Head of Events - 14 Month FTC

PA Consulting; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Westminster is searching for an experienced Head of Events for 14-month maternity cover. The role involves strategic planning and execution of key events, guiding a team, and building stakeholder relationships. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of event management experience, focusing on driving commercial value at events. The position offers a hybrid working model and generous benefits including healthcare and annual leave.

Benefits

Private healthcare

25 days annual leave

Generous company pension

Annual performance-based bonus

PA share ownership

Tax-efficient benefits

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years event management experience, with 3 years in a similar leadership role.
• Proven track record and extensive experience of B2B event delivery, ideally in a professional services environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning and implementation of marketing events.
• Manage and develop the events team.
• Build relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Oversee PA's presence at conferences and exhibitions.
• Ensure all events align with PA's brand identity.

Skills

Event management

Stakeholder management

B2B event delivery

Leadership

Flexibility and adaptability

Job description

Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Events, ideally from a professional services background, to join the team for a 14-month maternity cover. This role will focus on the end-to-end delivery of key strategic events at PA, provide guidance and maintain a best-in-class framework for our global colleagues, and successfully line-manage the events team. We’re looking for a candidate with extensive experience in both in-person and virtual event management, and a proven track record of managing sponsorships and delivering high-impact presence at third-party conferences and exhibitions. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional stakeholder management skills, including experience working with senior and C-suite leaders - and a commercial mindset that ensures every event delivers commercial value. They will also be flexible and adaptable, able to respond to changing priorities and fast-paced environments.

Key areas of responsibility

• Lead the strategic planning, development and implementation of PA's marketing events programme.
• Recommend innovative event strategies and programmes in response to marketing campaign briefs, ensuring alignment to commercial and brand objectives.
• Provide strategic oversight across all PA marketing events, ensuring excellence in delivery and measurable contribution to business goals.
• Line manage and develop the events team, providing leadership, performance management and professional growth opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, including partner level, offering expert guidance and influencing event decision-making.
• Develop strong relationships across the marketing function, including the client-facing teams and centres of excellence.
• Represent the events function across the business, championing its value and impact in a fast-paced, ideas-led environment.
• Take a hands-on role in the planning and execution of flagship and complex events, working closely with event managers, sector marketers and consulting teams to ensure seamless delivery.
• Personally lead the delivery of high-profile events where needed, managing logistics, timelines, and stakeholder expectations directly.
• Oversee PA's presence at third-party conferences and exhibitions, including sponsorship activations, speaker coordination and on-the-ground execution.
• Ensure all events are delivered to an exceptional standard, aligned with PA's brand identity and strategic objectives, and reflective of our creative and innovative culture.
• Develop and maintain best practice documentation, driving firm-wide adoption of high standards in event planning and delivery.
• Manage supplier relationships, ensuring quality service levels and negotiating contracts where appropriate.
• Manage risk across events, ensuring compliance with PA's policies and procedures.
• Develop and manage central and event-specific budgets, ensuring cost-effective delivery and strong ROI.
• Collaborate with the Digital Marketing team to analyse event performance, report on outcomes and use insights to inform future planning.
• Oversee the management and use of the Zoom webinar license and other relevant platforms and tools.
• Explore and evaluate new technologies, platforms and tools that could enhance event delivery, audience engagement or operational efficiency.
• Make recommendations for innovative solutions that align with PA's creative and forward-thinking approach to events.

What we\'re looking for

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Events, ideally from a professional services background, to join the team for a 14-month maternity cover. This role will focus on the end-to-end delivery of key strategic events at PA, provide guidance and maintain a best-in-class framework for our global colleagues, and successfully line-manage the events team. We\'re looking for a candidate with extensive experience in both in-person and virtual event management, and a proven track record of managing sponsorships and delivering high-impact presence at third-party conferences and exhibitions. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional stakeholder management skills, including experience working with senior and C-suite leaders - and a commercial mindset that ensures every event delivers commercial value. They will also be flexible and adaptable, able to respond to changing priorities and fast-paced environments.

Key qualifications

• Minimum 10 years event management experience, with 3 years in a similar leadership role
• Proven track record and extensive experience of B2B event delivery, ideally in a professional services environment

Working arrangements

Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment.

Additional information

• Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance. All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard; some roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, with at least 5 years of continuous UK residency.
• If you\'re unsure about your eligibility, review the UK Government\'s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Company description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. We have deep expertise across industries and operate globally from offices in the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

Life at PA

Life At PA encompasses our people’s experience at PA. It’s about how we enrich people’s working lives by giving them access to growth opportunities and purpose-led meaningful work. We support our communities and deliver insight and impact. We’re committed to inclusion and equality, and to helping everyone be their best self. Benefits include:

• Health and lifestyle perks including private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a half day on Christmas Eve) with the option to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension
• Opportunity to engage with community and charity initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax-efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)