- Opportunity to be involved in a significant portfolio of events
- Queen Mary University is one of the leading research Universities
About Our Client
Queen Mary University of London is one of the UK's leading research universities, committed to improving social justice and achieving the previously unthinkable.
The External Relations Directorate is responsible for the University's external activities, including communications and marketing, student recruitment and admissions, international affairs, and alumni relations and development. This role is
part of the Communications leadership team.
Job Description
Job purpose
This role is responsible for the strategic leadership of events and ceremonies at Queen Mary. Specifically, this role: leads the delivery of key student-related events including graduation ceremonies and open days; leads the delivery of the highest-profile University public events; and provides professional leadership across Queen Mary, including through a community of practice, to support the effective delivery of events throughout the University.
This Head of Events and Ceremonies has a team of 6 people. Duties include:
Insight
- Provide sound and relevant events advice to colleagues and senior managers
- Examine the organisation's needs and priorities to identify the role for events and translate this into measurable communications objectives
- Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, advocates and partners to gather intelligence and build an effective environment for the delivery of successful events
- Understand the events landscape and emerging trends, and apply this knowledge to develop approaches to future events.
Ideas
- Lead the development, implementation and review of effective strategies for events and experiential marketing moments, ensuring integration across all relevant channels
- Use your knowledge of events landscapes to develop innovative ideas in support of these strategies
- Ensure the organisational infrastructure is in place to deliver high-quality and creative events.
Implementation
- Lead the development and delivery of a comprehensive University-wide programme of events
- Provide functional leadership across the University for events and ceremonies, providing leadership, coaching and practical support to help ensure all Queen Mary events are run to the best professional standards and in support of the University's aims
- Ensure the effective management of large, complex events, including the associated health & safety risk management
- Demonstrate excellent written communications skills and set standards for communications within your teams
- Support the overall quality control of editorial and brand to ensure appropriate content, messaging, tone and consistency in all communications.
Impact
- Lead the identification of evaluation criteria for events and other relevant activities
- Evaluate the effectiveness of events and ceremonies against objectives, learning lessons and comparing with industry best practice to support the improvement of future events
- Report on evaluation to colleagues and senior managers, and share learnings for the benefit of future activities.
In addition
- Lead the effective management of relevant budgets and procurement activities, ensuring value for money and the most effective use of existing resources to deliver more/the same with less with given budgets as required
- Support the delivery of Queen Mary's major external events, including Graduations and Open Days
- Act as an ambassador for the University's brand (both verbal and visual identity), championing its use across the institution as well as your own area of work.
The Successful Applicant
We are looking for an experienced events professional who has operated in a leadership capacity previously to take on this opportunity. Higher Education experience is not essential.
Experience we are looking for includes:
- Proven experience of developing and delivering compelling event and/or related strategies
- Experience of working in a leadership role
- Previous team management experience including performance management
- Significant experience and skills in procurement, budget management and HR
- Experience of managing projects and proven knowledge of current standards and best practice in relevant project management methodologies
- Significant experience of managing large and logistically complex events
- Proven knowledge of current standards and best practice in the field of event management
- Significant knowledge of Health & Safety legislation as relates to events and venue operations with the experience of carrying out thorough risk assessments and the implementation of control measures
- Experience of working with senior leadership teams and/or Boards and Committees
What's on Offer
The Head of Events and Ceremonies is based in Mile End and there would be 3 days per week needed on site.
Salary £52-£58.5K
Benefits include
- 30 days Annual leave + bank holidays
- Season ticket loan scheme
- Great pension scheme
- Reward and recognition schemes
- Staff Networks
- Cycle to work scheme
- Qmotion sport fitness centre
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Family friendly policies
- Flexible and hybrid working practices
- On-site day nursery
