Senior Events Operations Manager

Senior Event Operations Manager Location: London or Manchester - If London, hybrid working with a minimum of 2 set days in the office (Clapham Junction, SW11 2LN); or home-based if within 2 hours of Manchester, with travel to the London office for day visits when needed Contract: Permanent, full-time Hours: Core hours 9.00am to 5.30pm, plus weekend and unsociable hours around events ASAP / September 2026 We’re looking for an experienced event operations or production management professional with significant hands-on experience of organising and delivering outdoor events. You’ll bring proven experience of planning and delivering large-scale outdoor events in real time, and/or production management of the set-up and de-rig of green-field sites. Working across our portfolio, you’ll take lead planning and delivery roles on key areas of our biggest events, along with all the stakeholder management, logistics and problem-solving that comes with them. You’ll also lead, guide and support the planning work of others, and help develop new event ideas and acquisitions. Ideally you’ll have experience of traffic management planning too, and be confident reading and interpreting TM plans for road closures to check they’re fit for purpose and as good as they can be. UK is the country's leading mass participation events company, delivering world-class events across triathlon, cycling, and running. Part of Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.owners of Le Tour de France - our prestigious portfolio includes the Cancer Research UK London Winter Run, adidas Manchester Marathon, and Dragon Ride. We also deliver bespoke corporate events for leading businesses including JLL. Our events bring together communities of tens of thousands of people, from first-timers to World Champions, collectively raising millions of pounds for hundreds of charities each year. UK is a fast-paced, sociable and fun place to work, with a great team atmosphere and a shared love of putting on brilliant events. Lead on or support event planning as assigned, taking on all the tasks, thinking, liaison, contracting, managing and documentation needed to deliver events to a high standard. Keep a working understanding of all the operational areas of a project (TM planning, transport planning, venue, route, crowd and spectator management, resident and business comms, staffing and more). Contract and manage suppliers so they deliver efficiently and effectively within budget, and manage the operational budget for your assigned events and areas. Design the staffing and briefing plans for your area or event, assigning roles and schedules. Produce Event Management Plan documentation as needed (transport plans, site plans, start wave plans, risk assessments, event safety plans and so on), with contingency thinking front and centre. On event day, manage your assigned areas of the site or route, including all infrastructure and personnel, through set-up, event day(s) and de-rig. Spot opportunities to improve operations, documentation and processes and help develop existing and new events. Proven experience designing, planning and delivering outdoor events in a position of responsibility, 3 to 4 years (a must). Experience of project management, risk management and contingency planning, including writing event risk assessments. Working knowledge and experience of large, crowded events, and dealing professionally with a wide range of stakeholders. Commercially minded, with the ability to build sponsorship and commercial requirements into events. Traffic management design and planning, and the ability to read and interpret TM plans for road closures. Ability to plan, organise and deliver an event or key area in real time (for example the route, start, finish or venue) of complex major events, to a high standard and within budget. Comfortable working with ambiguity: able to use your judgement and make sound decisions with incomplete information, prioritise and push work forward without waiting for perfect clarity, and adapt as things change during planning and on event day. Excellent organisation, attention to detail and time management, with clear communication orally, in writing and on-site. Ability to lead, direct and guide team members and weekend crew. Comfortable with MS Office, Excel and the like. A full UK driving licence, and a willingness to drive a van and get stuck in on site. Willing to travel and stay away as needed for meetings, site visits and events. Willing to work multiple weekends and unsociable hours across the portfolio. (TOIL days are given in return for event weekend days worked.) Hybrid working Health Cash Plan Enhanced Parental Leave Policy TOIL for events worked UK events per year for you, friends, and family non-UK) single-day events Cycle2Work scheme access We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process and in the role, so please tell us what would help you do your best work