Position Summary The Event Manager is responsible for the end-to-end planning, execution, and evaluation of the John Locke Institute’s international events and educational programmes. These include residential summer schools, conferences, seminars, and awards ceremonies. This position requires exceptional organisational and communication skills, a global mindset, and the ability to work across multiple time zones and teams. The Event Manager will collaborate closely with the Admissions, Marketing, and Operations teams to ensure seamless delivery and a world-class participant experience. Key Responsibilities Event Planning & Logistics Plan, coordinate, and deliver all aspects of JLI events, including summer schools, academic seminars, essay competition awards, and conferences. Manage timelines, budgets, and logistics to ensure successful event execution. Research, evaluate, and liaise with venues, accommodation providers, and vendors worldwide. Negotiate vendor and venue contracts, ensuring cost-effective arrangements and favourable terms. Coordinate travel, accommodation, catering, transport, and on-site logistics for staff, faculty, speakers, and students. Oversee registration systems and event app technology, ensuring a smooth and user-friendly participant experience. Prepare detailed event schedules, staff briefings, and contingency plans. Identify staffing needs, recruit and secure event staff, and coordinate their scheduling and assignments. Train, brief, and manage event staff and volunteers, ensuring professionalism and consistency in delivery. Anticipate potential challenges and proactively identify, mitigate, and manage risks to ensure every event runs smoothly. On-site Management & Delivery Lead on-site operations for JLI events — ensuring smooth setup, registration, and participant management. Serve as the primary point of contact during events for faculty, students, and external partners. Supervise event staff and volunteers to ensure a high standard of professionalism and guest care. Troubleshoot effectively under pressure, using sound judgment to resolve operational or logistical issues quickly and calmly. Cross-Team Collaboration Partner with the Marketing team to ensure all event communications — including pre-event promotions, participant emails, and on-site materials — are accurate, on-brand, and timely. Work closely with the Admissions team to align event planning with registration goals and participant experience. Collaborate with the Academic team to coordinate programme content, faculty needs, and scheduling. Support the Digital and Social Media teams by providing timely content, imagery, and updates during and after events. Data Management Maintain and update databases related to student enrolment, logistics, and administrative records. Event Support Ensuring VIPs, speakers, and students are well taken care of when an event is on. Internship Management Recruiting and training interns. Programme Logistics Develop and execute a comprehensive social media strategy to enhance brand visibility and engagement across platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.). Cross-Department Coordination Facilitate communication between different teams to support programme execution. Participant Experience & Community Engagement Ensure that every JLI event provides a world-class educational experience and reflects the Institute’s values. Develop strategies to enhance participant engagement before, during, and after events. Support post-event communications, surveys, and feedback collection to inform future improvements. Contribute to community-building efforts by fostering ongoing relationships with alumni, educators, and partners. Reporting & Evaluation Track budgets, attendance, and key performance metrics for each event. Provide post-event reports with insights and recommendations for future improvements. Maintain accurate records of event logistics, vendor contracts, and cost summaries. Troubleshooting Troubleshooting issues and making adjustments during events. Qualifications & Experience 3–5 years of experience in event management, operations, or programme coordination, ideally with international or educational events. Proven success managing multiple complex events simultaneously. Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated experience securing favourable vendor and venue agreements. Hands-on experience with event registration systems and event app technologies. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a strong customer-service mindset. Strong project management skills — able to prioritise, delegate, and meet deadlines under pressure. Exceptional troubleshooting and risk management abilities, with a track record of anticipating and mitigating potential issues. Experience identifying staffing needs, hiring, training, and leading on-site event teams. Experience working with global vendors, partners, and venues. Proficiency in tools such as Excel, Google Workspace, project management software (e.g. Asana, Trello), and event registration platforms. Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Hospitality, Business, Education, or related field preferred. Willingness to travel internationally and work flexible hours when events require. Skills & Attributes for Success Highly organised and detail-oriented, with exceptional time management skills. Proactive and calm under pressure; able to make clear decisions in fast-paced environments. Excellent negotiator and relationship builder. Strong interpersonal and leadership abilities — capable of motivating and managing diverse teams. Culturally aware and adaptable, comfortable working in international settings. Passionate about education, intellectual development, and providing memorable experiences.