We at PEI Group are looking for a ‘Head of Event Operations, EMEA’ to join our diverse, and growing team based here in London. Successful candidate will lead the EMEA Event Operations team through 9+ conferences plus smaller ancillary events and work alongside their global counterparts in APAC and US.
Your main responsibilities will include:
Leadership & Team Management
- Manage and develop a team of Event Managers and Coordinators (4 direct reports and 3 indirect reports), conducting regular performance reviews and managing workload planning to foster a high-performance team culture
- Accountable for all EMEA-led events including smaller ancillary events: lead the EMEA Event Operations team in the end-to-end delivery of all events
- Planning yearly event resourcing: assess the annual event portfolio and allocate team resources to ensure effective capacity planning across the year
- Planning onsite staffing: determine staffing requirements per event, coordinating internal team members and external staff to ensure seamless onsite delivery
- Champion best practice processes and constantly seek to improve delivery, introducing efficiencies where required
Stakeholder Management & Reporting
- Updating Senior Management: provide regular feedback and updates on event progress to the Global Head of Event Operations and Directors
- Collaboration with internal stakeholders: work closely with Associate Directors, Regional Heads, Sponsorship Managers, Head of Networks, Commercial Directors and the Global Head of Event Operations to ensure quality of delivery across all events
- Work with the Regional Heads of Event Operations and Global Head of Event Operations to ensure alignment and consistent application of best practice across all events
- Partner with sponsorship and commercial teams to build sponsorship inventories and manage the fulfilment of deliverables for each event
- Prepare and deliver recommendations on venue options – taking into consideration commercial risks and cost implications – to senior internal stakeholders, providing informed guidance to support decision-making
Budget & Financial Management
- Budget setting: full responsibility for budget management (up to $1million) and post-event P&Ls, including setting the budget for each event and reforecasting three times a year, reviewing revenue forecasts against current budgeted costs
- Ongoing budget management: achieve budget goals through close monitoring of revenue and expenses, working closely with all departments to ensure spending remains within budget
- Invoicing: process all invoices to ensure prompt payment and accurate facilitation of post-event P&L accounts
Venue & Supplier Management
- Venue contracting: lead venue search and contracting, cost comparisons
- Negotiating with and managing contractors: oversee third-party vendors including app developers, AV suppliers, caterers, photographers, printers and designers
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key contractors and suppliers, ensuring consistent service quality and reliable partnerships to support event delivery
Event Planning & Delivery
- Team timelines: develop and communicate detailed event timelines to the conference team, ensuring all workstreams are on track
- Onsite management: oversee all pre-event and live event operations, working with venues and managing onsite staff to deliver a seamless experience
- Leadership onsite: oversee the full onsite experience including registration, signage, meal functions, customer service, and event production across plenary and breakout rooms
- Evaluating event performance: produce post-event reporting on the onsite experience, capturing learnings and best practices to inform future events
- Lead key workstreams for the business's flagship global conference, taking ownership of defined project areas and working with the Head of Event Delivery to drive cross-functional collaboration and ensure world-class delivery
Qualification & Experience
- A minimum of 10 years' experience in event operations, ideally gained within a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
- At least 5 years' experience working within a B2B conference and/or exhibitions business, with a strong understanding of the full event lifecycle.
- Proven experience managing and leading a team of 7 or more, with the ability to inspire, develop and performance-manage both direct and indirect report
- Commercially minded, with the ability to understand and contribute to the financial performance of events, including budget management, cost control and revenue awarenes
Personal Attributes
- A hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up operator who is equally comfortable thinking and acting strategically - able to shift between the detail and the bigger picture with easy.
- A confident and experienced leader who leads by example, motivating and developing their team while maintaining high standards of delivery across all events.
- A strong all-rounder with broad event operations knowledge spanning staff management, workload planning, stakeholder engagement, budget and P&L management, sponsorship fulfilment, delegate registration, event logistics and on-site delivery.
- Commercially astute, with a sharp eye for value - a skilled negotiator who consistently achieves best value from venues, suppliers and contractors.
- Up to date with the latest event industry trends, supplier landscapes, venue costs, event technology and innovative event formats and concepts.
- Confident working with and influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, from commercial and sponsorship teams through to senior leadership.
- Practical, resourceful and solutions-focused - able to remain calm and diplomatic under pressure while keeping events on track.
- Highly motivated and positive, with a genuine can-do attitude and the drive to deliver world-class events consistently.
PEI1
What we do:
PEI sits at the centre of one of the most dynamic industries in global finance. Private markets have grown from a niche corner of the investment world into an industry with $15 trillion AUM, spanning dozens of strategies, hundreds of geographies and thousands of funds. The professionals navigating it rely on us to make sharper decisions.
Today, PEI operates a range of platforms, each dedicated to a major asset class or investment theme; from private equity and infrastructure to real estate, private credit and beyond.
What makes us genuinely different is what we bring together. Data-enabled tools. Data-enriched insight. Built on powerful proprietary datasets. Editorial insights based on deep market knowledge and experience. The networks and communities that convene the people who move and manage capital. No other business is this well connected. This shapes everything we build, every hire we make, and every decision we take.
Who we’re looking for:
Our 500+ team spans Europe, APAC and the Americas – researchers, journalists, data scientists, product engineers, events professionals, marketers and commercial specialists – all working to give private markets professionals the intelligence edge they need.
Central to everything we do is our people. We’ve built a culture where talent grows, careers are built with intention, and everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and make their mark.
At PEI we value diverse talent and welcome applications from everyone – regardless of background. We are an equal opportunity employer and our inclusive culture at PEI is reflected in every stage of the recruitment journey. Please inform us at initial stages of the recruitment process if you require any reasonable adjustments and we can accommodate this.
PEI Group supports flexible working arrangements, and we welcome career returners.
