Event Manager

British Film Institute

Hours
41 hours per week

About the Organisation

British Film Institute (BFI) is the UK's lead organization for film and the moving image. Founded in 1933 and a registered charity, it aims to promote and preserve film culture, support the next generation of storytellers, and award National Lottery funding to foster industry growth.

About the role

We are looking for an Events Manager to join the BFI’s Events Team within the Fundraising & Enterprise department. They will be responsible for the end‑to‑end planning and delivery of high‑quality income generation and stewardship events that generate charitable and commercial income, elevate the charity’s profile, and reflect best‑practice standards in event delivery. Working across film, culture, commercial partnerships and philanthropy, the role requires exceptional attention to detail, strong project management capability, and a proactive, can‑do approach.

The Events Manager is a key member of a team responsible for the end-to-end planning and delivery of high-quality income generation and stewardship events that generate charitable and commercial income, elevate the charity’s profile, and reflect best practice standards in event delivery. Working across film, culture, commercial partnerships and philanthropy, the role requires exceptional attention to detail, strong project management capability, and a proactive, can-do approach.

Under the direction of the Head of Events and with guidance from the Deputy CEO, Director of Philanthropy, Strategy & Campaigns and Director of Business Partnerships & Enterprise, the postholder will play a key role in planning and delivering the year-round programme of stewardship and cultivation events for BFI Patrons, donors, commercial partners, industry, and supporters. A key pillar of the role will involve working closely with the Campaigns & Appeals team and BFI Talent Manager to develop and implement income-generating initiatives via our event programme.

Responsibilities

Event Strategy & Delivery:

• Plan, manage, and deliver a portfolio of income generation and engagement events and receptions, including film premieres, screenings, industry dinners and receptions, and bespoke supporter events
• Support delivering events internationally, including supporting the activities of BFI America, the BFI's partner 501(c)3 US non-profit, and involve some work travel to the United States
• Ensure all events meet best practice standards in planning, delivery, health & safety, accessibility, and risk management
• Deliver events on time and within budget, balancing multiple objectives and competing timelines
• Drive innovation and distinction in event design and delivery to stand out in a competitive fundraising, commercial and cultural environment

Fundraising & Income Generation:

• Work closely with philanthropy & commercial partnerships’ colleagues, the BFI Talent Manager, to maximise charitable income through events
• Deliver events with clear income targets and measurable outcomes
• Identify opportunities to steward and cultivate donors, sponsors, and key supporters through the year-round event programme
• Support sponsorship and partnership deliverables, ensuring commitments are met to a high standard
• Ensure premium quality from all suppliers with the best value for money

Project Management:

• Lead end-to-end project management for events, including clear timelines, budgets, suppliers, logistics, guest list management and post-event evaluation
• Develop and manage project plans, ensuring clear accountability and progress tracking
• Maintain exceptional attention to detail across all aspects of event delivery
• Outline and coordinate a centralised process of internal and external senior host briefings, post-event feedback and follow-up
• Ensure regular communication with all key stakeholders

Stakeholder & Team Management:

• Educate, manage and motivate colleagues on the key event processes
• Act as a confident point of contact for all colleagues, including senior
• stakeholders, filmmakers, industry partners and venues
• Build strong working relationships across departments, ensuring collaborative and coordinated delivery

Success Measures:

• Work with colleagues across the BFI to be responsible for the implementation of a world-class event programme, ensuring that effective, proactive, comprehensive and progressive programmes and services are provided in support of events and bespoke activities for partners, donors and prospects.
• Manage and develop the Event Coordinator
• Support the development of the event strategy, ensuring our events cater to the audiences we engage with and are world-class in quality
• To proactively support income generation for the department
• We expect everyone to:
  • Be committed to furthering the aims of the organisation and to learning and developing their own skills to grow both themselves and the organisation's capabilities.
  • Promote and support anti-racist practices, actively uphold diversity, equity, and inclusion in all BFI activities and contribute to a more equitable workplace culture.
  • Show commitment to our vision, mission, and culture drivers: Share Generously, Go Confidently, Bring it Together, Think Freely, and demonstrate this through their work and interactions internally and externally, and on our behalf.
  • Carry out their responsibilities with due regard to BFI’s policies and procedures

Line Management:

• Be committed to following BFI’s Line Manager Principles, which are built upon our Culture Drivers.
• Provide clear people management by setting objectives, offering ongoing guidance, supporting colleagues, and actively fostering a collaborative working environment.
• Apply BFI’s inclusion tool kit to the teams' ways of working and create healthy and safe environments where wellbeing is at the heart of our work.
• Empower your team to learn and grow by identifying learning needs, enabling access to stretch opportunities and providing regular feedback to drive performance accountability and career growth.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Knowledge & Experience Requirements:

• Demonstrable experience in leading high-quality event production, including delivering income-generating initiatives in a competitive environment  
• Demonstrable business acumen, with a clear sense of how to drive the best possible return on investment
• Experience of strong leadership and line management of teams, including being a positive influence and support across teams in recruitment, supervision, and people development
• Knowledge and understanding of film festivals, the film industry, arts, or cultural sectors

Skills & Approach:

• Proven ability to build credibility and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, partners and colleagues (employing strong diplomacy skills), including providing briefings
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure; proven skills in negotiation and managing suppliers
• Ability to manage resources and ensure projects are delivered on time and in budget
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
• Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate with a range of audiences – internal departments, external senior stakeholders, clients, partners, suppliers
• Able to generate and execute fresh ideas with a willingness to embrace change
• Good team player with an understanding of the complexities and challenges of large-scale organisations and dynamics between teams; collaborative and people-focused
• A positive, calm, proactive, can-do attitude with solutions-focused thinking; highly organised, resilient, and motivated 

Compensation & Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service) + bank holidays + the option to buy up to 5 extra days of annual leave  
• Additional paid time off between Christmas and New Year 
• BFI pension scheme with 5% employer contribution 
• BFI Childcare Scheme, where we contribute to childcare costs 
• Enhanced pay for Maternity & Paternity leave 
• Complimentary tickets to BFI Southbank & IMAX screenings and events 
• Free BFI Player subscription + discount on BFI merchandise, and film tickets 

Conditions of employment

• You must have the Right to Work in the UK. Please note that the BFI is not a licensed sponsor for VISA. 

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• If you have any questions or if you require reasonable adjustments at the application or interview stage, contact the People Team at: [email protected]
• Depending on application numbers, you may be asked to complete a short task or attend a brief screening call to support the shortlisting process. In this instance, interview dates may change.
• The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Monday, 15th June 2026

Interviews

• First interviews will be held on Monday, 29th June 2026
• Second interviews will be held on Monday, 6th July 2026

Policies

We support diversity and inclusion, and as an organisation recognise that we need to address under-representation within our teams. As such, we strongly welcome and encourage applicants from our underrepresented groups who identify as D/deaf and disabled and/or are Black and Global Majority. We guarantee a place at the first stage selection process for our underrepresented groups who meet our minimum requirements.

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