Events Project Director
Events Project Director
We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Project Director (Events), to join our fun and vibrant team of event experts – You will be leading the strategic and operational delivery of a number of client accounts, managing a project team to devise exceptional event solutions, for live (in-person), hybrid and virtual events.
You’ll be an all-around event and communications expert, with a strategic focus on leading the delivery of projects to achieve maximum ROI against event objectives, implementing long term event and marketing strategies, best practices and developing talent within the team. It, therefore, goes without saying, that you are a natural leader, with superior operational, organisational and relationship skills.
The role will include full ownership and accountability for client relationships within your accounts, leading internal project teams and managing external partners (venues, marketing, art studio, content, creative, logistics, production, and software solutions). Pitch work, proposals, and sourcing innovative solutions come as second nature; you are not only adept at taking a brief, establishing the project deliverables, and managing large, complex budgets, but you are also skilled at identifying and influencing opportunities for growth and success. You’ll be an accomplished authority when it comes to managing virtual and hybrid events, as equally as you are live experiences, including conferences, incentives, activations, and exhibitions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Taking lead responsibility for interpreting and driving a clear scope of work for the project team, continually assessing the agreed event strategy against the project development
- Lead the response, channel briefs through the relevant team, and own the executional excellence of end-to-end project delivery, including, responding to a brief, defining appropriate and creative solutions, establishing project resource requirements, and leading the team, establishing delivery timelines, budgeting, contract management, invoicing and supplier management, live execution, reconciliation, and de-brief.
- The ownership and management of a simultaneous range of client accounts, from an operational and delivery perspective; leading the client relationship, managing the project delivery team, delegating tasks accordingly, sourcing and managing external partners, such as production, creative, strategy, registration, delegate management and venue services, to achieve efficient, cost effective, on-time and on-budget results.
- The ownership and management of large-scale, complex budgets; sourcing appropriate solutions and preparing quotations, confidently negotiating preferred rates with suppliers, interrogating contract terms and conditions, ensuring that all billing schedules are up to date, monitoring client and supplier payments.
- Take ownership for the maintenance of internal systems, CRM, financial project administration and all paperwork relating to client accounts, project delivery and company admin requirements, including management reporting or ad hoc activities at the request of the Head of Agency, or the Board.
- Assess, advise and ensure appropriate health and safety, risk assessment, logistics, operational and sustainable practices are adhered to in the delivery of all projects.
- Implement and embody continuous improvement, proactively and objectively review processes and develop ‘new and better ways’ of working, reporting and achieving Key Success Measurements.
- Lead, manage, coach, nurture and develop junior team members, always act as a mentor and confidant to your team and colleagues.
- Offer expert consultation of event and communication solutions, including integrated marketing approaches, creative and innovative strategy, developing technologies, industry trends, use of data for insights, and importantly, how to achieve measurable results that demonstrate a return on event objectives.
- Offer expert knowledge of destinations, venues, virtual solutions, event software and technologies, including the ability to consult on the appropriate solutions for the client and brief.
- Work alongside Account Managers, Directors and/or Head of Agency, taking the lead on curating response documents to deliver client pitches, tender opportunities, briefs, and proposals.
- Demonstrate a coherent understanding of the client organisation, industry, and challenges.
- Demonstrate excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to build and grow strong, effective client relationships, be confident and self-sufficient in managing those relationships, gain repeat business and develop new opportunities as a trusted advisor and consultant to your clients.
- Work alongside Account Managers / Directors to ensure the retention of year-on-year client projects or budget, including the organic growth of new opportunities.
- Demonstrate a coherent understanding of business and commercial targets, maximise all potential revenue opportunities, cost savings and improved margin achievement throughout the lifecycle of a project or client account to maximise the commercial value.
- Commercially identify cross-sell or up-sell opportunities associated to live projects, client accounts or new customer briefs; work collaboratively with the Client Services team, including Account Managers / Directors to develop these opportunities.
- Ensure alignment with company objectives, values, and culture, act as a brand ambassador for In2Events, in line with the organisation’s strategic direction, growth ambitions and development opportunities.
- Play an active leadership role in team meetings, activities, socials and community or charity projects, encourage others to get involved, promote teamwork, collaboration and maintain and uphold the In2Events culture, mission, and vision always.
- Work alongside Marketing to identify marketing or brand awareness opportunities to showcase In2Events and the work we do. Supply content to marketing, collaborate with clients to offer ideas and opportunities around events and contribute to opportunities for competition award entries or industry recognition.
Skills & Competencies:
- Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Exceptional presentation skills with the ability to engage and influence senior-level audiences.
- Superior leadership, organisational skills, time, and team management skills, with excellent attention to detail.
- Strategic and commercially driven, you are a creative, and critical thinker, consultant, advisor, problem-solver, and solutions finder.
- Expertly offer solutions to challenges, mitigate risk, and adapt to change.
- Insights driven, analytical with the ability to expertly evaluate findings and use these for future insights, solutions, or improvements.
- Self-sufficient embodies ownership and accountability.
- Able to work alongside cross-functional teams, embracing collaboration, taking a leading and influencing position where necessary.
- Decisive, able to manage highly pressurised environments, with the ability to work to tight timelines and effectively manage stress.
- Proven leadership qualities, with a high level of emotional intelligence, establish trust and respect.
- Able to make informed decisions, appropriately challenge opinions, receive constructive criticism with a pragmatic and positive mindset.
- Receives feedback comfortably whilst appropriately offering it to others, manage challenging conversations, relationships or deliver difficult news.
- Demonstrates creativity, innovation, commercial aptitude and applies divergent and lateral thinking.
- Self-aware, able to read others, or situations well, able to offer positivity, enthusiasm, motivation and moral support to your peers and team – Positively contributes to a healthy and fun working environment.
- Fully PC literate, able to learn new programs or software quickly and effectively
Requirements, Qualifications & Experience:
- 6 years + experience in event management, production, and communications solutions in an agency or corporate (event) environment.
- Experience defining and delivering live (in-person) virtual and hybrid events.
- Experience defining and delivering exhibition solutions.
- Skilled and knowledgeable in marketing practices and integrated communications approaches.
- Relevant Degree-level qualifications, Event or Project Management certifications, Prince 2 or PMP qualifications are preferred, but not essential. Demonstrable capabilities and experience is essential.
- Must be fluent in English to a professional, business level – additional languages an advantage.
- Full UK driving licence.
- Valid passport, willing and able to travel abroad.
- Flexible to weekend, evening, and ad hoc hours, as required, based on project delivery.
Salary: Competitive base + performance related bonus
Location: Flexible working – Mixture of remote working and Portsmouth-based office location (Negotiable)
Reports to: Project Director / Head of Agency
