Head of Events and Engagement

THE BUILDING CENTRE GROUP LTD; London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cultural centre in London seeks a Head of Events and Engagement to drive strategic initiatives and enhance audience involvement. This role will focus on creating high-quality, inclusive events, fostering partnerships, and ensuring operational excellence. As part of a dynamic team, you'll leverage your event management skills to engage diverse audiences and support the Centre's mission.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in planning and delivering high-quality events.
• Experience in leading or managing teams.
• Commercial awareness for income-generating activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an events and engagement strategy.
• Line manage and mentor the Events & Venue Hire Manager.
• Identify and secure funding and partnership opportunities.

Skills

Project Management

Interpersonal Skills

Communication

Job description

Head of Events and Engagement

The Role

The Building Centre is an iconic events, exhibition, gallery, office and co-working space located in the heart of London’s West End. As a thriving hub for the UK’s built environment sector, the Building Centre provides a focus and showcase for the architecture, design, construction and planning communities. As a part of this mission the Centre delivers 2-3 large-scale, long-term, multi-partner exhibitions each year, focused on issues of key importance to policy and practice in the built environment, most recently the much-acclaimed Retrofit 25 exhibition.

To complement the success of these exhibitions, we are seeking to build a broad and ambitious range of shorter-term events and exhibitions, maximising use of its extensive gallery and event space, aimed at bringing a larger and more diverse range of visitors into the building, securing new collaborations that extend beyond those we already have in place, and creating and mobilising new ways in which the Building Centre can drive new revenue streams in support of its mission, whilst generating excitement, energy and engagement amongst its core audiences and beyond.
The Head of Events and Engagement will work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to create innovative, relevant, and accessible events that engage professionals, students, and the general public with the built environment. This role will ensure that the Building Centre’s spaces – from immersive exhibition corners to flexible seminar rooms – are used to their full potential, helping to drive income generation and support the organisation’s charitable mission.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Programme Development

• Develop and implement a cohesive events and engagement strategy aligned with the Building Centre’s mission and growth ambitions.
• Identify and develop new event formats and programming ideas, integrating the immersive projection corner and modular exhibition spaces.
• Work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders (including architects, designers, community groups, and funders) to co-create and deliver innovative events.
• Act as the brand guardian for events, ensuring all experiences reflect the Building Centre’s values and vision.

Operational Oversight & Team Management

• Line manage and mentor the Events & Venue Hire Manager, fostering a culture of creativity, customer focus, and commercial acumen.
• Oversee the smooth planning and delivery of all events, ensuring operational excellence and a high standard of visitor experience.
• Develop and maintain systems for monitoring and evaluating events performance, ensuring continuous improvement.

Income Generation & Partnerships

• Work closely with the Director of Development and Innovation to identify and secure funding, sponsorship, and partnership opportunities.
• Actively develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including venue clients, sponsors, and programme collaborators.
• Support the development and delivery of commercial venue hire and events activity, ensuring alignment with the Building Centre’s values and audience needs.

Audience Engagement & Impact

• Ensure that events and engagement activity are inclusive, relevant, and accessible to a broad range of audiences.
• Develop and implement creative approaches to widen participation and deepen audience engagement.
• Contribute to communications and marketing strategies for events, working with the wider team to ensure maximum reach and impact.

Financial & Administrative

• Oversee events and venue hire budgets, ensuring financial sustainability and robust reporting.
• Support the Events & Venue Hire Manager in developing and maintaining effective administrative systems, including CRM and data tracking.
• Ensure that all events meet health and safety requirements and best practice standards.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in planning and delivering high-quality events and engagement activity, ideally in a cultural, creative, or built environment context.
• Demonstrated experience of leading or managing teams and fostering a collaborative working culture.
• Commercial awareness and experience in income-generating event activity.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with a proven ability to juggle multiple priorities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence at all levels.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Some knowledge of the built environment sector and the issues shaping it.
• Experience of working in a public-facing cultural or creative organisation.
• Experience in working with immersive or interactive AV environments.

Behaviours

• Enthusiastic, proactive, and creative, with a commitment to excellence.
• Inclusive and collaborative, with a passion for sharing knowledge and connecting people.
• Flexible, adaptable, and open to innovation.

Application Process

Please INCLUDE A COVERING LETTER with your application outlining your suitability for the role and why you want to join the Building Centre team.

Please note that we may hold interviews before the application closing date, so please apply early.