About the role
The Deputy Head of Events takes lead organiser responsibility for the LGA’s flagship Annual Conference and Exhibition that takes place in the Summer each year and manages all aspects of the event through to delivery and post conference wash up and reporting to the LGA Board throughout the event’s cycle.
The role is high pressured but rewarding, the post-holder needs to be able to manage and motivate others, 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 successful and commercially profitable 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 and provide innovative solutions for the continued improvement of the event.
This role deputises for the head within the small LGA corporate events team and has line management responsibility for two Events Support Officers.
About you
To deliver the annual conference you will need to be an experienced events professional with experience of programme development, sponsorship, technical and exhibition contractor services and the ability to maximise income and reconcile budgets.
You will need to have the knowledge, experience, and ambition to engage confidently with members and senior representatives from Government departments and councils, along with a range of public, private and voluntary sectors.
You will have political awareness and understand the importance of ensuring the balance and diversity of themes and speakers across our events.
You will have strong organisational and leadership skills with a track record of organising and 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 keep up to date with innovations and good practice in events and will bring challenge and ideas for how the LGA can ensure its flagship annual conference – and other events – remain leading edge and highly valued by all involved.
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 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 for the role before the closing date.
We are specifically assessing candidates against the following criteria:
- Lead the delivery of the LGA Annual Conference (circ 1600 delegates) , managing all aspects of planning and organisation, income, expenditure, sponsorship, technical and exhibition contractors procurement and management liaison and promotion as required including negotiating contracts with suppliers.
- Ensure programme content is balanced (politically, gender, diversity, type of authority, geographically) and details are recorded for reporting purposes.
- Keep up to date with innovations and good practice in the events sector and bring challenge and ideas for how the LGA can ensure its flagship annual conference – and other events and processes – continually improve and evolve.
- Maximise income generation of events by identifying sponsorship opportunities, generating sponsorship marketing material, sourcing, securing and contracting suitable sponsors and managing the relationship throughout the process.
- Preparation of regular annual conference updates/reports for Senior Management Team, lead members (IGL/Board) and staff via reports and attendance at meetings etc.
- Liaise with elected members and officers and member authorities and with offices of government ministers/government departments to secure support/speakers and attendance at events where required.
Closing Date: 5pm, 2 April 2024
Interview Date: Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 April 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