AddressJob details
Department
Procurement
Responsible to
Commercial Operations Manager
Location
All Derby Sites
Salary
£30,950 to £34,027 per annum (for exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £39,131 per annum)
Closing date
Monday 18 March 2024
Contract type
Permanent
Post type
Full-time
Adaptive working type
Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.
Reference
0412-23-R
About the role
The Commercial Conferencing team sits within the Commercial and Procurement department and supports the University’s strategic objectives and contribute towards raising the University’s profile and reputation.
As Conference Manager at the University of Derby you will play a pivotal role in the planning, coordinating and executing successful conferences and events. You will work closely with clients, suppliers and internal colleagues to ensure every event succeeds expectations. This role requires a highly organised, motivated and detail focused individual.
Working pattern - 5 over 7 days – willingness to work the evening and weekend as business requires.
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Joanna Atkinson, Commercial Operations Manager on J.Atkinson@derby.ac.uk.
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team on recruitment@derby.ac.uk.
Principal accountabilities
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the conferencing venues, ensuring delivery to the highest standard.
- To act as the first point of contact for conferencing and commercial enquiries.
- Support with the management of all contracts from initial enquiry, in the lead up, liaison on the day, to post event.
- Overseeing all on-site logistics for the venues, including setup, delegate registration, catering, and technical support.
- Establish and maintain good client relations, for repeat business and to expand the client portfolio.
- To develop an in-depth knowledge of all venues, facilities and services and take responsibility and active role in the development and promotion of this portfolio.
- Lead on client meetings to ensure delivery against the client’s brief.
- Implement and review standard operating procedures and service level agreements with external contractors.
- Ensure accurate information on customer activities within the CRM system. Ensuring daily updates that aid management information to be generated in a timely manner.
- Financial control of client’s budgets, ensuring viability of each event.
- Develop and sustain high level of services, in order to establish commercially viable offers that appeal to our clients.
- Responsible for ensuring all events are compliant with health and safety guidelines and risk assessed.
- Work with clients in delivering varied events such as exhibitions, award dinners, sporting events and conferences ensuring profitability of these contracts.
- Ensure effective communication with internal teams regarding operational requirements throughout the event delivery process, including fully briefing all relevant members of the delivery team prior to an event and acting as a key point of client contact at all stages.
- Support with the delivery of marketing campaigns to engage new clients. This includes planning and developing content for emails, websites, and social media.
- Support the Commercial operations manager in identifying new services and products that could be developed where there is a market opportunity.
- Provide effective leadership and training to event staff and contractors to ensure that the highest level of service is maintained.
- Ensuring the University’s reputation and integrity is always upheld.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
- Relevant degree or equivalent qualification, and or equivalent professional experience
Experience
- Demonstrable experience of organising successful conferences and events
- Experience of establishing, building, and maintaining relationships with external clients
- Full understanding and experience in delivering excellent customer service
Skills, knowledge & abilities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships
- Creativity and problem-solving abilities
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Strong time management
- Commercial and financial acumen - managing budgets, costs, and margins
- Excellent attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiply projects and work to strict deadlines
- IT and data literate
- Proficiency with software and digital solutions
Business requirements
- Willingness and flexibility to travel and work between university sites and external venues sites in a cost effective and timely manner.
- To work 5 over 7 days – willingness to work the evening and weekend as business requires
Desirable Criteria
Experience
- Experience of managing a conference venue
- Experience of working in higher education
Benefits
As well as competitive pay scales, we offer generous holiday entitlement. We also offer opportunities for further salary progression based on performance, and the opportunity to join a contributory pension scheme.
