Informa Connect Hiring for Exhibition Manager – Operations Job at Dubai

Informa PLC is a leading international events, intelligence and scholarly research group.

Our purpose is to champion the specialist. Through hundreds of powerful brands we work with businesses and professionals in specialist markets, providing the connections, intelligence and opportunities that help customers grow, do business, make breakthroughs and take better informed decisions. Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange and a member of FTSE 100, with over 11,000 colleagues working in more than 30 countries.

The role advertised sits within our new digital events and content business, based in Dubai and is part of the Informa Connect Division. This new digital events platform is uniquely fast paced and engaging, with highly curated virtual events that offer deep insights delivered brilliantly by industry experts, shaping conversations on critical industry topics and issues.

Informa Connect is a live events, digital content specialist connecting professionals with knowledge, idea and opportunities.

In a world where the number of information sources and digital channels is proliferating, businesses and professionals come to Informa Connect for relevant, high-quality knowledge and connections that help them learn more and do more.

Through specialist content and connections, delivered via in-person events, virtual events and digital platforms, Informa Connect’s brands provide the latest thinking and ways to meet experts, peers and stay connected within a community.

We invest in creating exciting experiences based on high-quality speakers, stimulating content and platforms that enable discussion and networking. Our digital services provide year-round community content and connections and give sponsors and marketers effective ways to reach the right customers. Our brands are continuously developed to ensure they deliver a quantifiable return to audiences, sponsors and speakers.

Directs and/or has overall insight into facility, contractor, operational, production, and food and beverage activities for assigned events. Is responsible for related functions from inception to completion, including performing initial site research and proposals, and ensuring all contractual arrangements for vendor services have been implemented. Attends assigned shows/conferences and is responsible for coordinating on-site operations. Manages, trains, monitors and develops staff assigned to the event.

Success will be aligned to the delivery of high quality, cost-effective and sustainable event experiences to agreed KPI’s and achieving ongoing product improvement reflected in customer satisfaction and NPS scores.

Delivery (60%)

• Personally lead & deliver on an agreed number of experiences per year as well as oversight and management of the delivery on your allocated regional portfolio of events.

• Understand all end-to-end processes for delivery of in person, hybrid, and digital experiences

• Continually review processes and practice to identify obsolete workflows and tools with little customer value or ROI and feedback to the VP, Delivery

• Researches and Negotiates potential and existing show locations and venues; prepares site/facility proposals and makes recommendations

• In Conjunction with the Brand Director, develops the annual budgets, monthly forecasts, actual spend, ROI and cost savings.

• Oversees Event Floorplan (inclusive of meeting rooms and Exhibit Hall). Works with Expo Lead to ensure efficient use of space, proper traffic flow and compliance with safety and facility requirements.

• Work with Housing Agency to identify Hotel Blocks, ensure all Informa Connect standards are included in contract and monitor and manage hotel blocks throughout the event process.

• Will be able to recruit and train temporary staff to help execute events. This will include developing and updating training materials for the exhibition function

Collaboration/Best Practice (10%)

• Become a trusted partner with your Brand(s) with regular engagement and feedback to build an effective working relationship

• Ensure there is full adoption of agreed processes of new, integrated end-to-end delivery process and SOP for your region

• Build a customer-first approach that provides efficient, effective and value add service to our vertical and regional brand teams

Event Intelligence (Technology, Platforms & Registration) (10%)

• Play a key role in the adoption and success of our core technology platforms for live and on-demand experiences

• Work closely with the Event Intelligence Manager to plan resource requirements for all events

Health & Safety, Supplier Partnerships, Legal, Sustainability & DEI (10%)

• Ensure all events follow the H&S Operating Model and Incident Management Frameworks are followed and adopted

• Champion Connect initiatives, advancing the Faster Forward sustainability agenda (ensuring The Fundamentals are submitted in a timely manner for all events) and embedding our inclusive behaviors into your team culture and practices

• Mitigate risk of attrition with key categories of spend (venues, bedroom blocks) through continuous monitoring of hotel blocks with key deadlines identified

• Ensure venues are procured in a timely manner and meet event and budget requirements

• Maintain strong relationships with temp agency, a/v, main contractor, etc. vendors to be able to maintain and even raise the standards of our event delivery

Planning and Budgeting (10%) (This information is included in Delivery)

• Responsible for timely submission of event costs throughout event cycle

• Support Delivery Director with setting annual budgets, accurate forecasting against event experience and GP based objectives

• Code invoices and corporate expenses

Required Experience & Skills

• Senior level operational experience in the B2B and / or B2C events industry and an established track record of successfully delivering world class live events and experiences

• Demonstrable experience of multi-platform delivery of live experiences and working with service providers of both physical and digital event products

• A strong, influential leader with the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels

• High level of commercial and financial awareness – and proven ability to deliver against KPI’s

• Proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects, oversee regional teams and work in a fast-paced environment

• Have a strong understanding of the workings of not just the delivery / operations function but also other departments like production, marketing, sales, registration, etc.

• Experience of managing P&L budgets and delivering accurate, timely forecasting and reporting

• Tech savvy and willing to adopt and embrace new technologies

• Detail-oriented, excellent written and verbal skills, extremely organized

• Understanding of how to use data in decision making

• High level of sustainability knowledge and experience of delivering against sustainability goals

• Positive can-do attitude. You relish a challenge and are confident finding solutions to problems

• Negotiation and management of high-level supplier contracts and relationships

• You are adaptable to change and a fast-paced environment

• You are ambitious, influential and pay close attention to detail

Additional Information

We know that sometimes the ‘perfect candidate’ doesn’t exist, and that people can be put off applying for a job if they don’t fit all the requirements. If you’re excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we’re looking for, please go ahead and apply. You could be just what we need! We believe strongly in the value of diversity and creating supportive, inclusive environments where our colleagues can succeed. As such, Informa is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, ancestry, national origin, religion, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), age, marital status, citizenship, or other protected characteristics under federal, state or local law.