice event delivery, style and procedures.
- Identify, review, contract and deliver on all event technology including webinar, hybrid and app based software, including cascading any necessary training out to fee earners and producing internal process documents. Maintain an excellent understanding of the firm’s strategy in order to prioritise event activity and question off-strategy activity.
- Manage wider firm resource (e.g. boardrooms reception, catering and document production), to ensure the delivery of all events to the highest standard.
Management reporting
- Prepare management reports on the UK events programme, including event analysis, budget analysis and return on investment. Work to improve event statistics (eg response rates, no show rates).
Networking
- Use your external network and relationships to negotiate and gain maximum discounts with a number of quality suppliers and project manage their activity to maximise success (eg venues, AV/equipment, webinar, app suppliers).
- Maximise the impact of the firm's events through an understanding of industry best practice and external events calendar.
Budget management
- Working within set budgets across multiple events with the annual budget on flagship events.
- Compile estimated cost models, submit final budgets, track budget statistics and prepare reports
What we're looking for
This is a senior position within the Events team, and as such we are looking for someone to demonstrate experience of delivering a programme of events to the highest standard, including events ranging from conferences for 500 delegates to intimate dinners and workshops.
You'll also need to have considerable experience of managing events teams, demonstrate confident communication skills and the ability to establish productive relationships with people at all levels.
Given the seniority and nature of the role, you will need to be flexible to ensure delivery of the events programme.
We will also be looking for:
- Someone who is innovative and creative; able to distinguish OC events from the competition and consistently delivering the "wow factor".
- An excellent understanding of the UK market place and an excellent network of supplier and peer group relationships outside of the firm.
- Excellent project management, time management and organisation skills.
- Ability to gather, interpret and present management information.
- Professional, flexible, enthusiastic, self-motivated and ambassadorial.
- Experience of using CRM databases, ideally including InterAction.
- Experience of using e-marketing software, ideally Vuture Vx.
- Experience of using Excel
Salary and benefits
We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits. We value the health and wellbeing of our people and our wide range of initiatives and benefits support this.
Our recruitment process
We welcome direct applications for our opportunities - if you would like any further information about this role or the firm, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact, in complete confidence, Philippa Hemmings, Recruitment Manager on 0117 917 4107 or email philippa.hemmings@osborneclarke.com.
Please note that although we include closing dates for our roles as a guide, we review and progress applications on a rolling basis. At Osborne Clarke we do not make any recruitment decisions using automated decision-making.
We are committed to providing an environment where you can perform to the best of your abilities at every stage of your recruitment experience and beyond. If you require any adjustments to be made during the application stage, interview process, or when working with us, please let us know in confidence.