We're growing our Venue Sourcing team and are looking for someone to take a senior role. As an established and growing conference business we're looking for someone with proven experience to take the next step in their career and take a leading role in our incredible Venue team,  

Responsibilities:

You'll be responsible for successful management of multiple and simultaneous venue searches, working towards set deadlines and budgets. You'll work with various internal and external stakeholders, communicating effectively, nurturing relationships and guiding the venue team towards the business goals. We're looking for someone to support the divisional head of events on process improvements, project work and strategic planning.

You will:

• Responsible for end to end venue sourcing and contracting designated by the Divisional Head of Events.
• Working with the project team to understand event objectives, agenda, flow and space requirements; creating venue brief.
• Issuing RFPs to market using the Cvent Supplier Network.
• Reviewing and managing all incoming proposals in line with the business request and criteria.
• Presenting venue options and comparisons to internal customers, ensuring each event has suitable space.
• Manage stakeholders expectations by keeping them informed at all stages of venue search.
• Monitor and tracking sales, overall revenue and event size to assist decision making and contract criteria.
• Negotiate rates and terms and conditions with venue (DDR, F&B mins, room blocks, room hire etc.) to ensure costs remain within budget and mitigate risk.
• Request internal customer feedback and report on venue and customer scores for future use.
• Maintain best practice documents and guides for training and knowledge sharing purposes.
• On-board new team members, acting as a mentor and providing thorough training.
• Work with the venue team to ensure sufficient handovers and coverage during annual leave.
• Report on team metrics and benchmarks across the quarter.
• Continually develop excellent venue destination and supplier knowledge sustaining agreements and expectations, organising meetings and updating the internal venue database where required.
• Encourage drive within the team to find the right solutions, keeping internal stakeholders informed at all times.
• Identify and propose process and system improvements, as well as long term projects to enhance the venue team and role.

Knowledge skills and abilities:

• Proactive and enthusiastic approach to all venue requests and objectives. Consistently offering flexibility and a positive attitude.
• Understanding balance between customer and commercial needs, and how each impact the business.
• Confident in negotiation, with a proven record of value creation, persuasiveness and long term deals.
• Ability and willingness to adapt to and support the team through changing requirements. Including venue requests, event tracking, systems, tools and processes.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills when working with colleagues of all levels.
• Ability to present ideas and results clearly and effectively and to influence decision making.
• Superb attention to detail, particularly while communicating and reviewing contracts.
• High level of commercial and strategic initiative that will support the short and long term goals of the venue team.
• Ability to prioritise responsibilities and efficiently manage time, with resilience to pressure and multiple deadlines.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as a team player, driving best practice process and behaviour within the department.

Desired Experience:

• At least 3 years significant experience of working in a similar role, demonstrating a strong understanding of venue sourcing in the MICE industry.
• Previous experience and good working knowledge of Cvent Supplier Network.
• Higher education degree or similar.
• Proven track record on managing client relationships and expectations, working on a wide variety of projects, delivering on time and within budget.
• Accomplished and confident negotiation skills and the ability to work with restricted budgets.
• Experience in people development, management or mentorship is preferred.

Why choose us?

• We offer an environment that will challenge you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone and develop new skills rapidly
• You will have the opportunity, autonomy and progression – as of 2022, 90% of our leadership positions were filled internally from our home-grown talent
• Our ability to develop successful data products at pace is unparalleled – learn skills and processes that will set you ahead of your peers
• We offer private health and life insurance as well as giving you access to our Wader Hub benefits platform which includes, retail, gym, hospitality, and wellness discounts
• You’ll have access to a range of amazing social clubs such as running club, book club, chess club, five-a-side any many more…
• We give all our employees sabbatical options after 2 and 5 years of service
• We offer a hybrid working arrangement, where you decide where you want to work from

Please note: You must be eligible to work in the UK for this role