Events Executive

Job Description

Due to a recent internal promotion we are recruiting an Events Executive to join our London based events team.
Department purpose

The marketing department is integral to setting and achieving the firm's global client strategy. This includes guiding partners and associates in their pursuit of becoming clients' trusted advisers, building and maintaining long-lasting, deep institutional client relationships, winning new clients, increasing the visibility of the firm globally, and positioning the firm as the thought leader and most advanced law firm among the global elite law firms.
The function works as one team across the globe, with very close collaboration between the central groups (such as communications) and professionals working in local offices, practice groups, sectors, and clients.
The Central Events Team is a medium-sized team of events professionals based in A&O Shearman's London office.

• The team delivers an end-to-end event management solution for A&O Shearman's client and internal events. Individuals have in-depth involvement in the identification and planning phases for event marketing activities.
• The team makes recommendations, implements best practice globally, and provides outstanding event marketing support to the business's client relationship programme.
• The team is responsible for a variety of strategic events, ranging from creative London-based dinners and drinks receptions to training-based global offsites and content-rich conferences.

Role purpose

The Events Executive runs market-leading global events with creative execution to ensure our events are differentiated from our competitors in the market.
This person has in-depth involvement in the identification and planning phases for events and is fully aware the role events marketing plays in achieving the wider firm's strategic vision. They are able to confidently make recommendations to partners and senior business development colleagues whilst implementing events best practice globally.

Role & responsibilities

• Project manage complex events (in-person, virtual and hybrid programs) of varying sizes both in the UK and globally.
• Lead projects with multiple partners (across our global offices and practice groups) from the initial brief through to onsite execution and debrief.
• Ensure the A&O Shearman brand and values are clearly represented by A&O Shearman events.
• Leverage relationships with our partners, lawyers and marketing colleagues to gain the confidence in relation to their event.
• Give advisory support to any member of the business undertaking client entertainment.
• Stay abreast of all the latest trends within the industry including attending industry conferences and networking events.
• Maintain and managing current relationships with suppliers and building relationships with new contacts and suppliers.
• Assess the business value of an event within the integrated marketing campaign and giving guidance on suitability where appropriate.
• Post-event reporting, including attendee lists, attendee breakdowns and reconciliation.
• Budget management, negotiation, invoice management and data analysis post-event.

Key requirements

• Experience working as an established Events Executive (or similar level role) within the professional services, financial or in-house corporate environment.
• Experience working internationally within hotels and venues with a strong network to support.
• Experience working with DMCs (Destination Management Companies).
• Ability to work successfully and efficiently with minimal supervision on large-scale events (managing multiple suppliers and stakeholders), yet seek and take direction appropriately.
• Attention to detail and ability to problem solve is essential.
• Excellent knowledge of UK/Continental European and Worldwide venues and suppliers.
• An interest in global trends in event delivery, including the deployment of new technologies and platforms.
• Experience in virtual and hybrid event delivery.
• Committed to proving the 'value-add' of events.
• Highly articulate and able to present ideas and event suggestions to all levels of management.
• A proactive approach, creativity, 'out of the box' thinking attitude.
• Ability to work to deadlines, plan and manage multiple projects, manage expectations and deliver under pressure.
• Willingness to work additional hours when required (e.g. breakfast seminars and dinners).
• Willingness to travel overseas for work, when required.
• A successful track record of the execution of in-person international events as well as virtual events from working in a fast-paced global organisation.
• Problem solving, pro-active team player with an ability to multi-task and project manage a variety of events at different planning stages.
• Excellent IT skills and experience on event management e-registration systems, i.e. Eventotgy, Cvent, Vuture.
• Well-developed organisational, verbal and written communication skills, with solid problem solving ability.
• Ability to focus on detail, exercise independent judgement whilst influencing partners towards the best results.

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

Our approach to hybrid working seeks to combine and maximise the benefits of effective remote working with the benefits of being in the office. Our current hybrid working arrangements require office based working for a minimum of 60% of your time (i.e. three days per week for a full time role) in accordance with our hybrid working policy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE - A&O Shearman does not accept unsolicited CVs. For further information, please see our UK Recruitment Agency Policy and our commitment to direct sourcing here.