Head of Events - UK & Ireland

About the Role: We are looking for an experienced and driven Head of Events with a strong background in agency management and the technology sector to lead our UK & Ireland events strategy. This senior position is responsible for planning, executing, and delivering world-class events that drive brand awareness, lead generation, and engagement across both in-person and virtual platforms. As the Head of Events, you will be instrumental in managing relationships with external agencies and internal stakeholders, ensuring that all events align with the company’s strategic objectives and deliver measurable results. You will bring creativity, technical expertise, and leadership skills to build engaging experiences for our clients, partners, and target audiences. Key Responsibilities: Event Strategy & Planning: Develop a strategic roadmap for all events across the UK & Ireland, including product launches, trade shows, industry conferences, webinars, and customer engagement events, with a strong focus on innovation and alignment with the company’s goals. Agency & Vendor Management: Manage relationships with external event agencies, including briefing, negotiating, and ensuring the timely and cost-effective delivery of services. Foster strong partnerships to ensure events are executed to the highest standard. Event Execution: Lead end-to-end event management, from concept development through to post-event evaluation, ensuring seamless coordination of logistics, content, branding, and participant experience. Tech Industry Expertise: Utilize your deep understanding of the technology sector to tailor event strategies that resonate with tech-focused audiences, including developers, IT leaders, and enterprise decision-makers. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams, including marketing, product, sales, and customer success, to ensure event strategies are integrated into broader marketing and business objectives. Align events with key product initiatives and market trends. Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and manage a team of event professionals, ensuring clear communication, skill development, and high performance. Drive collaboration between in-house and external teams to achieve event goals. Budget & ROI Management: Develop, manage, and monitor event budgets, ensuring financial efficiency without compromising on quality. Analyse the return on investment (ROI) for each event, providing detailed reports and recommendations for future improvements. Innovation & Technology: Stay ahead of event trends, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and creative solutions to enhance attendee engagement, both online and offline. Experiment with virtual event platforms, augmented reality (AR), and other digital tools to create standout experiences. Brand Consistency & Experience: Ensure that all events reflect the company’s brand identity and messaging, delivering a consistent and high-impact experience for attendees. Maintain high standards of professionalism, creativity, and innovation across all events. Post-Event Analysis: Lead the post-event analysis process, gathering feedback, performance metrics, and attendee insights to assess event success and optimize future events. Key Requirements: · Experience: 8+ years of event management experience, with at least 3 years in a senior leadership role, ideally within the technology sector. Proven experience working with and managing external agencies to deliver complex, high-quality events. Track record of delivering both large-scale in-person events and cutting-edge virtual experiences. Tech Industry Background: In-depth knowledge of the technology landscape, including familiarity with B2B tech marketing, cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and software services. Experience creating event strategies tailored to a tech audience, from C-suite executives to developers and engineers. Leadership & Team Management: Strong leadership skills, with experience managing, developing, and mentoring a high-performing events team. Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. Agency Management Expertise: Extensive experience in briefing, negotiating, and managing relationships with external agencies and vendors to deliver successful events on time and within budget. Budget & Financial Acumen: Strong experience managing large event budgets, with a proven ability to maximize ROI. Skilled in vendor negotiations and financial tracking to ensure cost-effective event delivery. Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders, partners, and external agencies. Confident public speaker and effective brand ambassador. Innovation & Tech Savvy: Familiar with the latest trends in event technology, including virtual event platforms, event management tools, and interactive technologies like VR/AR. A creative mindset with the ability to bring innovative ideas to life in a way that resonates with tech-savvy audiences. Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Events Management, Business, or a related field. Experience in tech-related events such as developer conferences, IT expos, or SaaS product launches. Familiarity with the UK & Ireland tech ecosystem, including key industry events, trends, and venues. Why Join Us: Lead the events strategy for a cutting-edge technology company at the forefront of innovation. Work with a dynamic, passionate team to deliver high-impact events across the UK & Ireland. Competitive salary and benefits, with opportunities for professional growth. Flexible working options and a collaborative, forward-thinking culture