Conference Host

University of Strathclyde; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Strathclyde is seeking a Conference Host to support our Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC) and Conference Management Service (CMS) teams, delivering first-class attendee experiences on campus or online.

You will handle front-line guest services, room set-ups, AV support, and CMS data entry, with 35 hours weekly across 5 days. Shift pattern includes early mornings, evenings and weekends with a 5% premium.

Qualifications

• Frontline guest and venue support during events.
• Ability to troubleshoot basic AV equipment and room setups.
• Coordinate with CMS and operations teams to ensure smooth events.

Responsibilities

• First point of contact for visitors and wayfinding.
• Provide front line support to event organisers and relay information to operations.
• Assist with guest services, room set-ups, portering and basic AV support.
• Manage event details for Occupant Room Use bookings and registrations.

Skills

Frontline customer service

Attention to detail

Audio-visual support

Event coordination

Problem solving

Job description

The University is looking to appoint a Conference Host to join the team which supports commercial and corporate event activity within our award-winning Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC), across the campus, and supporting our Conference Management Service (CMS).

The Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC) is the University's flagship research facility, opened by HM The Queen in July 2015. TIC is home to £11m of dedicated, flexible conferencing facilities, and has quickly established itself as one the country's most popular venues for business events and academic meetings, hosting more than 600 events and 46,000 delegates in academic year 2023/24 alone. The venue won the Bronze award for UK Best Academic Venue at the Meetings & Incentive Travel awards magazine in March 2019; was named Best Academic Venue at the CHS Awards in June 2019; Best Scottish Events Team (2023) and Best Scottish Events Venue (2026) at the E Awards and is a proud holder of Green Tourism Gold accreditation.

Our Conference Hosts provide a range of practical support services to conference organisers, to ensure that all attendees have a first-class customer experience, whether their event takes place on campus or online. The post-holder plays a key role in supporting day-to-day operations, both on campus and online. Duties include (but are not limited to):

• First point of contact for building visitors, assistance with wayfinding in the building and general use of the facilities
• Providing front line support to all event organisers including troubleshooting, adjusting programs and requirements and relaying updated information to other operational departments
• Assisting with guest service, room set-ups, portering, and basic audio-visual support as operations require
• Management of event details for Occupant Room Use bookings, liaising with the Business Development Co-ordinator and with room bookers, to ensure that such meetings are delivered effectively, professionally and in a manner complementary to commercial conferencing activity.
• Supporting date entry, configuration of specific elements of functionality within the CMS platform; supporting attendee registration.

The Hosts work closely with the Facilities Assistant, Conference Operations Co-ordinators, Conference & Events Officers and the Conference Operations Manager, and with other operational support staff based in the venue.

The post-holder will be required to work 35 hours per week, 5 days over 7. Shift patterns will depend on the needs of the business, but will regularly include hours outside the normal working week, i.e. early mornings, evenings and weekends, throughout the year. A 5% premium will be added to the salary of the successful candidate to reflect this non-standard working pattern.

The Conference Host is essential to the effective operation of a first-class event experience at the University. The role requires a motivated, enthusiastic individual with an eye for detail, a calm and professional demeanour, experience within a conferencing or events environment and a flexible approach to their work.

For informal enquiries, please contactSarah McLeary, Senior Conference & Events Officer at [e-mail]

Department: Marketing and Development Services