Corporate Event Project Lead

Building a Brand Starts with a Story

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

This role is open to candidates requiring visa sponsorship.

What You Would Get To Do

You will work closely with the Team Manager on a dedicated client account, gaining a strong understanding of the account’s strategic direction while offering valuable, on-the-ground insight into the client’s business and emerging opportunities. In this role, you’ll oversee multiple company and client initiatives at once, support senior and C-level stakeholders, and manage key business relationships as well as team operations. Depending on your alignment, you may also be responsible for delivering a book of work across planning, venue sourcing, attendee data management, roadshow coordination, or event technology.

Your Contributions

• Work with the Team Manager to understand the client’s strategic direction, offering insight into their business, highlighting opportunities, and advising on challenges while keeping the broader organisational picture in mind.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 5–12 direct reports, including performance conversations and ongoing coaching.
• Manage team capacity and workflow through regular check-ins to ensure balanced workloads and identify pressure points.
• Provide guidance, answer questions, and drive knowledge-sharing and creative problem-solving. Manage holiday schedules and monthly expense approvals.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing team culture with clear communication and strong morale.
• Partner with the Team Manager and People & Culture team on talent development, recruitment, and onboarding/offboarding for your team.
• Support ongoing training and development across the broader FIRST team.
• Encourage your team to stay up to date on best practices, new suppliers, venues, and creative approaches.
• Work with stakeholders to refine processes, increase efficiency, support evolving business needs, and manage ad hoc projects—especially during times of change.
• Uphold and champion best practices, ensuring adherence to firm-wide SOPs and compliance requirements.
• Proactively communicate updates, concerns, and successes to management.
• Deliver end-to-end project management for your assigned book of work (planning, sourcing, data management, roadshows, or event technology).
• Collaborate with internal partners to deliver exceptional events and strengthen client relationships, even in challenging circumstances.
• Travel as needed for on-site event management.

What We Are Looking For

• Please be aware that we know experience does not always look like we describe it. If you believe you would be an excellent fit for this role, please apply - we would love to see how you could fit at First.
• 8–10+ years of event management experience, ideally within financial services or a corporate setting
• Experience managing people and developing teams
• Advanced expertise delivering events and conferences, from C-suite programs to receptions and multi-day meetings
• Strong venue sourcing experience, including contracting, negotiation, and commission processes
• Proficiency with event and registration technology (especially Cvent and Dealogic/Conference Manager)
• Familiarity with virtual event platforms such as Zoom, Webex, and On24
• Significant experience working with and advising senior stakeholders
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to motivate teams, uphold brand values, and build strong working relationships
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Broad industry knowledge across venues, suppliers, services, and best practices
• Excellent client management skills, with the ability to influence, lead by example, and cultivate a positive team and client environment
• Ability to create and implement best practices, drive new initiatives, and operate independently
• Client-focused, adaptable, approachable, and able to build meaningful relationships
• Strong leadership, influencing, negotiation, and decision-making skills

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 Healthcare (Medical) from day 1 
• Annual Health Screening
• 20 Days Annual Leave PLUS Public Holiday
• Employee Assistance Program including 24/7 support, counselling, and legal consult
• Complimentary Access to Headspace, Maven & more
• Wellness Stipend
• Personal Volunteer Day
• Life Insurance
• Mobile Phone Allowance
• 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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