Awards Partner

Informa PLC; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading industry organization in the UK is seeking an Awards Partner to manage key customer relationships and drive engagement initiatives for the LIONS Awards. In this role, you will build strong relationships, provide expert guidance, and implement customer engagement strategies to enhance participation. Candidates should be customer-focused, organized, and excellent communicators with a passion for the creative communications industry.

Qualifications

• Genuine passion for understanding customer needs.
• Ability to establish strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Clear communicator able to convey information effectively.
• Organised and detail-oriented with task management skills.
• Active listener capable of gathering and sharing feedback.
• Adaptable team player thriving in fast-paced environments.
• Interest in the creative communications industry is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Build and nurture relationships with key customers.
• Collaborate with Awards Team to develop customer profiles.
• Provide expert guidance on entry requirements and processes.
• Support initiatives to attract new participants.
• Communicate LIONS' offerings to customers.
• Involve in recruiting and training staff for Awards team.
• Represent the Engagement team in performance calls.
• Coordinate on-site Awards activities during Festivals.

Skills

Customer-focused

Relationship building

Clear communication

Organised

Active listening

Team player

Attention to detail

Digital platform proficiency

Job description

As an Awards Partner within the Awards Engagement Team, you will manage key customer relationships and drive engagement initiatives for the LIONS Awards. In this role, you'll serve as their dedicated point of contact, building strong relationships with entrants while providing expert guidance on entry rules and category selection. Working closely with the Head of Awards Engagement, you will help implement customer engagement strategies, contribute to process improvements, and help deliver exceptional experiences that drive participation. You'll analyse customer feedback and entry patterns to inform tactical approaches to increasing engagement. The Awards sit at the heart of the LIONS business, and in this role, you'll help protect and nurture these prestigious benchmarks of creative excellence while driving participation and engagement.

Responsibilities

• Build and nurture strong relationships with key customers to drive engagement and participation, providing personalised guidance throughout their awards journey and establishing yourself as their trusted advisor.
• Collaborate with the wider Awards Team to develop customer profiles and journey maps that inform our approach to different market segments and industries.
• Provide expert guidance on entry requirements, category selection, and submission processes, ensuring customers maximize their potential for recognition.
• Support the delivery of growth initiatives to attract new participants and expand the Awards' reach into untapped audiences and report on the outcomes.
• Develop cross‑portfolio knowledge to effectively communicate LIONS' full range of offerings to customers and collaborate with internal stakeholders.
• Involved in recruiting, training and line management of fixed term/seasonal staff hired to assist the Awards team in the lead‑up to Festivals.
• Represent the Engagement team in weekly calls with the wider business, accurately reporting on performance and overseeing entry processes for regional Festivals.
• Coordinate and deliver on‑site Awards activities during Festivals to enhance the overall customer experience.

Qualifications & Experience

• Customer‑focused with a genuine passion for understanding customer needs and delivering exceptional service and experiences.
• Skilled at establishing and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders at all organisational levels.
• Clear communicator with the ability to explain information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to learn about LIONS Awards categories and rules, and be able to translate and communicate that knowledge effectively to a range of audiences.
• Organised and detail‑oriented, capable of managing several tasks while maintaining accuracy in a fast paced environment.
• Active listener who can gather customer feedback and share valuable insights with the team.
• Adaptable team player who thrives in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Excellent written English with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable with digital platforms and willingness to learn new systems.
• Interest in the creative communications industry (beneficial but not essential).