Conference & Events Business Manager

To lead, develop and manage the University's events and conferencing function, ensuring thedelivery of a commercially successful, operationally robust and consistently high-qualityevents portfolio .The postholder will provide both strategic and operational leadership across the full eventslifecycle, ensuring clear ownership, effective processes and strong alignment between sales,planning and delivery. The role is accountable for delivering income growth, improving operationalefficiency and enhancing customer experience.The Events & Conferencing Business Manager will:

• Lead the development and delivery of the University's events and conferencing
commercial strategy , including revenue growth, market development and yield optimisation
• Establish and embed clear structures, processes and standards to improve
consistency, reduce duplication and increase organisational effectiveness
• Act as the single point of accountability for the events function , balancing
commercial ambition with operational capability 1May 2026
• Ensure that events are delivered in a way that supports both financial sustainability and
the University's reputation and brandThe role requires the ability to manage competing priorities, influence across departments,and make decisions that directly impact commercial performance and operationaldelivery ., 1. Provide leadership and line management to the events team, including sales, planning and administrative functions, ensuring clear roles, accountability and performance standards. 2. Develop and deliver the events and conferencing commercial plan, including revenue growth, utilisation and contribution targets. 3. Drive business development activities, identifying new markets, partnerships and opportunities to grow external conferencing, corporate events and seasonal business. Woking with marketing to publicise and promote venue, special promotions, events and courses through various channels including website, events, print and social media platforms. 4. Oversee enquiry management and conversion performance, ensuring effective qualification, prioritisation and follow-up of opportunities. 5. Maintain overall accountability for the end-to-end events lifecycle (enquiry, sale, planning, delivery and review). Working with all stakeholders to ensure event meets brief and client expectations, including Catering & Hospitality, Estates, Health & Safety, Finance and Marketing. 6. Establish and embed clear ownership, roles and handovers across each stage of the events and customer journey. Including chairing operational meetings and daily stand ups. 7. Design, implement and continuously improve processes and systems to increase efficiency, consistency and scalability. 8. Reduce duplication, rework and reactive working by introducing standardised approaches, templates and planning practices. 9. Oversee the planning and coordination of all events, ensuring they are deliverable, wellstructured and aligned to customer expectations. 10. Act as Event Duty Manager for high-profile or complex events, ensuring delivery aligns with agreed standards and requirements. 11. Ensure effective communication of event requirements and plans across all operational teams and stakeholders. 12. Build and manage strong working relationships with Catering, Hospitality, Estates, Accommodation, FOH and other key departments, ensuring alignment between commercial activity and operational delivery. 13. Ensure a consistent, high-quality customer experience across all events, maintaining oversight of key accounts and resolving issues where required. 14. Manage budgets, monitor performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve financial performance, efficiency and margin. 15. Ensure that licenses, insurances, and health & safety obligations (such as car parking, security and first aid) are documented in risk assessments (where appropriate) and followed for all events.,
• The University is committed to equality of opportunity. All staff are required to comply with
current legislation, University policies and good practice guidance.
• All staff are required to act in a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and
vulnerable adults at all times. The post holder must be familiar with and adhere to appropriate safeguarding policies and guidance and participate in related mandatory/statutory training. Managers have a responsibility to ensure their team members understand their individual responsibilities with regard to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
• All staff are required to participate in the University appraisal process and should ensure they
are familiar with the process and plan time to prepare for their appraisal. Following the appraisal, staff are expected to undertake in any necessary learning and development and work towards the objectives that have been set.
• The University expects staff to attend any training designated as mandatory and to undertake
learning and development activities to support their role. Managers must facilitate learning and development within their teams.
• It is a condition of employment that staff will not disclose any information obtained in the
course of their duties other than to those entitled to receive it. The post holder must ensure that the confidentiality of personal data remains secure and that restricted information or highly restricted information to which they have access remains confidential during and after their employment at Royal Agricultural University. All staff must undergo appropriate data protection training as required.
• All absence from work must be reported in accordance with the University's absence
procedures and recorded on iTrent.
• The University acknowledges its responsibility to provide a safe, smoke free environment, to
its employees, service users and visitors. It is the policy of the University not to allow smoking on University premises other than in specifically designated areas.University ValuesAs a University we have chosen five values to underpin our learning community. These are the valueswhich we will all work by and for which we want the RAU to be known. We are:
• Collaborative - we believe in the power of working together. We are stronger as a community
of practice - inspiring each other, identifying shared goals, and providing reciprocal support leads to greater success.
• Open-Minded - we are receptive to new ideas and we value the diversity of experiences and
skills. We are committed to listening to everyone across the RAU community. 3May 2026
• Resourceful - we adopt creative approaches to achieve our goals while setting higher
standards, promoting professionalism and sustainability.
• Responsible - individually and collectively we take accountability for our actions working with
integrity to achieve the highest ethical standards.
• Inclusive - we acknowledge the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals and are
committed to maintaining an environment that seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination and respects diverse traditions, heritages, and experiences.

Requirements Essential Measured By The post holder must be able to demonstrate: or A) Application Form Desirable B) Interview C) Presentation,
• Education to Degree level standard or equivalent E A
professional experience in events, hospitality, business or related field
• A professional events management or related D A
qualification Knowledge, Experience and Skills:
• Significant experience of organising events, E A,B,C
conferences or commercial venue operations
• Knowledge and recent experience of the UK Higher D A,B
Education (HE) sector and an understanding of HE developments
• Demonstrable track record of achieving sales targets E A,B
and income growth
• Knowledge and skilled in marketing techniques for D A,B,C
event management, particularly social media and websites
• Demonstrable track record of leading and managing E A,B
teams within a multi-functional environment
• Strong operational knowledge of event planning and E A,B,C
delivery
• Excellent communication skills including networking, E A,B,C
stakeholder engagement and presentation
• Appropriate IT skills including Word, Excel, E A,B,C
• Experience of event management software packages D A,B
and CRM systems
• Flexibility, adaptability with the ability to work on own E B,C
initiative and as part of a team and to deadlines
• Experience of developing and implementing E B,C
processes, systems or service improvements,
• Ability to lead and support any related activities when E B,C
required
• Experience of managing budgets and contributing to E B,C
financial performance
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to E B
manage competing priorities
• Strong customer focus and commitment to service E A,B,C
excellence