Senior Event Manager Hospitality

We Are 54; Wimbledon; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports and entertainment agency is seeking a Senior Event Manager for its Guest Experience team. The role involves developing premium hospitality experiences for large-scale sports events, requiring a background in agency or rightsholder roles. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in the sports and entertainment sectors, keen attention to detail, and the ability to travel internationally for 10-12 weeks a year. This position combines office-based work with significant event management responsibilities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual discretionary company bonus

Pension scheme

Private healthcare

25 days annual leave plus holidays

Qualifications

• Experience in hospitality offerings for large events.
• Strong knowledge of food, drink and sport.
• Ability to work unsupervised.

Responsibilities

• Design unique hospitality experiences that meet client briefs.
• Manage budgets and P&L for hospitality projects.
• Oversee supplier contracts and negotiations.

Skills

Hospitality experience

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management skills

Education

Experience in managing large events

IOSH food safety certification

Tools

Monday.com

Microsoft Office/365

Job description

Description

ABOUT 54GROUP

54 is a sports and entertainment agency operating across five regions and nine offices: United Kingdom (London), Europe (Sotogrande, Spain), MENA (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia & Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), APAC (Singapore, Vietnam & Adelaide, Australia) and USA (West Palm Beach, Florida). It works with rights holders, governing bodies, developers, household brands and major investors who share its belief in the power of sport. 54 comprises three service areas each consisting of two divisions: Strategic Advisory (Consultancy and Data & Insights), Asset Optimisation (Operations and Commercial) and Activation & Engagement (Events and Marketing). At its core, the company has an unwavering belief in embracing the opportunities offered by pushing at the edges of conventional wisdom.

Since its inception, 54 has gained significant recognition for its rapid growth and innovation in the golf industry. The company was named the 4th and 12th fastest-growing company in the United Kingdom by the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Additionally, 54 was ranked 171st in the Financial Times’ FT1000 list of the fastest-growing companies in Europe in 2021 and has been honoured five times consecutively as ‘Golf Business of the Year’ at the World Golf Awards, most recently in November 2024.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Senior Event Manager, Hospitality sits within the Guest Experience team of 54’s Events Division. The role will report to the Head of Guest Experience and have responsibility for leading the development and delivery of premium hospitality experiences for large-scale sports events internationally, initially focused on our golf events portfolio for clients such as LIV Golf.

The Senior Event Manager, Hospitality should come from an agency or rightsholder background, with extensive experience in delivering large-scale, premium experiences at major international events within the world of sports or entertainment. Critical for the role is a keen interest in sports & entertainment culture, with strong awareness of trends in consumer experiences and a natural drive and attention to detail to be able to create world‑class experiences for a variety of audiences.

The role requires international travel to event locations for 10–12 weeks a year, being hybrid office‑based for the remainder of the time. The ideal candidate is able to adapt fluidly between the demands of the corporate environment, where they will lead permanent staff, and the live event environment where they will oversee suppliers and wider on‑site delivery teams.

KEY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design and develop unique and world‑class hospitality experiences to a client brief for a range of offerings, targeted to the local market and various audiences
• Write and present proposals and updates to clients for approval, an maintain ongoing client liaison
• Lead on Hospitality budgets / P&L development and management
• Write briefs, scopes and specifications for supplier deliverables
• Manage commercial tender / RFP processes to procure suppliers, negotiate preferential rates and ensure robust contracting
• Review and feed into hospitality look & feel designs, space layouts, sport viewing experience and guest flow
• Review and feed into draft menu offerings, visual display and service management of F&B
• Ideate and propose complementary experiential offerings
• Ensure wayfinding signage, corporate / private suite signage and menu printing etc in hospitality spaces
• Oversee host / hostess / welcome staff requirements
• Work with colleagues in Event Operations team to align on build schedules and ensure necessary provision of back of house space and service / utility provisions
• Ensure the highest level of operational and safety standards in execution
• Ensure client and 54 sustainability requirements and reporting
• Manage integration of F&B partner / sponsor stock, visual merchandising and activation
• Work with catering suppliers and events H&S team to ensure food safety and allergen declarations
• Provide line management, training and guidance to permanent staff
• Assist in developing hospitality offerings and responses from new business proposals.

SPECIAL SKILLS / EXPERIENCE / APTITUDES NEEDED

• Knowledgeable and experienced in hospitality offerings in various large event settings
• Strong interest in the latest events and openings and food, drink and sport
• Excellent attention to detail and interest in creating a world‑class consumer experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A team player with a collaborative and can‑do attitude, strong interpersonal skills and ability to build strong working relationships
• Excellent organisational, decision‑making and time‑management skills
• Strong work ethic with the ability to work unsupervised
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Monday.com & WeTrack, presentation software and Microsoft Office / 365 suite including Excel & SharePoint
• UK right to work with requirement to be in our Wimbledon office at least 3 days a week, and travel internationally up to 12 weeks of the year
• Language skills advantageous (Spanish, Arabic)
• Experience in line management
• IOSH and Level 2 food safety certifications advantageous.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• Competitive Salary
• Annual Discretionary Company Bonus – up to 8% - 3% Company & 5% Individual
• Pension scheme
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays), pro‑rated & Birthday off
• Increased annual leave with years of service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Private Healthcare
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• Staff clothing
• Working hours will be from 09.00 to 17.30 with an hour taken for lunch between 12.00 and 14.00

54 is a sports and entertainment agency operating across five regions and eight offices: United Kingdom (London), Europe (Sotogrande, Spain), MENA (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia & Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), APAC (Singapore & Adelaide, Australia) and USA (West Palm Beach, Florida). It works with rights holders, governing bodies, household brands and major investors who share its belief in the power of sport. 54 comprises three service areas each consisting of two divisions: Strategic Advisory (Consultancy and Data & Insights), Asset Optimisation (Operations and Commercial), Activation & Engagement (Events and Marketing). At its core, the company has an unwavering belief in embracing the opportunities offered by pushing at the edges of conventional wisdom to turn the improbable into the unignorable.