About the role
This is an interim role until 31 December 2024 to primarily assist the Deputy Head of Events with the organisation of the LGA’s flagship Annual Conference and Exhibition that will take place 2-4 July with set up from 1 July. The post holder will take lead organiser responsibility for specific tasks related to this event and must be available to travel and stay overnight at conference between 30 June and 4 July 2024.
The role is high pressured but rewarding, the post-holder needs to be able to self-motivate and deal with multiple tasks and simultaneously deal with questions from various sources (staff, delegates, speakers, sponsors, venue, technical, exhibition etc), retain information or provide reference points for how the information can be obtained and the candidate needs to be able to think on their feet.
The successful candidate will have a strong track record of organising and delivering conferences with multiple sessions across several days, with social activities, exhibition and sponsorship. They will be required to work confidently with colleagues, contractors and key stakeholders across the sector to ensure the successful delivery of the event.
Working for the Events Team within the Communications Directorate, your other duties will include:
- End to end event management to deliver a programme of successful events (Virtual webinars/meetings via zoom, hybrid and in-person) working alongside partners and with speakers, exhibitors and sponsors.
- Contributing to the development of an annual programme of events, initiating programme ideas, advising on content, speakers and programme structure.
- Proposing and implementing a range of event activity, identifying commercial topics, high profile speakers, and target audiences undertaking all aspects of event management, marketing, organisation and delivery.
- Preparation and reconciliation of budgets and financial control.
- Securing commercial / income generating opportunities.
- Developing and implementing marketing strategies including social media.
About you
The successful candidate will have excellent personal, influencing and customer liaison skills required to build good working relationships in a complex organisation. You will have a good understanding of the major issues facing local government and the way it works so you can hit the ground running. The post-holder will be a key part of the team that delivers c140 events for the LGA’s policy development, improvement and lobbying work.
It’s essential that you are pro-active and self-motivated. We are looking for a confident team player with sound experience in events management and sponsorship with excellent writing and oral skills.
The successful candidate can expect to take on a wide-ranging portfolio of work that supports and promotes local authorities via LGA events, exhibitions and sponsorship.
You will need to have the knowledge, experience, and ambition to engage confidently with members and senior representatives from Government departments plus public, private and voluntary sectors.
You will have the political awareness and understand the importance of ensuring the balance and diversity of events.
You will have strong organisational and leadership skills with a track record of organising a wide spectrum of events including zoom webinars/meetings, hybrid and one day in-person events to delivering conferences with multiple sessions across several days.
You are an excellent communicator, problem solver and can work independently to research topics for inclusion on programmes. Originating marketing content, you have a strong understanding of using a range of direct marketing and communication tools plus social media in a politically sensitive environment.
You will require strong relationship management skills and experience to confidently work with sponsors, exhibition contractors and exhibitors, speakers and other internal and external stakeholders.
You will be passionate about creating great events and contribute fresh ideas and industry best practice to make LGA events the best they can be.
You will be focused on success for the whole team and for the LGA, bringing a positive can-do attitude to a role which can often be highly pressured.
You must have the right to work in the UK, the LGA are unfortunately unable to offer sponsorship visas. Evidence for the right to work in the UK will be requested at the interview stage.
To apply
If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria of the role before the closing date.
If you would like to be considered for the role, please complete the online form and include a supporting statement detailing how you meet the criteria of the role before the closing date.
We are specifically assessing candidates against the following accountabilities:
- Experience and track record of planning, organising and delivering conferences with multiple sessions across several days, with social activities, exhibition and sponsorship.
- Provide detailed experience of your event management to deliver a programme of successful events (Virtual webinars/meetings via zoom, hybrid and one day in-person) working alongside partners and with speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors.
- Undertaking all aspects of event management, marketing, organisation and delivery.
- Experience of developing an annual programme of events, initiating programme ideas, advising on content, speakers and programme structure including identifying commercial topics, high profile speakers, and target audiences
- Preparation and reconciliation of budgets (please indicate value) and financial control.
- Securing commercial / income generating opportunities.
- Developing and implementing marketing strategies including social media.
Closing Date: 5pm, 4 March 2024
Interview Date: Wednesday 13 March 2024, interviews will be held in-person unless there are exceptional circumstances.
At the LGA we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our recruitment decisions are based on fair, open competition, with appointment on merit. The LGA are proud to be awarded a “Disability Confident Leader”. If you are require an reasonable adjustment, which is a change to the format or conditions of the recruitment process to accommodate any disability-related needs you may have. Please contact us via HRandPayroll@local.gov.uk