B2B Events Manager - Steel Media

Steel Media, a property of Enthusiast Gaming, has partnered exclusively with People*Strata on the search for a full-time B2B Events Manager.  This new hire will be based in the United Kingdom (UK), but travel internationally up to one week each month. As the embedded talent team for Enthusiast Gaming, we provide white glove service throughout the candidate experience.

ABOUT US

Enthusiast Gaming is building the largest media and content platform for video game and esports fans to connect and engage worldwide. Combining the elements of its four core pillars; Media, Talent, Esports and Experiences, Enthusiast Gaming provides a unique opportunity and integrated approach to reach and connect with its coveted GenZ and Millennial audience. Through its proprietary mix of digital media and entertainment assets, Enthusiast Gaming has built a vast network of like-minded communities to deliver the ultimate fan experience.

Since 2019, Steel Media Ltd., a consumer and B2B technology publisher and events company based in the UK, has been part of Enthusiast Gaming. Steel Media’s largest consumer brand is PocketGamer.com, the longest-running and most respected games site dedicated to the mobile and handheld scene. We also publish a range of B2B sites (including PocketGamer.biz, for professionals working in mobile games) and run multiple conferences, pitching events, networking evenings, award ceremonies and parties throughout the year. Our flagship event is the biggest B2B mobile games industry conference, Pocket Gamer (PG) Connects, which takes place in multiple countries around the world up to six times a year. More than 50,000 industry professionals have attended this world-renowned conference series over the last decade!

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

Steel Media Ltd. is looking to hire a B2B Events Manager to lead the end-to-end planning and delivery of our series of events, including the Pocket Gamer Connects conferences, as well as other activities such as award ceremonies and parties throughout the year.  Events include sizable exhibitions as well as staged talks and panels.  The salary for this position is £40,000 to £50,000, depending on depth and relevance of experience.

The role involves operational management of event contractor teams, spearheading the logistics for each event, liaising with international suppliers and negotiating the best price for services, venue scouting, maintaining event budgets, managing client requests/related deliverables, briefing non-events team (where applicable), event creative assets briefing/sign off, and relevant post-event management. Floorplanning for the exhibitions/showcases is also a big part of the role.

Additional support tasks such as related administrative duties (e.g. event-specific spreadsheet creation/management, video calls, etc) and limited event marketing involvement are also expected.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer of Steel Media, this new hire will travel internationally up to one week every month and work remotely otherwise.

The role will naturally evolve with market trends and changing focus within the company, but the initial priorities and responsibilities are outlined below.

The salary for this position is £40,000 to £50,000, depending on depth and relevance of experience.

KEY PRIORITIES

• Oversee the delivery of our events portfolio, running an events team efficiently to create world-class B2B activities 
• Develop and implement processes for event planning and execution while maintaining a profitable budget
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, other internal teams, vendors, and venues globally

RESPONSIBILITIES

Event Planning & Production

• Lead venue selection, contract negotiation, and relationship management
• Oversee event layout planning and floorplans
• Work with production companies on booth construction, staging, and networking areas
• Manage catering, AV, and other vendor relationships, seeking them out and confirming costs and contracts in good time
• Create and maintain detailed event schedules and high-level production timelines
• Ensure seamless on-site event execution through effective team leadership
• Consider the progression of the events as they grow and help Steel Media develop an events strategy, continually evaluating the events calendar, looking specifically at issues such as return on investment and time resources required
• Onsite management and delegation of Steel Media events, specifically large events
• Compile feedback and lessons learned documents from key events to support continuous improvement
• Ensure risk management and compliance by identifying potential risks associated with events and develop mitigation strategies to ensure the safety and security of attendees, staff, volunteers, and all participants

Financial Management

• Develop and manage event budgets in conjunction with senior management
• Track expenses and maintain financial documentation
• Negotiate with suppliers to optimise costs
• Process invoices and coordinate with the Financial Director

Team Leadership

• Manage and mentor events contractors in the UK
• Recruit, manage, and mentor contractors overseas
• Scale contractor teams up/down based on event requirements (eg. identify and bring in more freelancers for PGC London)
• Delegate responsibilities and coordinate workflows
• Track team availability, holidays, and task allocation

Internal Team Collaboration

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (sales, marketing, content, finance, etc.) to align event deliverables
• Manage sponsor communications and deliverables
• Attend (and, where necessary, lead) weekly management updates and team meetings
• Oversee post-event follow-up with sponsors and stakeholders

Administrative & Marketing Support

• Oversee creation and approval of event materials and creative assets
• Maintain event documentation and processes
• Support marketing campaigns and outreach initiatives and communicate event specifics to the Marketing Manager
• Handle other event-related administrative tasks as needed

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Willingness to travel to international events up to one week every month (You must hold a valid passport and live in reasonable proximity to an airport)
• Minimum 5 years of experience successfully planning and delivering large-scale B2B events 
• Experience developing events strategies
• Strong project management experience
• Experience managing budgets of at least £250,000, tracking costs, and other financial information
• Demonstrable success in P&L responsibility
• Experience supervising people and comfortability overseeing a remote team
• Experience managing event logistics and operations, particularly regarding exhibitions
• Excellent communication skills and experience successfully building relationships with people across levels and business functions
• Strong vendor and contract negotiation skills
• Excellent organization, prioritization skills and attention to detail
• A calm approach to working well under pressure and the ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple projects
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Experience with event management software and tools (e.g. Google Sheets and Google Drawings, PowerPoint, Trello, budgeting software)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Events experience in the games and/or esports industry
• An understanding of event sponsorships
• First aid training and experience in health and safety compliance for large events
• An interest in, or genuine desire to embrace, the video games industry
• Professional event management certification (e.g., CMP - Certified Meeting Professional)
• Experience with virtual/hybrid events
• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection requirements for events

The salary for this position is £40,000 to £50,000, depending on depth and relevance of experience.

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Join our team and be part of an exciting journey to shape the future of gaming through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions. If you're passionate about sales, gaming, and building lasting client relationships, we want to hear from you!

Enthusiast Gaming is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes and encourages applications from all interested and qualified candidates. Enthusiast Gaming will provide accommodation throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process, please inform Enthusiast Gaming staff of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation. For more information, please visit www.enthusiastgaming.com.