Company Description
Informa Markets, a division within Informa, creates global platforms for industries. We organise over 500 large-scale branded and transaction-oriented events in 14 specialist markets. These are typically not-to-be-missed annual events where buyers and sellers build relationships, see and show products and do business.
We also provide year-round online platforms where companies showcase their businesses and products and buyers conduct research, generating valuable leads, and we provide data and digital content that supports the flow of knowledge and transactions in markets.
Job Description
Informa is looking for an Event Director to lead the launch of a regional supercar event in Bahrain, held under a globally recognized brand. The Event Director is responsible for planning, selling and delivering the event in close collaboration with all event functions including sales, marketing, content, operations and finance. This event is of strategic importance to both Informa and local government stakeholders in Bahrain, and therefore the highest standards of external stakeholder management and customer experience delivery are expected.
The Event Director is responsible for leading and delivering the achievement of event targets, while developing innovative ideas for event features and content to attract and enhance visitor/exhibitor experience. A strong sales track record, Arabic language fluency and cultural understanding, as well as a passion for supercars are strongly desired capabilities.
Key Performance Indicators
- Achievement of event targets in accordance with event budget
- Regular communication & reporting of progress and results to the senior management team.
- Visible team management and leadership (e.g. Objective setting, training assessments, coaching, feedback and appraisals).
- Demonstration of event growth including increasing non-square meter sales.
- Development/enhancement of event features, experiences and content to achieve & improve visitor/exhibitor NPS
Main Responsibilities
Event & Brand management
- Lead the development and maintenance of a strategic plan in collaboration with the brand and senior management team.
- Oversee and monitor the strategic plan to ensure it is executed within budget
- Agree the annual exhibition budget with the brand and senior management team and cascade this to team members
- Uphold the brand reputation of Informa as the premier exhibition & events provider at all times
- Ensure that the planned exhibition growth and targets are achievable with available resources
- Be responsible for and ensure compliance with company Health and Safety standards
- Create event content and features with the team that will ensure longer term visitor interest and or commercial success
- Champion Sustainability agenda
- Evaluate event effectiveness and recommend strategies for improvement
Finance and Reporting
- Control and manage exhibition costs within budget through monthly reviews
- Liaise with the finance team to track event budget
- Ensure all documentation required is completed accurately and on time
- Track and document all revenue and cost transactions
- Ensure timely reporting to ensure any issue areas are identified
- Complete weekly reporting structure with the event management team
- Prepare monthly project reports to be presented to senior stakeholder
- Prepare annual event budgets and forecasts
Sales and Commercial
- Lead by example by bringing in sales and sponsorship deals for key accounts and relationships
- Lead and manage the sales team through monitoring sales activities and performance
- Schedule regular sales meetings in order to review performance and productivity and provide guidance and direction
- Analyse rebooking statistics and identify ways to maximize client retention
- Strategize and produce opportunities for the exhibition teams to increase non square-metre sales
- Provide opportunities for growth within the exhibition profile
Marketing
- Collaborate with the Marketing Department to achieve event objectives
- Contribute to the marketing strategy and have regular reviews with marketing leads
- Monitor database growth and lead generation in appropriate markets and feedback on improvements
Operations
- Collaborate with the Operations Department to achieve event objectives
- Provide direction on floor plans to ensure client requirements are maintained
- Closely adhere to logistics plans
- Assist and provide support to the Operations team onsite, pre-, during and post-event
People Management and leadership
- Create an environment which encourages teamwork and collaboration
- Assist in the hiring and retention of talent where applicable
- Effectively manage team members which includes:
- Setting clear expectations and objectives
- Providing regular and structured feedback & coaching sessions to drive a high performance culture
- Ensuring the effective on-boarding of new team members
- Providing training and support
- Managing the performance management process in line with company standards
- Initiating recognition programs to reward and recognise individual and team achievement
- Identifying team members for promotion/advancement and creating development plans with the HR team
- Taking disciplinary action if/when necessary in conjunction with the HR team
- Continual development of management and leadership skills.
Any other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, marketing, finance, or related field
- Ability to develop relationships at senior levels and own the management and interaction with high value customer/partner accounts.
- Senior role in business development, sales, or marketing.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Exceptional leadership and management skills.
- Demonstrates gravitas, high level of enthusiasm and drive.
- Previous exhibition/conference industry experience is advantageous.
- Effective communication and negotiation skills.
- Strong business and commercial acumen.
- Detail-oriented and persuasive.
- Arabic language and experience in the Middle East strongly desired.
- Passion for supercars desired
Additional Information
We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone. Here’s some of what you can expect when you join us. But don’t just take our word for it – see what our colleagues have to say at LifeAt.Informa.com
Our benefits include: -
- Freedom & flexibility: colleagues rate us highly for the flexibility and trust they receive and most of us balance time in the office with time working remotely
- Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks
- Time out: 30 days annual leave, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
- Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer
- Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
- A comprehensive company funded private medical insurance with optical and dental coverage
- Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, access to mental health first aiders, and access to health apps and more
- Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes
- As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world
We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most – although not all – of the skills .and experience listed, we welcome your application. At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed.
As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law. Ask us or see our website for full information. See how Informa handles your personal data when you apply for a job here
