Senior Conferences and Events Manager

Alzheimers Society

Hours
35 hours per week

Length of contract
12 month

About the Organisation

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity, and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by providing help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be. Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. Our values ensure that our focus remains clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead, reminding us of what we all stand for.

About the role

As Senior Conference and Events Manager, you will be responsible for the strategic delivery of an annual portfolio of conferences and events, which range from Society-owned conferences and events to external public and professional events and conferences. You will work to maximise engagement and influence opportunities for our research and influencing stakeholders, including a national conference, research events and roundtables.

In this role, you will oversee and line manage the Conferences and Events team, in addition to overseeing business and financial planning and monitoring. You will be responsible for budget management of the events programmes, including setting, managing, reporting on and reforecasting the team budget.

By working collaboratively with colleagues and key stakeholders, you will ensure the voice of those affected by dementia is considered appropriately in the events we deliver and attend. You will plan the involvement of lived experience across all events, including co-producing all or parts of the conferences and events we deliver. In addition to this, you will build in meaningful equality, diversity and inclusion into our conferences and events programme, ensuring that our events are inclusive to all attendees, and representative of a diverse range of voices.

Responsibilities

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a conference and events programme strategy and business plan that supports the delivery of Research and influencing strategic objectives.
• Supports the creation of strategies for improving event activity and maximising opportunities.
• Deliver a portfolio of events for our research and influencing stakeholders, including a national conference, research events and roundtables.
• Lead the Conferences and Events team's business and financial planning and monitoring, working collaboratively with the Head of Influencing Campaigns and Mobilisation and senior members of Research and Influencing.
• Responsible for budget management of the events programmes; responsible for setting, managing, reporting on and reforecasting the team budget.
• Ensure a high-performing and effective annual programme of events, which is aligned to the Research and influencing priorities that achieve impact.
• Leads and line manages the Conferences and Events team and temporary staff, and volunteers as necessary.
• Manage and assign responsibility for jobs and projects within the team and ensure they remain on track and within budget. Oversee key decisions for event delivery, including venues, speakers, format, and approving work to agreed levels.
• Manage event budgets and income effectively, planning strategies for income generation for our annual conference from sponsorship and exhibition sales.
• Work collaboratively and enable colleagues to engage with their audiences through events, such as local and national systems leaders in health and social care.
• Ensure the voice of those affected by dementia is considered appropriately in the events we deliver and attend. Plan the involvement of lived experience across all events, including co-producing all or parts of the conferences and events we deliver.
• Build in meaningful equality, diversity and inclusion into our conferences and events programme. Ensure that our events are inclusive to all attendees and representative of a diverse range of voices.
• Effectively evaluate all activity, measuring the impact of projects against set objectives and outcomes in line with our strategy, and ensuring continuous improvement.
• Represents the Society and builds relationships with key external figures and partners. Negotiates with suppliers.
• Work with brand, marketing and communications colleagues to create robust communications plans for events that ensure the right promotion prior to, during and after events.
• Develop the Society’s presence at third-party national and international events. Make strategic decisions about which conferences and events the Society should attend or engage with.
• Research the latest innovations for conferences and events and ensure that our events are up to date with the latest developments in technology and sustainability.
• Play a key role in ensuring the integration of the Society’s marketing, brand, corporate campaigns and communications at all events and conferences. Work to develop and deliver effectively in partnership conferences and events that align with our strategic priorities.
• Work with the Creative Team to design and deliver on Conferences and events' branded materials.
• Manage external operational management companies and other third-party partners and agencies to ensure that we are at the cutting edge of thinking in terms of event delivery.
• Act as an expert resource on conferences and events management for other Society employees and volunteers.
• Ensure the Health and Safety policy, Employment and Public Liability insurance and Risk Assessments are up-to-date and compliant for all our events.
• Work out of normal working hours as required by the events programme.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Skills & Knowledge:

• Experience of working at a senior level in an events role on the client or agency side, preferably with experience of organising events in the third sector.
• Proven experience of successful management in conference production, organising successful large-scale events and conferences in person, hybrid and virtually. The interpersonal skills and experience required to manage, motivate and inspire staff and volunteers to create a high-performing team.
• Experience of leading a team to achieve success, including developing and working on briefs, workload planning and managing a team to deliver high standards within agreed timeframes.
• Committed to continued professional development and developing high-performing teams.
• Experience managing a complex workload and meeting deadlines successfully.
• Ability to influence and negotiate with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of evaluating the impact of events so that learning captured is used to inform and improve the events programme.
• Experience in recruiting and managing third-party event partners and agencies.
• Good presentation, promotional and communication skills.
• Financial management skills with the ability to build and manage budgets effectively.
• Motivated self-starter and problem-solver with the ability to seek out opportunities of benefit to the Society and those affected by dementia.
• Able to travel throughout the region and undertake evening work and overnight stays as required.
• Commitment to the mission, values and objectives of the Alzheimer’s Society. 

Competencies & Personal Attributes:

• Be a team player, supporting colleagues when there are deadlines, and know when to ask for help themselves.
• Be a self-starter with a determination to make a difference.
• Effective organisational and timekeeping skills.
• Good attention to detail.
• Non-judgmental communication.
• Commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities.
• Understanding of the inclusion agenda and its relevance within a diverse society.

Compensation & Benefits

• Paid compassionate and bereavement leave
• Paid time off work to support
• Annual leave of 27 days, increasing to 30, plus bank holidays
• Career breaks of up to 3 months
• Flexible working
• Wellbeing leave
• Health Cash Plan
• Paid dependants leave
• Values Hero and Society Legend Awards
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• Life Assurance Scheme - two times your annual salary
• Home Allowance of £312 per year
• Discounted gym membership with Society Plus
• Mental health app and unlimited therapy
• Women in Leadership Development Programme
• Leadership development programme
• Financial support towards relevant professional qualifications, enhanced family leave - 16 weeks paid for all parents
• Paid time off work for fertility treatments for both partners, paid carers' leave

Working locations

• Home-based
• Monthly travel required for conferences, events and in-person stakeholder or team meetings.

How to apply

• Apply to our website
• Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

Interviews

• Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled to take place via MS Teams on Wednesday, 10th June.

Policies

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment, or health condition, or individuals who identify as Black, Asian, or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Strategy here, along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups, helps us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.

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