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SalaryDescription
At Clarion, our people are at the absolute heart of what we do. We’re proud that our core values of PASSION, CARE, IMAGINATION, and TRUST define the way we carry out our work across all of our exhibitions and conferences.
If you share our values and want to be a part of a successful, dynamic, and creative global business, then we want to hear from you.
The Opportunity:
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, organised, and motivated individual to join the Defence & Security Operations Team as a Senior Operations Manager.
The role will involve working across the full portfolio consisting of the largest UK Defence & Security exhibition with a highly significant global reach and smaller confex-style events based in Europe. The next 12 months will see us continue to expand and innovate our events both in new geographies and on new platforms.
To be considered for this role you will need:
- Demonstrable experience of delivering complex, large-scale exhibitions,
- Experience in leadership and people management skills,
- Excellent communication and relationship building ability,
- To be able to take ownership and work independently on events and projects,
- Confidence to prepare and deliver presentations and webinars to customers, suppliers and internal team members.
This role is hybrid (3 days in the office) and mainly office-based with onsite working during events, requiring international travel/work over some weekends and evenings.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the Head of Operations on a day-to-day basis to implement the overall operational delivery and strategy of the Defence & Security Portfolio.
- Day to day management of the Defence & Security Operations team which includes Senior Operations Executives and Assistants.
- Coach, encourage and inspire reporting staff with ideas, set objectives, and goals to improve their personal performance and personal development plans.
- Demonstrate clear and effective communication of ideas and processes to senior management and reporting staff.
- Responsible and accountable for the operational delivery of our Confex events supporting and coaching the team where required.
- Work closely with the Managing Director on the Confex events to ensure we are fulfilling all requirements.
- Develop strong working relationships with key suppliers and partners.
- Proactive and resourceful approach on complex operational projects with limited guidance.
- Drive and implement change on best practice and key processes to ensure efficiencies.
- Knowledge and understanding of venue contracts and terminology.
- Compile full and comprehensive Health & Safety plans for the events, ensuring all documents are thoroughly checked, verified and relevant.
- Negotiation of all costs to ensure event cost bases are spent appropriately.
- Ability to work creatively with budgets, keeping all relevant parties updated.
- Strategic post show evaluation including recommendations for development and improvement of future events.
- Be self- development aware, attending appropriate and relevant training.
- Collaborate with other operations teams across the business and take part in working groups.
- Confident in dealing with customer data and familiarity with data privacy regulations such as GDPR.
Requirements
Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours:
- Demonstrable experience of delivering complex, large-scale exhibitions in the UK and internationally.
- Proven experience of creating and managing event operations budget, future planning, forecasting, and delivering on target.
- Understanding of operational, venue and local authority procedures.
- Strong Health and Safety knowledge and confident with preparation of event safety files with an IOSH certificate essential and NEBOSH preferable.
- Customer mindset at all times ensuring we place our customers at the heart of what we do.
- Effective time management within a fast-paced environment, meeting deadlines and multi-tasking whilst remaining calm under pressure.
- Organised and methodical, ensuring the project management tools are up to date at all times.
- Strong social and communication skills with the ability to work within a team and independently.
- A strong team player with proven experience in managing multiple members of a team.
- Keen to embrace and learn new skills, including use of new technology and IT systems.
- Flexibility to work onsite during events, requiring international travel, and working over occasional weekends and evenings.
About Clarion Events
Clarion Events is one of the world’s leading event organisers, producing and delivering innovative and market-leading events since 1947. (https://clarionevents.com/welcome)
Clarion Events embrace diversity and equal opportunities in all that we do. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
Clarion is private equity backed and owned by Blackstone. Blackstone is one of the world’s leading global investment funds, investing capital for the long term in order to build successful, resilient businesses. (https://www.blackstone.com/)
Our purpose is to deliver exceptional customer outcomes and experiences, by making every connection count.
Our vision is we want every one of our products to be a market leader in customer satisfaction and delight.
Benefits
- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
- End of year wellbeing shutdown (closed for the last week of the year)
- Celebration day off (e.g. birthday, Diwali, Eid, etc)
- Summer Hours in August (3pm finish on Fridays)
- Helping Our World (HOW) Days – one paid day per quarter to carry out charity work
- Pension Scheme
- Private Medical Insurance
- Health Cash Plan
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a 24/7, 365-day confidential helpline
- Subsidised Café
- Season Ticket Loan
- Cycle to Work Schemes
- Free on-site gym and shower facilities
- Free eyesight tests
- Free flu vaccination – offered on site once a year for all employees
