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Job Title: Head of Events
Job Location: Royal Commonwealth Society, 65 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5DZ
Contract Term: Permanent (with six months’ probation)
Working Hours: 3-5 days a week; 9.00am – 5.00pm (flexible)
Line Manager: Chief Operating Officer
Role Overview
The Royal Commonwealth Society is seeking a highly organised, proactive, and experienced events manager to lead the planning and execution of its diverse portfolio of high-profile and fundraising events. The postholder will manage the full lifecycle of events - from concept through delivery - ensuring every event reflects the Society’s values and enhances its reputation and reach.
Flagship events include the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, an Award Ceremony for The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition at Buckingham Palace, the High Commissioners’ Banquet at Mansion House, and other ceremonial, stakeholder, youth, and fundraising engagements.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the end-to-end management of all RCS events, ensuring the successful delivery of high-profile, ceremonial, and fundraising events.
* Oversee event planning, including venue sourcing, contract negotiation, supplier coordination, protocol, security, AV, catering, and staffing.
* Manage the delivery of the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, ensuring coordination with the Royal Household, Westminster Abbey, the BBC, and government departments.
* Deliver a Commonwealth Concert as a key fundraising and engagement event, managing all artistic, production, and logistical elements.
* Organise the High Commissioners’ Banquet at Mansion House, coordinating with the City of London Corporation, the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, diplomatic missions, and keynote speakers.
* Support other public-facing events, including those connected to The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, and the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign.
* Prepare and manage budgets, ensuring events are delivered on time and within financial parameters.
* Oversee guest and stakeholder management, including invitations, RSVP tracking, VIP handling, seating plans, and pre-event briefings.
* Prepare comprehensive briefing materials for events, including biographies, guest lists, and running orders, ensuring accuracy and alignment with protocol requirements.
* Draft and coordinate speaking notes for key participants and speakers, tailored to the event’s purpose, audience, and messaging objectives.
* Maintain and update key documentation, including event timelines, run sheets, contact lists, and risk assessments.
* Support post-event evaluation, producing summary reports and identifying lessons learned.
* Assist in fundraising endeavours such as grant writing and donor stewardship.
* Other duties as and when required.
Person Specification
* A minimum of 3 years’ experience in end-to-end event management, ideally involving ceremonial, charitable, corporate, or diplomatic contexts.
* Demonstrated success in delivering high-profile and fundraising events, including managing complex stakeholder groups.
* Outstanding organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple events simultaneously.
* High level of confidence and professionalism in dealing with VIPs, diplomatic missions, and senior-level stakeholders.
* Proven ability to manage budgets and supplier contracts effectively.
* Excellent attention to detail, with a calm and solution-focused approach under pressure.
* Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and event management platforms.
* Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends.
* Experience working in or with Royal Households, non-profit, diplomatic, corporate or government sectors.
* Experience and understanding of the principles of major gifts fundraising in a charity and or/not-for-profit.
* Excellent communications and engagement skills across a variety of stakeholders, e.g. high-net-worth individuals, trustees, and corporate leaders.
* Understanding of Commonwealth affairs or international ceremonial protocols.
* Familiarity with fundraising through events and collaborating with donor or sponsor partners.
* Experience managing youth-focused or education events.
Additional Information
* Applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom.
* Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
To Apply
Applicants should send a CV (1-2 pages) and statement of suitability outlining how you meet the above person specification and why you would like to work for the Society to Bradley Sisson at Bradley.sisson@royalcwsociety.org with ‘Head of Events Application – (your last name)’ as the subject of the email.
Applications must reach us by the opening of business on Monday, 15 September 2025.
Interviews will be held between Wednesday, 1 October and Friday, 3 October 2025.
We regret that, due to constraints on our capacity, we are unable to provide feedback to candidates who are not invited to interview.
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