Senior Events Manager
Mar 16, 2025
Senior Events Manager
Reports to: COO
Location: London E2, hybrid role we are happy to talk about flexible working to suit the needs of both parties. Bear in mind that this is an events role so there will be out of office hours and TOIL will be provided.
Salary: 42 - 46 depending on experience
Hours: 9:30 am to 5: 30 pm Monday to Friday. Please bear in mind that this is an events role so there will be out of office hours especially in May and July when our main events take place and TOIL will be provided.
Benefits: Way too many to mention so check out our web page and got to our careers page for further details.
Context:
D&AD is unique. No other creative community is quite like it: no other awards organisation operates absolutely not for profit. Only D&AD exists purely to celebrate and nurture the highest standards of commercial creativity.
We are looking for someone creative and filled to the brim with new ideas to add to D&AD s year round in person and online events, with a focus on the D&AD Festival & New Blood Festival, Professional Awards judging and ceremonies, whilst providing support and expertise to other D&AD events happening throughout the year like shift, lectures, exhibition, training, annual launch and partnership activations and team events. These events are predominantly in the UK but we are looking to potentially roll out events in other key global cities and this role will support
Highly motivated, with a desire to shoulder responsibility, you will need to be very well organised with meticulous forward planning. We need to be able to rely on you to meet targets and deliver promised outcomes under pressure of multiple deadlines.
You will need to be a charismatic ambassador for D&AD; a confident and effective communicator able to liaise with all project stakeholders and partner organisations. You ll need to be approachable, and consistent in manner - enthusiastic, energetic and friendly committed to equal opportunities, tactful and discreet. It is important that you are extremely personable and not afraid of stepping in and lending a hand when the occasion calls.
You ll need to be an effective solution provider and decision-maker, quick thinking and calm under pressure.
The organisation is very busy, so open and regular communication with all members of the team is essential. There will inevitably be some less interesting tasks to be completed day to day and you ll have to combine these with the ability to think big, and have real ambition for the D&AD year round programmes.
The D&AD offices have a casual relaxed atmosphere, with a friendly fun team, there is always some activity going on at D&AD from gardening to table tennis competitions the list is endless and you can join one of the main ERG s at D&AD supporting and driving our values in relation to ED&I, social, sustainability and mental health and wellbeing.
Find out more about D&AD Shift with Google
Responsibilities
Overall project management of the D&AD Festival and New Blood Festival delivery, along with associated Award Ceremonies, in collaboration with the directors and departments.
Responsible for Shift production in London and provide support to other Shift producers in other cities/countries.
Create and drive the commercial events strategy across all departments.
To help identify new event business opportunities to increase revenue growth.
To help develop and extend the existing portfolio of events etc.
Work with the office manager to develop a yearly events calendar for Cheshire Street to increase revenue growth and community engagement.
Work with the partnership team to drive sponsorship and contra deals.
Develop beneficial partnerships and large value contacts.
Manage costs and negotiate favourable local and global supplier deals ensuring all steps of procurement are followed as well as having the understanding of how to get the correct balance of making an event look great without excessive expenditure.
Conduct market research and analysis to create detailed business plans on event opportunities (expansion, business development etc.)
Understand the requirements of existing customers to ensure guest experience is met.
Enable D&AD to maximise the impact of in person and online events against stated objectives.
To ensure events are progressive, dynamic, quality and content is relevant.
Collaborate with and coordinate diverse teams (marketing, sales, customer service etc.)
Monitor performance and cost of commercial activities effectiveness using key metrics and prepare reports for senior management and recommend and implement changes as appropriate.
Assist in setting financial targets and budget development and monitoring.
Events Responsibilities
Rigourous health and safety across all our events and a solid understanding of risk assessments and method statements, this is supported through the use of our health and safety advisors
Attending events (managing event staff and assisting with registration, supplier and venue liaison, guest enquiries and requests)
Oversee site planning and confirming venues, including realisation of site specific event floor plans.
Conceptualising the event by artworking visuals for internal & external use.
Preparing briefs for suppliers to quote for services
Liaising with suppliers for delivery of services and products
Ensure schedules are created and distributed for all events.
Creating and updating project plans and project management systems.
Manage contra relationships for gifts in kind for services and products.
Working with D&AD partnerships team and Managers to support partner activation logistics and curation at D&AD events
Liaison with Event Exhibitors handling queries, including changes to stand layouts, delivery times etc.
Maintaining the venue database and streamlining the venue sourcing processes.
Entertainment and artist liaison for live Events.
Event staff Briefings for contracted staff.
Management of portfolio surgeries: curating sessions, securing hosts and scheduling students/industry.
Manage and report on post-event feedback.
Generate new ideas to represent on site activation.
People Management
Recruit, manage and develop anyone that is supporting our events including any freelancers that may be required.
Skills & experience required:
Proven experience as a senior member of an events team delivering in person and online events and a track record of launching new events and growing established events.
Excellent organisational and leadership skills
Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities
Experience in leading a team and managing change
Experience in working closely with different departments
Project Management experience
Negotiation and networking experience
Financial management of budgets
Desirable knowledge of the creative industries
IT literate Excel, Word (knowledge of Adobe software, CAD/Sketch up/Floorplan software)
Personal qualities:
Resourceful ability to come up with creative solutions to any problem that might arise
Enthusiastic and Energetic ability to make guests, suppliers, clients and staff feel welcomed.
Able to liaise confidently and professionally with people at all levels.
A team player with a good sense of humour and a hardworking attitude and an inclination to lead
Analytical
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Calm with attention to detail
D&AD is committed to diversity, equality, equity, inclusion and respect for all. Providing a work environment in which all employees are treated with fairness, respect and dignity and which is free of discrimination, victimisation, bullying and harassment. At D&AD we are interested in every individual bringing their Whole Self to work and this includes you! Please email to let us know if you need any reasonable adjustments to be made for any part of the recruitment process.
In order to comply with the Prevention of Illegal Working, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act, you will need to provide appropriate documentation that proves that you are eligible to work in the UK.
Due to the number of applications we receive, we regret that you will not be contacted unless you are shortlisted for an interview. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date of your application you should assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.
Our privacy statement can be viewed on the D&AD careers page.
