London WC1 and home-based
35 hours per week, full-time
9-month Fixed Term Contract – October 2026 to June 2027
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an experienced and proactive Events Manager to lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of our annual flagship conference. This is an exciting opportunity to take operational responsibility for a high-profile and complex event, working across multiple internal teams and with College Officers and Members, external partners, a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO) and a wide range of suppliers.
Reporting to the Associate Director of Membership and Engagement, you will lead the end-to-end operational delivery of the conference, translating College priorities into a successful programme and engaging delegate experience. You will manage project activity, resources, budgets, suppliers and operational risks, while providing expert event management advice and making informed decisions to ensure the conference is delivered effectively. You will work closely with the Associate Director of Membership and Engagement, Head of Member Experience, Conference Committee, College Officers and Members, as well as internal teams including Communications and Marketing.
You will also manage the day-to-day operational relationship with the PCO and contribute to other College events and engagement activity.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading the effective planning and delivery of the RCPCH annual flagship conference, integrating programme, delegate experience, commercial, operational and logistical requirements
- Managing the conference as an end-to-end project, including detailed project plans, RASCIs, critical paths, workstreams, priorities and post-event evaluation
- Monitoring and reporting on operational budgets, supporting procurement activity, supplier negotiations and effective resource management
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with venues, suppliers and service providers, ensuring operational, contractual, insurance, legal and health and safety requirements are met
- Managing the day-to-day operational relationship with the Professional Conference Organiser, including registration, abstracts, exhibition and delegate services
- Managing the Conference Committee and working with College Officers and Members to prepare information and recommendations, facilitate discussions and translate decisions into clear deliverables
- Working collaboratively with internal teams to support delegate experience, engagement and communications
- Identifying and managing operational risks and providing practical, solution-focused recommendations to address challenges
- Contributing to wider RCPCH events, member engagement activity and other projects as required
Essential skills and experience:
- Demonstrable experience of planning and delivering large-scale conferences or events, ideally involving 1,000 or more delegates within an educational or scientific environment
- Strong understanding of the operational, logistical and stakeholder requirements involved in delivering complex conferences
- Experience of working with a Professional Conference Organiser and managing external suppliers and service providers
- Experience working within a membership organisation, professional body or not-for-profit organisation
- Strong project management experience and knowledge of recognised project management methodologies
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences
- Strong interpersonal, influencing and relationship management skills, with experience working with colleagues, senior stakeholders, College Officers and Members, suppliers and external partners
- Knowledge of current developments, trends, innovation and legislation within the events industry
- A solution-focused and adaptable approach, with the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and operational challenges
- Experience of line management, with the ability to motivate, support and develop direct reports
- Experience delivering complex events within a membership or not-for-profit organisation
- Experience of delivering hybrid and/or virtual events
- Experience working with committees, professional bodies and senior stakeholders within a membership organisation
Membership of a professional events or project management body The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide and plays a leading role in improving child health and supporting paediatricians across the UK and internationally. Through our events and engagement programme, we bring together paediatricians, child health professionals and partners to share knowledge, develop skills and support improvements in child health. Our values – Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire – are central to everything we do. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation. We operate a flexible and modern hybrid working policy.
This role is based across our London office and home working, with approximately 40% of working time in our London office over a four-week period and the remainder working remotely. The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Employment is subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. This role may be subject to a DBS check due to potential future contact with children and young people. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.
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