Job Title: Head of Event Operations
Department: Operations
Location: Webb Ellis House – Twickenham, London (3-days a week in office)
The Head of Event Operations will lead the strategic and day-to-day operational delivery of our events, ensuring they are executed to the highest standards of customer service, creativity, and efficiency. This is a leadership role that requires a confident, decisive, and inspiring operator who can balance big picture thinking with strong attention to detail.
The successful candidate will oversee a team of Senior Event Managers, Event Managers, and seasonal staff, driving forward both existing and new events and initiatives (OnDemand, GST, etc.).
As a member of the senior management team, this individual will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the operations function and integrating systems, to support scalable, efficient growth.
YOU’LL BE DOING
Team Leadership & Development
* Lead, mentor and empower the Events Team to deliver best-in-class hospitality experiences.
* Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.
* Build team capability through coaching, clear expectations, and structured development.
* Support the adoption of emerging technologies, including AI, to streamline operations.
Operational Delivery
* Oversee all aspects of event planning, fit-out, logistics, customer experience, catering, and staffing.
* Ensure flawless execution of existing events while integrating new ones into workflows.
* Allocate resources based on skillset and capacity, reducing administrative burden.
Systems, SOPs & Innovation
* Design and implement effective SOPs that standardise quality across events.
* Identify and eliminate inefficiencies, simplifying processes and improve consistency.
* Lead the onboarding of new operational platforms and tools, including a new system in 2026.
Client & Stakeholder Management
* Act as the primary point of contact for operational matters with rights-holders.
* Develop strong relationships with catering teams, key suppliers, and other partners.
* Build trusted, long-term relationships through face-to-face engagement and consistent communication.
* Ensure that all stakeholders feel confident in the business’s delivery capabilities.
Financial Oversight
* Collaborate with the Head of Finance to manage budgets, forecasting, and reporting.
* Drive cost-efficiency without compromising service quality or brand standards.
* Monitor and optimise financial performance of each event and the operations team.
Strategic Contribution
* Work closely with the Director of Business and Product Development to align operations with broader commercial and product strategies.
* Provide thought leadership around growth, innovation, and capability building.
Immediate Deliverables (First 4 Weeks)
* Conduct a full operational audit and present a short- and medium-term action plan.
* Stabilise the operations team:
* Proactively encourage a culture of respect, collaboration, and positivity
* Realign event allocations (if required)
* Identify individual and team training needs
* Introduce and enforce core SOPs
* Conduct introductions with key clients and suppliers to establish trust
YOU’LL HAVE
You are a confident, action-oriented operations leader who inspires respect through your clarity, decisiveness, and ability to get the job done. You’re not just a safe pair of hands, you’re a change-maker, a team-builder, and a forward-thinker. You have empathy but can make big decisions for the right reasons.
Experience & Qualifications
* Minimum 10-years in operations leadership, ideally within events or hospitality
* Proven experience managing premium events with complex logistics and multiple stakeholders
* Track record of leading high-performing teams through change and growth
* Strong understanding of budgeting, cost control, and financial planning
* Comfortable implementing new systems and technology
Skills & Attributes
* Gravitas, confidence, and credibility with internal and external stakeholders
* Strong problem-solving and lateral thinking skills
* Excellent written and verbal communication
* High emotional intelligence, with the ability to bring calm and clarity under pressure
* Passionate about team growth, innovation, and operational excellence
* Curious, commercially aware, and future-focused
What Success Looks Like
* A confident, respected leader who brings calm, clarity, and consistency to the team
* A champion of change who simplifies systems, reduces inefficiency, and delivers results
* An empowering manager who builds capability and lifts the performance ceiling across operations
* A strategic partner who supports the business’s growth with operational insight and strong execution
Culture Fit
* You lead with integrity and inspire trust
* You value collaboration and communication
* You’re passionate about the events industry and always looking to improve
* You bring energy and initiative—and are never afraid to challenge the status quo
YOU’LL RECEIVE
· 27 days of holiday plus bank holidays.
· Holiday buy-back scheme to purchase up to 10 additional days of annual leave.
· Up to 6% company contribution to your pension.
· Bupa private healthcare
· Access to the Perks at Work platform with thousands of discounts.
· 30% off corporate gym memberships.
· Opportunities for learning, development, and growth within Keith Prowse and the wider Compass Group.
· Relaxed dress code—dress for your day.
· Complimentary lunch twice a week and daily breakfast.
· Free eye tests with discounts on new lenses.
· Flexible working hours to manage your schedule.
· Bring your dog to work policy.
· Free on-site parking.
At Keith Prowse, we’re proud to foster a workplace that values diversity and promotes inclusion. We believe our differences are our greatest strengths, fuelling creativity, innovation, and success.
Our team’s diverse backgrounds and perspectives enrich our work, and we’re committed to providing equal opportunities and ensuring all voices are heard. We welcome candidates from all walks of life to join us in creating a supportive and equitable environment where everyone can excel and collaborate.
Join us in our mission to build a more diverse and inclusive world, working alongside some of the
UK’s most innovative and beloved brands. Together, we can achieve anything.