Vice President, Event Delivery

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FIRST is a leading global brand experience agency serving clients in various industries, including financial services, technology, new & traditional media, aerospace, healthcare, and professional services. FIRST has received numerous accolades, including being listed among the 2025 Most Innovative Marketing Agencies of the Year by Chief Marketer, named Top Agency of the Year 2024 by Event Marketer, highlighted as a Global Agency of the Year, over 100 Employees by C&IT, and listed among the "200 Top Marketing Agencies" in 2024, 2023, & 2022 by Chief Marketer.

Learn more at www.firstagency.com

What You Would Get To Do

The Vice President, Event Delivery is a senior leader accountable for defining and driving the standards of service excellence across FIRST’s Event Delivery teams for our clients. This role oversees the design and implementation of operational strategies, talent development, and delivery frameworks that ensure consistent, high-quality experiences across planning and production globally. The VP will provide a cohesive oversight of capacity planning, day-to-day operations, and client delivery, working in close partnership with Venue Sourcing and Event Technology leadership to ensure alignment and integrated execution.

The VP serves as a senior escalation point for complex client challenges, drives operational transformation and continuous improvement, and embeds a commercial mindset across all event delivery functions. This role partners with executive leadership to support business growth, evolve delivery strategy, and advance innovation.

Your Contributions

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and oversight to Event Delivery team managers,  fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
• Daily oversight of how Venue Sourcing and Event Technology integrate into client delivery and project execution, including capacity planning, resource assignments and operational consistency, in collaboration with their functional leaders.
• Align with Leadership within Embedded Solutions on cross-resourcing needs, centralization, and delivery excellence across the business
• Partner with other leadership team members to ensure a unified approach to client service and project execution
• Act as the senior  escalation point for client challenges within Project Solutions and Embedded Solutions teams (as appropriate) 
• Develop and mentor team leaders, ensuring their professional development and engagement while promoting the retention of top talent
• Continuously assess and evolve Event Delivery structure to support scale, flexibility and fit-for-purpose team(s) structures to deliver to our clients across diverse business models
• Accountable for ensuring workforce utilization aligns with project objectives and operational demands by optimizing capacity and staffing requirements
• Lead initiatives aimed at operational transformation, advising on enhancements, and reengineering teams to support evolving business needs
• Serve as a key member of the Leadership Team, offering strategic input and addressing big-picture challenges
• Oversee recruiting and talent management processes, including offer approvals and internal mobility

Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

• Develop and implement operational strategies that enhance the efficiency, quality, and scalability of event execution
• Oversee team workflows and resourcing to ensure optimal support for event planning and delivery
• Lead the creation and refinement of Standard Operating Procedures to maintain consistent delivery excellence
• Promote best practices and quality control measures to uphold high standards across event delivery teams
• Serve as the primary escalation point for event-related challenges, guiding team leaders through complex problem-solving
• Foster knowledge sharing and collaboration with managers across the business  to leverage best practices and innovative solutions
• Partner with Venue Sourcing and Event Technology leaders to operationalize approved strategies and maintain consistent delivery standards across functions
• Own operational budgets for global event delivery teams, implementing controls to maintain financial responsibility and budget adherence
• Oversee holistic capacity management, utilization reporting, and resource allocation, providing insights to leadership and decisioning to ensure a commercially minded approach 
• Identify operational risks early; develop and implement mitigation strategies
• Establish strategy for standards around vendor selection, onboarding, and evaluation

Client & Commercial Strategy

• Demonstrate commercial acumen by identifying opportunities within existing and new client relationships to enhance services and generate growth, while maintaining margins
• Drive commercial focus across teams, encouraging value-add opportunities and deeper client engagement
• Ensure strategic partnerships with key vendors (AV, scenic, staffing, logistics) are optimized
• Support business development efforts by collaborating on new business proposals for both existing and prospective clients
• Oversee holistic and strategic resourcing, ensuring optimal deployment of resources to maximize client satisfaction and business profitability
• Maintain financial oversight and accountability for investment programs, aligning resource deployment with client needs

Industry Leadership & Innovation

• Lead innovation in event operations by integrating emerging technologies, sustainability practices, and industry trends
• Build and sustain strong relationships with vendors, venues, and partners to company event delivery strategy
• Act as an industry thought leader, representing the company at key events and demonstrating expertise and strategic vision

What We Are Looking For: 

• 15+ years of experience in event production, live events, experiential marketing, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing event teams
• Proven track record of successfully leading and managing large event delivery teams within a corporate or agency environment
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with experience overseeing multiple cross-functional teams
• Excellent budget management and financial acumen, with a history of optimizing event delivery efficiency
• Deep understanding of event logistics, production workflows, vendor management, and risk assessment
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while managing multiple priorities
• Exceptional problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills
• Experience with event technology, project management tools, and digital collaboration platforms
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite
• Willingness to travel as required for team oversight and strategic planning

At FIRST, we believe that our success is driven by the passion, creativity, and commitment of our teams. That's why we offer a range of benefits and perks to support your personal and professional growth:

• Private Medical Insurance with BUPA from day one
• 28 Days Annual Leave PLUS Bank Holidays
• Personal Volunteer Day
• 20 Days of Sick Pay each Year
• Enhanced Parental Leave (Maternity & Paternity)
• Wellness Stipend
• Complimentary access to Headspace, Rocket Lawyer & Maven
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan
• Mobile Phone Allowance
• Pension Scheme Enhancements
• Discretionary Bonus Structure
• Global Opportunities: With a presence in 7 countries worldwide, including headquarters in London, New York, and Singapore, you may have the opportunity to work on exciting projects across different locations.

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