Head of Events | £50k | Confidential Not-For-Profit London

Location: Central London (minimum 4 days per week in the office)

Salary: £50,000 gross per annum + benefits (25 days holiday, contributory pension)

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Hours: 35 per week

Reporting To: Executive Director

Direct Reports: Events and Marketing Officer

Start Date: As soon as possible

Overview

Oplu is leading the search for a Head of Events at a confidential British not-for-profit organisation with deep heritage and a strong national reputation. Based in central London, the successful candidate will develop, produce, and deliver a large and varied annual programme of 30+ member events a year, spanning business, social, sporting, and major set-piece occasions.

Reporting to the Executive Director and managing the Events and Marketing Officer, this is a hands-on senior events leadership role at £50,000 plus benefits. Full-time permanent, 35 hours per week, minimum four days per week in the office.

About the organisation

The organisation is a confidential British not-for-profit membership body with deep heritage and a strong national reputation. Its membership includes respected and well-known organisations from across British business, and the work sits at an interesting intersection of commerce, tradition, and public life.

It is a small, close-knit team based in central London. It runs an events programme that is both prestigious and unusually varied, business and educational events for members, social occasions, sporting fixtures, and major set-piece events. For a senior events professional, few employers offer this combination: the standing of a respected British institution, an unusually varied 30+ event annual programme, and the breadth of a small team where the Head of Events also shapes the marketing and communications wrapped around the events.

Why this role

This is a senior events leadership role with real ownership. The Head of Events owns the full event process, from concept and budget through to on-the-day delivery and post-event evaluation. Working closely with the Executive Director, Director of Communications, and Head of Finance, the successful candidate will shape the annual events calendar, contribute new event concepts, and grow the organisation's sustainability programme.

There is line management of the Events and Marketing Officer, full budget ownership across the events programme, and accountability for events marketing across the website, e-newsletters, social media, and the members' magazine.

For a senior events professional who wants scope, ownership, and the standing of a respected British institution, this is an unusually rich brief.

Key Responsibilities

Events programme leadership

• Develop, produce, and deliver a balanced annual programme of 30+ events that brings value to member companies, operating within the organisation's governance framework.
• Own the full event process from concept to completion.
• Design and manage the events budget in close partnership with the Head of Finance.
• Monitor and evaluate event success and measure impact on member engagement.
• Contribute new event concepts and continuous improvements aligned to the organisation's strategic priorities.
• Ensure the events activities of the organisation, the associated charitable foundation, and the regional network are aligned where possible.
• Develop and maintain partner relationships across venues, suppliers, sponsors, and member companies.

Line management and team development

• Line manage and develop the Events and Marketing Officer on a day-to-day basis.
• Ensure all tasks are carried out in a timely manner with a high level of accuracy.
• Oversee administrative discipline across events, including website, Salesforce, and filing systems.

Marketing, communications, and member magazine

• Own events marketing across the organisation's channels: website, e-newsletters, social media, and members' magazine.
• Work alongside the Director of Communications on effective communications tied to the events programme, the regional network, and partners.
• Enhance functionality, content, and design of the members' and public-facing websites.
• Commission content for magazines and other publications as agreed.
• Take responsibility for digital projects, including social media.

Sustainability programme

• Working with the Executive Director, Development Manager, and external partners, develop the organisation's sustainability policies and programmes for members.
• Support marketing and communications tied to the sustainability programme.

Stakeholder engagement

• Support the organisation's President, particularly around event attendance and company visits.
• Grow opportunities for practical engagement between the organisation, its member companies, specialists, and agencies.

Requirements

Must-haves

• Proven experience in a senior event management role, including programming, detailed budgeting, on-site management, marketing, and supplier management.
• Proven experience in marketing development, both online and offline.
• Strong relationship-building skills across multiple stakeholders. Comfortable working effectively with individuals at all levels including senior management and C-suite.
• Senior-level project management experience.
• Some people management and development experience.
• Excellent organisational and time management, able to multi-task, with a flexible, can-do attitude.
• Some knowledge of website development including functionality and content, and the ability to direct changes and enhancement.
• Effective written and verbal communication with meticulous attention to detail.
• Discretion, resilience, and the ability to work under pressure.
• Sound judgement, hands-on approach, ability to translate strategy and planning into action.
• Flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends when events require it. Time off in lieu is provided.
• Right to work in the UK.

Strong advantage

• Events experience in a B2B or membership-organisation environment.
• Salesforce experience.
• Understanding of business sustainability practices.
• Experience of working and engaging with membership bodies or similar, requiring digital and social media confidence.

Preferred background

• Knowledge and appreciation of British brands from a variety of industries.
• An interest in British business, heritage, and public life.

Working at the organisation

The team is small and the events programme is large, so the work has real pace and variety. No two weeks look the same, one might centre on a major set-piece event, another on a members' networking evening, another on the production of a members' magazine issue or the sustainability programme. The Head of Events owns the annual calendar while working across marketing, communications, and stakeholder engagement.

The role is office-based for a minimum of four days a week at the organisation's central London offices. Evening and occasional weekend work is part of the events calendar, and time off in lieu is provided to balance it. This is a permanent role with a clear remit and the scope to grow the events function and the sustainability programme in step with the organisation's strategic priorities.

Practical Information

• Contract: Full-time, permanent.
• Hours: 35 hours per week. Minimum four days a week in the office.
• Salary: £50,000 gross per annum.
• Benefits: 25 days' annual leave and a contributory pension.
• Location: Central London.
• Working pattern: Evening and occasional weekend work required, with time off in lieu.
• Reporting to: Executive Director.
• Direct reports: Events and Marketing Officer.
• Start: As soon as possible.
• Right to work in the UK required.

Application Process

Apply via the form on this page. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 14 days of submitting your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.