Senior Membership and Events Officer

Beacon for Rare Diseases is seeking an Events and Projects Officer to join our established Projects Team and support us through the next stage in our charity's development. 

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The Projects Team is central to our work at Beacon, responsible for delivering the charity’s core patient group training and community building activities. Comprising of the Chief Operating Officer, the Projects Manager, the Digital Resources Manager, and the new Events and Projects Officer, they oversee everything from patient group training events, support programmes, e-learning resources, conferences, networking events and more.

The Events and Projects Officer role is a varied one, with no two days the same. In this position, you can expect to play a hand in project/event support, co-ordination, and delivery across the organisation; with frequent chances to collaborate with colleagues, external-partners, and beneficiaries in the rare disease community.

This role is a great opportunity for anyone looking to explore different aspects of charity work and develop their skillset in multiple areas. As an entry-level role, you will benefit from working closely with our entire Projects Team and their combined 15 years of experience in project management at Beacon.

The successful candidate will be a proactive and strong team player, with good communication skills and confident working independently. You will have good organisational and problem-solving abilities and be experienced with keeping on top of multiple tasks.

RESPONSIBILITIES

You will begin your career with us by observing and learning from our experienced Projects Team, whilst supporting in project delivery. As you develop your skills and confidence, you’ll take on more responsibilities, have the chance to define your role in projects and eventually lead in specific areas.   

Initial duties: 

•        Assisting the planning and delivery of online and in-person training events, programmes, conferences, and networking events.
•        Coordinating logistics for events and projects including attendee registration, website creation, virtual event set up, venue and catering booking, and speaker management.
•        Preparing pre- and post-event materials such as promotional materials, agendas, presentations, videos and educational resources.
•        Liaising with collaborators, beneficiaries, sponsors, and external partners to ensure smooth project and event delivery.
•        Conducting research to support project planning and decision making.
•        Supporting in the collection, recording and reporting of feedback and impact data.
•        Serving as the point of contact for queries related to events and projects, providing timely and accurate information.
•        Assisting with on-site event coordination and management, including setup, registration, attendee assistance, and troubleshooting.
•        Contributing to the update and maintenance of Beacon’s patient group database to monitor short- and long-term engagement with our work.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION 

This is an entry-level role, suitable for someone looking to develop skills and gain experience in project and event management in a non-profit environment.

Essential

•        Strong organisational and time-management abilities, adept at prioritisation and multitasking.
•        A proactive attitude with good initiative and a focus on impactful project outcomes.
•        Attention to detail with a drive to achieve and maintain high standards.  
•        Dedicated to providing exceptional experiences for those in our events and projects.
•        Proficient in written and verbal communication, capable of engaging diverse audiences.
•        Skilled in building and nurturing strong working relationships with various stakeholders.
•        Drive, determination, and self-motivation, with a positive attitude towards work.
•        Excellent interpersonal skills, comfortable in team settings and independent working.
•        Computer literate and confident using all MS Office software.
•        Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of Beacon.
•        Ability to deliver occasional out-of-hours work to accommodate Beacon events or travel in the UK and internationally.

Desirable

•        Experience presenting in front of an audience.
•        Experience in organising events or projects.
•        Experience using Photoshop and/or Premiere Elements.
•        Experience working or volunteering with charities.
•        An understanding of rare diseases and/or the UK healthcare system.
•        Scientific or medical understanding.

WORKING AT BEACON

Beacon is a small, tight-knit team, with a friendly atmosphere and strong commitment to our beneficiaries. We aim to give all employees opportunities to pursue their interests, develop their skills and shape their career path.

At Beacon, we are pleased to have flexible working practices that allow our employees to balance their personal and professional lives. We also recognise the substantial benefits of in-person collaboration and communication to the organisation and its staff. We offer flexible hours and hybrid working to encourage good work-life stability and ensure seamless teamwork across the organisation.

Due to this role involving frequent in-office preparation, collaboration and on-site attendance, we are unable to support fully remote working for this position.

Compensation and benefits

• £23,500 p/a salary 
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and Christmas to New Year closure 
• 5% pension contribution 
• Flexible working practices 
• Access to free mental health support, counselling and 24/7 telephone GP 
• Discounts at major retailers, supermarkets and gyms
• And much more - download our Job Description for a full list of benefits