Employment Type: Full-time
Location: London
Work Site Type: Hybrid
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
What You Would Get To Do
The Senior Event Manager is responsible for supporting the client with their internal and/or client-facing events and conferences while consistently delivering exceptional service through excellent project management and creative solutions. This includes the management of all aspects of the event operation, from initial briefing to reconciliation, including but not limited to project plans, collateral, registration, transportation, hotel accommodations, entertainment, food and beverage, gift selection, audio/visual needs, webcasts, staging, speaker selection, execution, reconciliation and so on.
Your Contributions
- There is a requirement for on-site events to travel domestically or abroad as required.
- Full life-cycle planning and execution of multiple key events in a virtual, in-person and hybrid capacity
- Financial management, including: budget development and management, expense management and invoice processing, timely post-meeting reconciliation and final financial reporting
- Sourcing, negotiating and managing site selections, contract management for venues and suppliers
- Coordinate registration, food and beverage, transportation, hotel accommodations, entertainment, gift selection, audio/visual needs, webcasts, staging and speaker selection for all programs; strong focus on vendor management
- Work seamlessly with key internal partners on event deliverables (i.e. Marketing for print and digital design and collateral elements, Production on Audio Visual, Event Technology team on web builds, data team on attendee management, Legal and Compliance as required, etc.)
- Virtual event planning and project management, including confirming the appropriate virtual platform, creation of timelines, invitation process, thorough and regular communications to attendees, suppliers and stakeholders
- Assist with the training of new joiners
- Manage and mentor a team of up to 5 direct reports. Management responsibilities, if applicable, include:
- Managing vacation schedules for direct reports, ensuring coverage for the client at all times, including providing coverage when team members are out of the office on vacation or for an event
- Oversee the workload of the team, ensuring a day-to-day understanding of capacity/pressure points
- Management of staffing assignments considering individual team members' capacities and capabilities
- Management of personal development reviews for direct reports
- Lead and motivate direct reports, encouraging a productive and positive atmosphere
- Work with the team to ensure adherence to the client’s standards of operation and policies; ensure compliance and risk guidelines are followed
- Create and closely monitor value adds at every opportunity and demonstrate commercial awareness
- Share knowledge of best practices, new suppliers, services and venues
- Deepen relations with existing clients and maximise all opportunities to generate new business
What We Are Looking For
- Extensive event management experience, preferably in the financial services industry
- Strong leadership skills together with extensive, advanced project management experience of events and production management, including but not limited to conferences, C-level executive dinners, cocktail receptions, incentives, and hospitality
- Ambitious, proactive, and highly organised, with excellent writing and oral communication skills
- A calm and flexible approach to handling pressure and stress
- Client-centric, approachable, ability to adjust to client needs and style and deepen relationships in support of their business and programs; adapt to ever-changing demands and different client work styles
- Knowledge and understanding of audio-visual requirements, internal and external speaker management, collection and program order collation of all presentations
- Demonstrate excellent and consistent leadership and work intelligently
- Working knowledge of suppliers and delivering events across EMEA
- Experience in building excellent relations through positive, precise, clear verbal and written communications and deepening client relationships through increased service range innovation
- Ability to be a team player, to recognise project team successes, and give credit where needed. Understand the strengths, aspirations and development areas of all project team members, and have the ability to build team member confidence
- Possesses strong self-awareness and empathy for each member of the project team
- Approachable to support all team members with day-to-day guidance and challenges
- Advanced knowledge and commercial focus on the Output-Based Charging model
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.
#LI-TS1 #LI-hybrid
FIRST is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. FIRST is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We stand firm: FIRST will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If any candidate feels that they are unable to meet the requirements of the role, please get in touch to discuss adjustments or other suitable roles.