Event Manager

Job Title: Event Manager

Brand: Wonderly

Reporting To: Senior Event Manager

Location: Twickenham, Greater London

Hybrid: 3 days in office, 2 days working remotely

Employment: Full time, fixed-term

Salary Range: £34,000-£36,500

Working within Wonderly

We are Wonderly, an award-winning progressive content marketing agency and part of Haymarket Media Group. We work with ambitious brands to deliver brilliant campaigns and communications across print, digital and live events. Our clients include Volkswagen Group UK, Kew Gardens, The FA, The Society of Radiographers and the CIPD, to name a few.

As part of Haymarket Media Group, we have all the benefits of an independent agency but with none of the downsides. Our culture is inclusive and collaborative and reflects the diverse group of brilliant people who work here. We are committed to creating a work-life balance that brings out the best in everyone, while having a bit of fun along the way. As a small agency, everyone also has the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

The Role

Reporting to the Senior Event Manager, the Event Manager will be responsible for the end-to-end planning and delivery of a number of prestigious association client events, ensuring each event meets agreed client objectives, commercial targets and quality standards.

The role will manage project timelines, budgets, venues, suppliers, registration and abstract processes, sponsor and exhibitor requirements, risk management and on-site delivery.

The Event Manager will act as a primary operational contact for clients and key suppliers, while also contributing to the delivery of larger conferences and exhibitions across the wider portfolio.

Attendance at events is a key element of this role and you will be required to travel regularly and to work out of hours as required.

Sustainability is central to our events; team members must adhere to procurement and sustainability procedures, upholding our five core principles: Reduction, Inclusion, Transparency, Ethics, and Value.

Key Responsibilities

The role holder will pride themselves on running a professional series of events to an exceptionally high standard that exceeds the expectations of our association clients.

• Manage the end-to-end execution of association events, including onsite briefings and the management of the venue, all suppliers and staff.

• Conduct research to source suppliers and locations that align with both internal procurement standards and ABPI compliance regulations.

• Develop and oversee project timelines to guarantee that every event remains on track and achieves all critical milestones.

• Develop, monitor and maintain event budgets and forecasts, ensuring expenditure is controlled and final profit and loss reconciliation is completed accurately and promptly.

• Provide regular updates, presentations, and key performance metrics to key stakeholders.

• Oversee the setup and maintenance of registration, abstract management, and virtual event platforms.

• Collaborate with technical teams and catering partners to ensure all operational requirements and logistics mirror the approved budgetary framework.

• Serve as the primary liaison for exhibitors and sponsors, partnering with sales colleagues to fulfil all contractual deliverables and brand exposure.

• Maintain professional communication by overseeing dedicated event mailboxes and ensuring all participant enquiries receive timely responses.

• Draft rigorous risk assessments and verify that necessary insurance and health and safety documentation is secured for all participating parties.

• Lead post-event evaluation, including analysis of attendee data, feedback and final performance, and identify learning and improvements for future events.

Key Relationships

The Event Manager works closely with the Senior Event Manager, providing regular updates on delivery, budgets, risks and client requirements.

The role will build trusted relationships with allocated clients and act as a primary operational contact for venues, suppliers, sponsors and exhibitors. Internally, the Event Manager will collaborate with Marketing, Editorial, Sponsorship and Exhibition Sales, Finance and other operational colleagues to support coordinated event delivery.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Knowledge

Essential:

• Demonstrable knowledge of the key stages involved in planning and delivering a B2B conference, exhibition or comparable event from initial planning through to post-event evaluation.

• Knowledge of event budgeting, including forecasting, monitoring income and expenditure, and completing financial reconciliation.

• Understanding of venue and supplier procurement, including reviewing proposals and negotiating costs or contractual terms.

• Working knowledge of event health and safety, risk assessment and data-protection requirements.

• Knowledge of registration or other event-management platforms used to coordinate delegate, speaker or programme information.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of ABPI requirements or other compliance considerations relevant to medical or regulated events.

• Knowledge of abstract-management, virtual-event or live-streaming platforms.
  
  

Skills

Essential:

• Ability to develop and maintain detailed event plans, schedules and budgets.

• Ability to monitor expenditure, identify financial risks and make appropriate recommendations to support delivery within budget.

• Ability to negotiate effectively with venues and suppliers on costs, services and contractual terms.

• Ability to manage several concurrent workstreams and deliver against fixed deadlines.

• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with clients, senior stakeholders, suppliers and internal teams.

• Ability to identify operational risks, evaluate possible solutions and escalate issues appropriately.

• Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail when managing event information, costs and documentation.
  
  

Experience

Essential:

• Demonstrable experience of independently managing at least one B2B conference, exhibition or comparable event through the complete delivery cycle, from planning to post-event evaluation.

• Experience of managing an event budget, including monitoring income and expenditure, forecasting and completing financial reconciliation.

• Experience of sourcing and evaluating venues or suppliers and negotiating costs, services or contractual terms.

• Experience acting as a primary operational contact for a client or senior stakeholder during the planning and delivery of an event.

• Experience coordinating multiple suppliers and internal workstreams against an agreed project plan and fixed event date.

• Experience preparing or maintaining event risk assessments and supporting safe onsite delivery.

Desirable:

• Experience delivering events within the medical, pharmaceutical or another regulated sector.

• Experience using registration, abstract-management, virtual-event or live-streaming platforms.

• Experience contributing to post-event reporting and recommending improvements based on delegate feedback, financial results or delivery learning.

About You

You may be a fit for this role if you are:

• A proactive, self-motivated event professional who uses initiative in challenging circumstances.

• A confident communicator who builds trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders.

• Adept at planning, executing, and balancing multiple projects and tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment whilst maintaining attention to detail.

• Commercially astute and deeply customer-focused, with a steadfast commitment to delivering high-value outcomes.

• Collaborative in your approach, with the ability to work effectively across teams to achieve shared goals.

• Solution-focused, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and overcome challenges.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is typically measured by:

• Delivery of exceptional conferences and exhibitions to deadlines and in budget.

• Achievement of the client’s strategic and commercial objectives.

• Quality and accuracy of work.

• Delivery of excellent customer service and receipt of positive feedback.

• Identifying opportunities to enhance client and attendee experiences and contribute to the continued growth of client accounts.
  

Additional Information

Why work with us at Haymarket?

Haymarket Media Group values its people and strives to shape a better future with remarkable content. From paid content and subscription services; to integrated advertising and content marketing packages. We deliver market-leading branded experiences that inspire great decisions. From data and digital information solutions to live events, awards and professional education services.

Our Company benefits:

• 25 days holiday per year excluding bank holidays (increasing 1 day per year of service up to 30 days)

• Work from anywhere in the world for up to 3 weeks of the year with our ‘Work from Anywhere’ days

• Flexible working hours (core hours from 10-3) allowing you the flexibility to adapt your work schedule to your personal commitments

• Generous contributory pension scheme

• Health Cash Plans: With our health cash plans, you can access a range of healthcare benefits, including coverage for medical expenses, dental care, optical services, and more

Disability Confident Employer

We are a Disability Confident employer and offer guaranteed interviews to all disabled applicants who meet the above minimum criteria.

To be considered as part of this initiative, please ensure you indicate if you have a disability when applying for the post. If you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at recruitment@haymarket.com.

More about Haymarket

Working here means being part of a commitment to shaping a better future. As a proudly Certified B Corp™, we are part of a global movement of businesses acting as a force for good. Haymarket Impact is focused on making a positive difference globally, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and intertwined with an unwavering commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. This commitment to balancing profit with purpose is deeply embedded in our culture, reflected in our values of Integrity, Respect, Creativity, Innovation, and Expertise.

We invest heavily in our people. From professional development and internal training to mentorship and coaching. Our certified Disability Confident status has fostered an environment where all employees feel supported, valued, and can ask for workplace adjustments without fear of judgment.

Our valuable partnerships for good globally mean colleagues are always up for taking on a new charitable challenge, utilise their volunteering day and go out of their way to support their local communities.

We know how important a healthy work-life balance is too. Our flexible hours and hybrid working model means employees are expected to be in the office at least three days a week and can work remotely for the remaining two. This means we thrive together when we collaborate in person, fostering stronger connections and creativity, but still allowing for flexibility outside of those times.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to ensuring all candidates have the same opportunity to succeed, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age, or disability. In line with our dedication to fairness and transparency, we are also proud to be a We Show the Salary employer, pledging to always include pay details on our job adverts.

Join us and be part of award-winning teams and a culture that is truly unique - a place to grow, feel inspired, build a brilliant career and make a difference.