Event Director

Who we are

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the “red thread” that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence-based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity. 

The Event Director is responsible for the project management and operations delivery of all LSEs in the UK and Europe regions and leads the UK LSE delivery team.

This position is based in London and reports into the Head of Operations, Global.

Delivery:

• Project management and execution of 3-4 LSEs per year including:
• Budget management, invoice coding, contract assessment
• Venue search and selection
• Logistics planning 
• Event branding and stage design
• Sponsor communication and administration
• Onsite lead and run of show
• Crisis planning and risk assessment
• Post event follow up
• Meeting and project management
• Ensure the development and smooth execution of all LSEs and events within remit 
• Manage a team of 4 in London and work closely with US and Middle East teams to allocate resources effectively
• Manage freelance needs 
• Develop and manage event budgets in close coordination with the business owners and peers, ensuring that all event cost sheets are managed effectively and hit gross margin KPIs (68%)
• Work alongside business heads and commercial peers to create attractive sponsorship packages and deliver them above expectations
• Manage supplier contracts and coordinate with finance and other stakeholders to manage timely payment of invoices
• Work closely with the LSE operations team in other regions and Custom operations team to share best practices, contacts and resources
• Maintain and improve business processes and systems for project management to ensure that teams meet agreed deadlines for the programming, marketing, and production of events.  
• Prioritise improving efficiency in every task and process
• Chair a weekly team meeting for regional scheduled events, include action points and follow up to support event delivery

Collaboration, team management and development:

• Support hard and soft-skills development of direct reports by actively participating in and conducting interactive training sessions/skills workshop in areas of focus/expertise
• Coach direct reports on roles, requirements, skills development, relationship building, delivery objectives and progression
• Cultivate mutual respect and productive working relationships with colleagues across B2B
• Foster a collaborative environment where each team member's strengths are utilised for efficient project delivery, scaling impact across the team by prioritizing strong, consistent performance  
• Execute hiring strategy through identifying team needs, CV screening, socializing vacancies, conducting interviews, evaluating candidates, managing/ training hires

The ideal skills for this role are: 

• A broad range of experience managing conferences and bespoke client-tailored events is crucial
• Experience with international events in the b2b industry will be advantageous 
• Experience managing and developing teams; experience managing teams through change, and across offices and regions, preferred
• Demonstrated track record of managing vendor relationships, including negotiating favorable contract rates and terms
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing events to meet specific goals, both financial and otherwise
• Creativity and a passion for developing high-quality, forward-thinking event experiences on a lean budget  
• Excellent client management skills.  Experience working with clients and managing client projects
• Ability to manage teams across dozens of projects in a changing, fast-paced work environment
• Excellent collaboration skills; experience working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments along with excellent written and oral communication skills
• Familiarity with event technologies, and ability to assess new technologies and make strategic recommendations
• Able to fulfill flexible working hours during busy periods, and travel as required, concentrated during busy event seasons  
• Pro-active, reliable, results orientated, a finisher, attention to detail, disciplined
• Curiosity and a basic interest in global affairs

#LI-Hybrid 

What we offer

Benefits
We offer excellent benefits including an incentive programme, generous annual and parental leave policies, volunteering days and well-being support throughout the year, as well as free access to all Economist content. Country specific benefits are also offered.

Our Values
Our values are a collective set of beliefs and behaviours that strengthen The Economist Group's purpose and demonstrate where we want to be as an organisation. They reflect on our mission to pursue progress for individuals, organisations and the world.

Independence
We are not bound to any party or interest and encourage exploration and free-thinking. We champion freedom, both within our organisation and around the world.

Integrity
We are bold in our efforts to uncover the truth and stand up for what we believe in. We inspire trust through our rigour, fact-checking and transparency.

Excellence
We aspire to the highest standards in all we do. We are ambitious and inquisitive in our pursuit of continuous progress and innovation.

Inclusivity
We value diversity in thought and background and encourage healthy debate with a breadth of perspectives. We treat our colleagues and customers fairly and respectfully.

Openness
We foster a collaborative and empathetic culture conducive to the interests, wit and initiative of our colleagues. New ideas are our lifeblood.

The Economist Group values diversity. We are committed to equal opportunities and creating an inclusive environment for all our colleagues and potential colleagues regardless of ethnic origin, national origin, gender, gender identity, race, colour, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status or any other status.