Head of Events

This is a senior leadership role responsible for the overall performance, direction and leadership of UKinbound's Events function. The Head of Events will lead a high-profile portfolio of events, including UKinbound's flagship industry events, ensuring they are commercially successful, strategically aligned and delivered to an exceptional standard. The role forms part of UKinbound's Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for shaping and delivering the organisation's Events Strategy, ensuring the events programme supports UKinbound's wider objectives across membership, advocacy, commercial growth and member engagement. This role is accountable for the strategic leadership, commercial performance and cross-organisational integration of UKinbound's events programme. It is distinct from the operational delivery of events, which sits within the Senior Manager, Event Operations role., Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, structure and develop the Events team, creating a high-performing, accountable and well-organised function
• Line manage the Senior Manager, Event Operations, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities and performance expectations
• Build capability across the team, addressing gaps and managing performance where required
• Establish clear planning processes, workflows and decision-making frameworks across the function
• Lead the Events function at organisational level, ensuring alignment with UKinbound's business plan and strategic priorities
• Act as the senior escalation point for the Events team, removing operational pressure from the CEO
Strategic Ownership
• Own and deliver UKinbound's Events Strategy, aligned to organisational objectives and the wider business plan
• Lead long-term planning for the events programme, including growth opportunities, new formats, commercial development and future capability requirements
• Develop and oversee the annual events calendar, ensuring a strong mix of flagship, commercial and member-focused activity
• Ensure events are proactively planned and clearly communicated across the organisation
• Identify opportunities for innovation, growth and improved member value
Commercial & Financial Responsibility
• Own the financial performance of the events programme, including budgets, revenue targets and profitability
• Drive income through delegate sales, sponsorship, partnerships and new event opportunities
• Ensure strong financial planning, forecasting and cost control across the events programme
• Maximise ROI from systems, platforms and supplier relationships
Cross-Organisational Leadership
• Act as the senior organisational lead for events, ensuring the function is represented in strategic planning, budgeting and organisational decision-making
• Work closely with the Heads of Membership, Advocacy and Marketing to ensure joined-up planning and delivery
• Take accountability for cross-team alignment, particularly for flagship events such as Convention
• Ensure events support wider organisational goals including member engagement, retention, growth and advocacy objectives
• Represent the Events function at Board and senior stakeholder level
• Contribute to strategic planning and decision-making as part of the Senior Leadership Team
Oversight & Delivery Excellence
• Maintain oversight of all events, ensuring consistent quality, professionalism and delivery standards
• Ensure the team operates with strong forward planning and minimal reactive delivery
• Monitor delivery performance through regular reporting from the Senior Manager, Event Operations
• Use data, feedback and insight to continuously improve performance
• Ensure sustainability and best practice are embedded across the programme
What success looks like:
• A well-led, structured and accountable Events team
• Events delivered without escalation to CEO level
• Strong commercial performance and budget delivery
• A clear, forward-planned events calendar with organisational visibility
• Seamless collaboration across teams, especially on flagship events
• Positive member, partner and stakeholder feedback
  
  Events or Management qualification
• Significant experience in a strategic events leadership role
• Experience operating at Head of Department / Senior Leadership Team level
• Experience leading organisational strategy, not solely operational delivery
• Proven ability to lead and manage teams, including managing managers
• Strong commercial acumen with responsibility for budgets, revenue generation and financial performance
• Track record of delivering large-scale, high-profile events through leading teams rather than solely through personal delivery
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Confident decision-maker with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
Desirable:
• Experience within a membership organisation, trade association or visitor economy environment
• Experience delivering flagship or industry-leading events
• Understanding of sustainable events practices