Experiential Events - Chief Operating Officer

Live Recruitment; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme in development

Manchester office-based environment

Job summary

Live Recruitment is working with a Manchester-based experiential events business to appoint an Experiential Events - Chief Operating Officer. You will take ownership of day-to-day performance, embed processes, and build the platform for the next growth phase.

Key duties include managing all department heads across sales, design, fabrication and finance; implementing the EOS integrator framework; overseeing capacity planning and resource allocation; driving speed and predictability in a

Qualifications

• Proven operational or strategic leadership in fast-paced events production.
• Experience managing multiple department heads across sales, design, fabrication and finance.
• Background in experiential events is essential; adjacent production welcome.

Responsibilities

• Manage all department heads across sales, design, fabrication and finance
• Implement operational systems and the EOS integrator framework
• Oversee capacity planning and resource allocation across divisions
• Drive predictability in a fast-moving environment
• Lead recruitment planning as headcount grows
• Report directly to the CEO, bridging leadership and delivery

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational leadership

People management

Change management

Tools

EOS framework

Job description

Manchester Office based

Festival builds, brand activations, themed experiences, permanent installations. All designed, fabricated and installed in-house, and a business expanding across European markets. The Experiential Events - Chief Operating Officer is shaping how that operation scales, with direct influence over commercial performance and real strategic weight from day one.

• Shape how a rapidly scaling creative business is structured and run
• Direct influence over commercial performance and operational efficiency
• Pivotal appointment at a genuinely transformative moment
• Bonus scheme in development alongside a strong base salary
• Expansion into international markets to help lead

The Company

Founded a decade ago on referral and reputation, this Manchester-based business spans festival builds, brand activations, themed experiences, permanent installations and rental across the UK and Europe. Design, fabrication and installation are all handled in-house. The business serves blue-chip clients alongside creative independents, has grown fast, and now needs a Experiential Events - Chief Operating Officer to implement the structure its next phase demands.

The Role

This is a new appointment, created to free the CEO for vision and growth while a senior operations leader takes ownership of day-to-day performance, embeds process and discipline, and builds the platform the next stage of expansion requires.

• Manage all department heads across sales, design, fabrication and finance
• Implement operational systems and the EOS integrator framework
• Oversee capacity planning and resource allocation across all divisions
• Drive predictability in a fast-moving, reactive environment
• Lead recruitment planning as headcount continues to grow
• Report directly to the CEO, bridging leadership and delivery

The Candidate

The right Experiential Events - Chief Operating Officer will have a proven track record of operational or strategic leadership in a fast-paced events production or fabrication environment, managing multiple department heads simultaneously. They will have implemented frameworks that demonstrably changed how a business operated.

A background in experiential events is essential, however if you have worked with themed attractions this is beneficial but not essential. Candidates from adjacent production or creative services environments are very welcome. What matters is the ability to bring discipline to an entrepreneurial business without losing what makes it distinctive.

In return, this Experiential Events - Chief Operating Officer post offers real seniority, genuine strategic influence and a salary of up to £90,000.

As a specialist events recruitment agency we help our clients build the most talented and diverse teams in the UK. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, embracing diversity across all intersecting dimensions, including ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, well-being, abilities, and neurodiversity. We are dedicated to ensuring a supportive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any adjustments or accommodations for any reason, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Vacancy Ref: DP/18962