Head of Operations - Australia

Infopro Digital Services Limited; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Infopro Digital is seeking a Head of Operations to lead AUSREiiF 2027 in Sydney. This senior, hands-on leadership role will oversee end-to-end operational planning and delivery of a festival-style real estate investment and infrastructure forum.

You will shape the master plan, manage budgets, permits and site logistics, and ensure a safe, on-budget, excellent delegate experience from planning through bump-out.

Responsibilities

• Take overall operational responsibility for AUSREiiF 2027, from planning through to delivery and bump-out.
• Develop and maintain the master operational plan and critical path.
• Lead the transition from planning into onsite delivery, managing the operational team throughout the event.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to ensure sponsor, exhibitor and delegate requirements can be delivered operationally.
• Build operational processes for exhibitors and sponsors, covering logistics, access, furniture, power and branding.

Job description

Infopro Digital, the B2B group specialising in information and technology, is currently looking for a Head of Operations on a permanent basis to join our AUSREiiF business based in Sydney.

About the Business

Infopro Digital is a global B2B group with more than 4,000 employees across 26 countries, delivering information, data and technology solutions to professional communities across automotive, risk and insurance, construction, industry and retail. Our Australian events business is home to AUSREiiF, Australia's new major real estate investment and infrastructure forum, bringing together government, investors, developers, infrastructure leaders, professional services and the wider built environment to drive investment, development and regeneration across Australia. Modelled on the highly successful UKREiiF, AUSREiiF will take place in September 2027 as a three-day, festival-style event bringing together the people, projects and investment opportunities shaping Australia's future. This is an opportunity to join the Australian business at the ground level and play a pivotal role in creating and delivering the inaugural event.

What the role involves

This is a highly hands-on leadership role suited to an experienced event operations professional with a strong background in festival-style events, outdoor activations, temporary builds and complex live environments. Reporting directly to the Head of Events - Australia, the Head of Operations is responsible for the end-to-end operational planning and delivery of AUSREiiF 2027, from the master operational plan through to bump-out, turning the vision for AUSREiiF into a commercially successful, operationally safe and experientially excellent event. This is not a standard B2B conference. AUSREiiF connects indoor and outdoor elements across a defined area of a city, requiring complex site planning, temporary infrastructure, permits and public-space management, coordination across many stakeholders and sharp event-day management. The successful candidate will work closely with venues, councils, government authorities and suppliers, as well as the Content, Marketing and Sales teams, to make the event safe, on budget and seamless for delegates, sponsors, exhibitors and speakers. You will be both strategic and exceptionally practical: building the plan, managing budgets and negotiating with venues and contractors, and being the person who works out what to do next when something doesn't go to plan. Joining at the start of AUSREiiF's Australian journey, you will shape the systems, processes and event experience from the ground up, gain exposure to senior leaders across property, infrastructure, government and investment, and have the opportunity to grow with the Australian business. This job is based in Sydney, NSW.

Responsibilities & duties

• Take overall operational responsibility for AUSREiiF 2027, from planning through to delivery and bump-out.
• Develop and maintain the master operational plan and critical path.
• Lead the transition from planning into onsite delivery, managing the operational team throughout the event.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to ensure sponsor, exhibitor and delegate requirements can be delivered operationally.
• Build operational processes for exhibitors and sponsors, covering logistics, access, furniture, power and branding.
• Deliver a seamless registration, onsite information and delegate experience.
• Recruit, brief and lead temporary event staff and contractors, with clear roles and onsite reporting structures.
• Own venue negotiations and relationships, working with venues and councils to shape a viable event footprint.
• Develop floorplans and coordinate room allocations, catering, access, signage, registration and security.
• Manage bump-in, live event and bump-out, including site access, loading docks and vehicle movements.
• Identify, brief, appoint and manage suppliers across AV, temporary structures, exhibition build, catering, security, traffic management, transport and more.
• Set clear scopes of work, deliverables and timelines, and negotiate commercial terms that deliver value for money.
• Manage relationships with councils, government authorities and regulatory bodies.
• Secure permits, approvals and licences in time to protect the critical path.
• Manage road closures, traffic management, pedestrian access and public-space requirements where applicable.
• Coordinate with police, emergency services, traffic authorities and other agencies as required.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive risk management and contingency plans, including adverse weather, access, transport, infrastructure and supplier issues.
• Ensure health, safety, security, emergency and insurance requirements are in place.
• Coordinate risk assessments and operational documentation with venues, suppliers, authorities and specialists.
• Ensure the event complies with relevant Australian regulations and venue requirements.
• Own the operational budget, working with the Head of Events on overall even