Senior Event Manager

Senior Event Project Manager - MUST HAVE EVENT AGENCY EXPERIENCE

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Hybrid East Sussex

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Event Project Manager or Senior Event Manager to join a growing creative events agency and play a key role in delivering ambitious, high-quality experiences for a diverse portfolio of clients.

This is a role for someone who loves bringing ideas to life. You’ll take ownership from initial brief through to final delivery, balancing creativity with commercial awareness, operational detail and exceptional client service.

You’ll work across a varied mix of events, from conferences, congresses and corporate celebrations to awards, incentives and international programmes. No two projects will be the same, and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to take the lead, build relationships and make your mark.

What you’ll be doing:

If you’re the person who can take a scribbled client brief, turn it into a brilliant event, keep the budget where it needs to be, and still be smiling when the doors open — we should talk.

We’re looking for a Senior Event Project Manager who knows that great events don’t happen by accident. They happen because someone is across every moving part, has the confidence to make decisions, knows the right questions to ask and can bring clients, suppliers and teams with them.

You’ll be trusted to own projects rather than simply manage tasks. From the first conversation through to the final invoice, you’ll be the person making sure the detail is right, the experience feels exceptional and the client knows they’re in safe hands.

The kind of work you’ll get involved in:

• Taking a project from “we’ve got an idea…” all the way through to doors open, showtime and the final wrap.
• Shaping briefs into clever, creative and commercially sensible event plans.
• Juggling multiple projects, deadlines, clients and suppliers without losing sight of the detail.
• Becoming a genuine extension of your clients’ teams — challenging, advising and adding value rather than simply taking instructions.
• Leading conversations, presenting ideas and keeping everyone aligned as projects evolve.
• Owning the numbers: budgets, forecasts, supplier costs, negotiations, invoicing, reconciliation and ultimately project profitability.
• Finding the right venues, hotels, DMCs, production partners, AV teams and suppliers — then making sure they deliver.
• Creating experiences that work for the people attending, from registration and accommodation through to transfers, VIP requirements and the onsite journey.
• Getting stuck into the live stuff. Leading teams, managing suppliers, overseeing registration and keeping the show moving when the unexpected inevitably happens.
• Working across production, content, technical delivery and AV, bringing the right people together at the right time.
• Keeping risk, RAMS and health & safety firmly under control.
• Supporting and developing junior members of the project team, while knowing when to delegate and when to get involved.
• Spotting opportunities to strengthen client relationships, grow accounts and get involved in pitches and new business.
• Travelling internationally when the project calls for it — and enjoying the fact that your office occasionally has a very different view.

You’ll probably have around six years’ experience in an events agency or similar environment and a strong track record of delivering complex events.

We’re particularly interested in people who have worked across a mix of:

• Conferences and congresses
• Corporate events
• Awards and celebrations
• Incentive programmes
• International events
• Large-scale delegate programmes

You’ll ideally have experience managing 300+ delegates and be comfortable using Cvent or similar event technology.

You’ll also need to be commercially switched on. You should understand how to build and manage a budget, negotiate with suppliers, protect margins and reconcile a project properly once the confetti has settled.

Strong client management experience is important too. You’ll need the confidence to sit in front of a client, understand what they’re really trying to achieve, challenge where appropriate and present a solution that feels considered rather than off-the-shelf.

We’re looking for someone with strong industry knowledge across venues, hotels, destinations, DMCs, production and AV, alongside the ability to build relationships that make getting things done easier.

And personality matters.

You’ll be someone who:

• Takes ownership naturally.
• Gets things moving rather than waiting for someone else.
• Has creative instincts but understands the commercial side of events.
• Can stay calm when Plan A becomes Plan B, C or D.
• Builds relationships easily and communicates with confidence.
• Is organised without being rigid.
• Has high standards and takes pride in their work.
• Enjoys being part of a team and brings positive energy with them.
• Wants to keep learning, developing and taking on bigger challenges.
• Genuinely loves events and gets a buzz from seeing months of planning become a live experience.

In return, you’ll get the opportunity to work on a broad and exciting mix of projects, take real ownership of your clients and events, travel internationally and work alongside an experienced, collaborative team.

There’s plenty of scope to make an impact, develop your career and put your own stamp on the work you deliver. xwzovoh

Hybrid working, with a genuine balance between office and home.

• If you’re ready for a senior project role where you can be trusted to run with things, have a voice in the room and deliver events you’re genuinely proud of, get in touch..

If you’re an experienced Senior Event Project Manager ready to step into a senior role where you can take ownership, build great client relationships and deliver exceptional events, we’d love to hear from you.

This position would suit: Events Lead, Senior Events Manager, Senior Event Project Manager, Senior Project Manager Events, Senior Live Events Manager, Senior Account Manager Events