Senior Event & Experience Manager

Live Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading events organisation in the UK is looking for a Senior Event & Experience Manager to oversee the delivery of a flagship annual festival. The candidate will manage all aspects of event planning, including safety, logistics, and attendee engagement. Ideal candidates will possess extensive experience in event management and fan engagement, alongside strong leadership and analytical skills. This role offers the chance to work on high-profile events and make a significant impact within the organisation.

Benefits

Event Access

On-Site Parking

Team Kit/Uniform

Ticket Discounts

Food & Drink Discounts

Attractions Discount

Retail Discount

Guest Passes

Wellbeing Programme

Fitness Classes

Private Health Cover

Team Socials

Development Opportunities

Experience Discounts

Qualifications

• Proven experience in fan engagement and event management at a senior level.
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision-making.
• Adaptability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative and operational delivery of events.
• Develop multi-year strategy for market-leading event.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and stakeholder requirements.

Skills

Fan engagement

Event management

Project management

Marketing

Leadership

Collaboration

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Job description

Do you want to be part of a high-profile events organisation behind one of the UK’s most celebrated live experiences? Are you excited by the challenge of delivering a large-scale, multi-day public event that pushes creative and operational boundaries? This is a unique opportunity for a Senior Event & Experience Manager to make a tangible impact on one of the country’s flagship events.

• Event Access
• On-Site Parking
• Team Kit/Uniform
• Ticket Discounts
• Food & Drink Discounts
• Attractions Discount
• Retail Discount
• Guest Passes
• Wellbeing Programme
• Fitness Classes
• Private Health Cover
• Team Socials
• Development Opportunities
• Experience Discounts

The Company

This organisation has an unrivalled reputation for delivering some of the most iconic large-scale events on the international sport calendar, attracting huge audiences year after year and creating unforgettable experiences that extend far beyond the sport itself. With outstanding facilities, ambitious plans for the future, and a strong focus on long-term growth, the team delivers over 40 world-class events annually on brief, on time, and within budget, across an increasingly diverse programme. The organisation brings the world’s best to a premier venue, driven by adrenaline, energy, and a passionate team shaping the next era of a flagship sport event.

The Role

Our client is seeking a Senior Event & Experience Manager to lead the creative and operational delivery of their flagship annual festival. As a Senior Event & Experience Manager, you will shape the end-to-end event experience, from ticketing to post-event engagement, ensuring the festival remains innovative, immersive, and operationally excellent. You will take full ownership of the event, overseeing all aspects of planning, infrastructure, safety, logistics, and on-site delivery.

• Develop and deliver a multi-year strategy to ensure the event remains a market-leading celebration of sport culture.
• Take full ownership of operational planning and delivery, including budgets, site design, traffic management, cleaning, safety, contingency planning, and post-event evaluation.
• Ensure all operational plans, schedules, and briefings align with creative concepts, stakeholder requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Drive continuous improvement through post-event reviews, KPI analysis, and implementation of learnings.
• Identify and implement emerging event technologies, including immersive experiences, digital engagement tools, and live content solutions.
• Oversee seamless technology integration across pre-event communications, on-site delivery, and post-event engagement.
• Lead the development and enhancement of event apps and digital platforms to improve attendee experience.
• Design a seamless, data-informed attendee journey that prioritises engagement, accessibility, and satisfaction.
• Use audience insights and feedback to inform crowd management, personalised experiences, and interactive activations.
• Lead and mentor event teams, supporting recruitment, development, and performance management.
• Work closely with marketing, commercial, hospitality, and operations teams to ensure aligned delivery.
• Develop innovative, high-impact sponsorship and partner activations that enhance the event without compromising the fan experience.
• Oversee live event delivery, coordinating infrastructure, security, stewarding, access control, and emergency response.
• Act as Duty Manager during live days, responding effectively to operational challenges using real-time data and feedback.
• Lead post-event communications, including surveys, content distribution, and personalised attendee follow-up.
• Analyse performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for future development.
• Champion sustainable event practices, including waste reduction, responsible sourcing, and carbon reduction initiatives.
• Lead and develop the festival team and help create a positive, proactive culture within the department.
• Professional presentation reflecting the client’s values. • Increased fan, competitor, and sponsor satisfaction scores at events.
• Budget performance and adherence.
• Ownership and timely completion of events and projects.
• Effective teamwork and collaboration.
• Achievement of objectives set through the Personal Development Review (PDR) process.

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in fan engagement, event management, project management, and marketing at a senior level, ideally within sports, entertainment, or live events. As a Senior Event & Experience Manager, you will have a deep understanding of global trends in the events industry, with the ability to apply innovative solutions to elevate large-scale public events. You will demonstrate exceptional leadership and communication skills, working collaboratively across multi-disciplinary teams while inspiring and motivating others. Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data and insight to inform decision-making and strategy development are essential. A passion for sport, entertainment, or live events, combined with creativity and vision, will enable you to deliver world-class experiences. You will also be a problem solver, able to think quickly and find innovative solutions under pressure, taking full ownership of your projects from conception to delivery.

• Proven experience in fan engagement, event management/project management, and marketing at a senior level
• Deep understanding of global event trends and ability to apply innovative solutions
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills
• Strong analytical skills and data-driven decision-making
• Passion for live events, entertainment, or sport, with a commitment to world-class delivery
• Creativity and vision, with a keen eye for detail
• Demonstrable problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure to deadlines
• Ability to take full ownership of projects and deliver results independently
• Team player with a proactive "can-do" attitude
• Proven expertise in health and safety management and regulatory compliance
• Flexible approach to working hours, including evenings and weekends, particularly during peak event periods

In return, a strong package of employee benefits, ongoing development opportunities, and the chance to play a key role within a highly regarded live events organisation delivering nationally significant experiences is offered.

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/16319