Conference & Meetings Operations Manager

De Vere; Guildford; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hotel property in Guildford is seeking a Conference & Meetings Operations Manager. This role involves leading and executing well-organised meetings and events, managing a small team, and ensuring high-quality service standards. The ideal candidate will have experience in conference operations, especially in hotels, and possess strong leadership skills. De Vere offers extensive perks and benefits, including competitive salary, professional growth opportunities, and more.

Benefits

£30,000 per year

Free meals on duty

Extra paid day off for birthday

Annual complimentary stay with dinner

50% discount on Food & Beverage

Complimentary use of Leisure Club facilities

31 days holiday annually

Access to discounts via Exclusively Yours Benefits

Employee Assistance Programme

Financial wellbeing platform Wagestream

Monthly recognition programme

Regular team appreciation events

Company Life Assurance scheme

Qualifications

• Experience working in a hotel conference operations team.
• Organised with strong planning skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to coordinate with kitchen and AV support teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of meetings and events.
• Ensure smooth operations in the cafe, AV setup, and overall service.
• Management of a small team.

Skills

Experience within a conference operations team

Organised and excellent attention to detail

Confident communicator

Natural leader

Basic AV setup knowledge

Job description

This role is perfect for a current Conference & Events Manager who is looking to specialise in Conference.

As Conference & Meetings Operations Manager, you’ll lead the delivery of smooth, well‑organised meetings and events at De Vere Horsley Estate in Surrey — from perfectly set rooms and working AV to refreshed coffee stations and seamless handovers with our restaurant and kitchen teams. This is a hands on role with management responsibility for one full time team member.

This role is ideal for someone who loves the buzz of events but prefers conference early and middle shifts, with a Monday to Friday focus and occasional late finishes, weekend cover and Duty Management.

Your skills & experience

• Experience working within a conference operations team, ideally in a hotel setting
• Organised and hands‑on, with excellent attention to detail when it comes to planning ahead, conference facility presentation, and service levels.
• Confident communicator — able to coordinate smoothly with kitchen, AV support and front‑of‑house teams
• A natural leader who leads by example within the wider hotel team and helps to create a positive working atmosphere on shift
• Comfortable with basic AV setup knowledge and confident in spotting issues before guests arrive

The Pay & Benefits:

At De Vere we pay attention to the thoughtful details that inspire the loyalty of our permanent colleagues. That’s why we are proud to offer the following benefits for the role of Conference & Meetings Operations Manager

• £30,000 per year
• Free meals on duty in our hotel restaurant
• We believe in celebrating your special moments too, which is why we offer an extra paid day off for your birthday, along with a £20 love to shop voucher.
• As a token of our gratitude for your loyalty, we'll treat you to an annual complimentary 2‑night stay with dinner in a De Vere property of your choice, plus additional monetary rewards for reaching long service milestones
• Discover exclusive perks with our £50 colleague rates for overnight stays at De Vere properties, accompanied by a fantastic 50% discount on Food & Beverage.
• Stay in shape with complimentary use of the Leisure Club facilities saving you money on costly gym memberships
• 31 days holiday each year (increasing annually up to 33 days)
• Explore our Exclusively Yours Benefits portal, unlocking hundreds of discounts on retail, travel, and leisure activities.
• We are committed to your growth and offer excellent career progression opportunities, including access to our Apprenticeship programmes and study support.
• Take advantage of our Employee Assistance Programme, Hospitality Action, providing 24/7 health and wellbeing support, including free counselling.
• Experience the flexibility and convenience of Wagestream, our financial wellbeing platform, granting you instant access to your pay when you need it.
• We value your hard work and recognise your achievements through our monthly colleague recognition programme, You Are De Vere, culminating in an exciting annual colleague recognition event.
• Join a supportive team that knows how to have fun with regular team appreciation events, including memorable Christmas and Summer parties.
• Gain peace of mind with our Company Life Assurance scheme, ensuring financial security for your loved ones.

De Vere Horsley Estate has 175 bedrooms, 51 meeting and event spaces, a restaurant, 3 bars, gym and swimming pool. It offers a charming lakeside mansion house, Horsley Towers and the equally impressive Horsley place all set within 75 acres of beautiful Surrey parkland. Our team at Horsley Estate hold regular colleague events and activities including the annual family summer BBQ party, colleague wellbeing yoga classes and badminton club.

At De Vere, we warmly welcome everyone and foster a sense of belonging, where each person is valued and appreciated. Join our team and become part of a passionate group of individuals who genuinely care about the experiences we create for our guests and colleagues.