Head of Conferences - Defence

ARK Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Global exposure

Career progression

International travel

Training & development

Job summary

Ark Recruitment is partnering with a leading international conference and events organisation to recruit a Head of Conferences. You will own the commercial performance and strategic development of your portfolio, overseeing high-quality conference production and identifying new growth opportunities.

You will lead audience development, secure top speakers, and collaborate with Sales, Sponsorship, and Marketing to maximise revenue.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in conference production and portfolio management.
• Proven track record delivering B2B conferences and large-scale events.
• Strong commercial awareness with ability to identify revenue opportunities and growth strategies.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of one or more conference portfolios, driving growth and long-term commercial success.
• Research, write, and produce approximately 4–6 business conferences annually, including Large Scale Events (LSEs).
• Develop conference agendas aligned with market demand and commercial objectives.
• Identify, validate, and launch new conference concepts and growth opportunities.
• Oversee viability assessments and scale existing products and launch new events.
• Drive revenue growth through strategic development and audience expansion.
• Maintain relationships with senior industry leaders and key partners.
• Secure and manage speakers, chairs, and strategic partners.
• Lead audience development and post-production campaigns with Sales, Sponsorship, and Marketing.

Skills

Conference production

Portfolio management

Business development

Market research

Stakeholder management

Travel international

Job description

Ark Recruitment are delighted to be supporting a leading international conference and events organisation in their search for an experienced Head of Conferences to join their growing production team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially driven events professional to take ownership of their high-value Defence portfolio. Combining strategic portfolio management, conference production, market intelligence, and revenue growth initiatives, this role offers the opportunity to shape the direction of an established event portfolio while identifying new commercial opportunities and driving long-term growth.

The successful candidate will play a key role in scaling portfolio revenue, launching new events, developing strategic industry partnerships, and delivering market-leading conferences that connect senior decision-makers from around the world.

The Role

As a Head of Conference, you will act as the subject matter expert for your designated portfolio, taking responsibility for both the commercial performance and long-term strategic development of your events.

You'll oversee the production of high-quality conferences while identifying new launch opportunities, revenue streams, geographic expansion opportunities, and innovative event formats. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the business, you'll help define the future direction of your portfolio and implement growth strategies designed to increase revenue and market share year-on-year.

This is a highly visible role requiring strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, relationship-building skills, and a deep understanding of B2B conference production.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of one or more conference portfolios, driving growth, innovation, and long-term commercial success
• Research, write, and produce approximately 4–6 business conferences annually, including Large Scale Events (LSEs)
• Develop high-quality conference agendas aligned with market demand, industry challenges, and commercial objectives
• Identify, validate, and launch new conference concepts, event formats, and commercially viable growth opportunities
• Work with the Head of Production to assess conference viability and develop strategies to scale existing products and launch new events
• Drive portfolio growth with a target of increasing revenue year-on-year through strategic event development and audience expansion
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior industry leaders, government representatives, military stakeholders, international organisations, and key commercial partners
• Secure and manage high-profile speakers, chairs, strategic partners, and primary market attendees
• Take ownership of audience development strategies, ensuring key organisations, decision-makers, and target markets are represented at events
• Lead post-production conference campaigns in collaboration with Sales, Sponsorship, and Marketing teams to maximise event performance and revenue generation
• Identify and execute additional revenue streams across the portfolio, including partnerships, new event formats, and complementary products
• Track revenue performance, audience composition, and commercial KPIs to ensure portfolio objectives are achieved
• Conduct portfolio reviews, event debriefs, and growth planning initiatives to continuously improve event performance
• Identify opportunities to expand portfolios into new geographies, markets, and industry sectors
• Support sponsors throughout the production cycle, helping align content, audience delivery, and commercial objectives
• Maintain a strong understanding of competitor activity, market developments, and emerging trends
• Represent the business at industry events, trade shows, and international conferences to build brand presence and identify future opportunities
• Champion the adoption of AI technologies and innovative production processes to improve efficiency and drive data-led decision making
• Contribute to year-round audience engagement initiatives through editorial content, industry insights, newsletters, and community-building activities
• Mentor and support junior members of the production team, setting standards and sharing best practice across the department

About You

• We're looking for a commercially minded conference professional with a strong track record of developing successful event portfolios and identifying opportunities for growth.
• You’ll bring:
• Significant experience in conference production, portfolio management, event strategy, or a related commercial events environment
• A proven track record of delivering commercially successful B2B conferences and large-scale events
• Strong commercial awareness with experience identifying new revenue opportunities, launches, and portfolio expansion strategies
• Excellent research and analytical skills with the ability to quickly understand complex industries and market dynamics
• Experience engaging with senior industry leaders, government stakeholders, military personnel, and executive-level decision-makers
• Strong project management skills with the ability to oversee multiple events and strategic initiatives simultaneously
• Experience collaborating across Sales, Sponsorship, Marketing, and Production functions to deliver commercial objectives
• A strategic mindset with the ability to balance short-term event delivery and long-term portfolio growth
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong understanding of audience development, conference monetisation, and event performance metrics
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally when required

Backgrounds We’d Consider

• Senior Conference Producers
• Senior Event Producers
• Commercial Conference Directors
• Conference Production Managers
• Head of Conference Production candidates
• Commercial Events Managers
• Strategic Conference Producers
• B2B Events Professionals with portfolio ownership experience

What’s on Offer

• Hybrid working environment
• Career progression opportunities within a globally recognised events organisation
• International travel opportunities
• Ownership of a high-profile industry portfolio
• Exposure to senior global decision-makers and industry leaders
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Supportive and collaborative team culture
• The opportunity to influence business strategy and future portfolio growth
• Long-term career development within a growing international organisation