Events Manager - Universitas 21 - 107085 - Grade 7 at University of Birmingham

Birmingham, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

07 Jun, 26

Salary

46049.0

Posted On

09 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Event Management, Project Management, Strategic Content Development, Event Programme Design, Process Development, Quality Assurance, Stakeholder Engagement, Data Management, Continuous Improvement, Budgetary Skills, Time Management, People Management, Negotiation, Influence, Storytelling, Digital Engagement

Industry

Higher Education

Description

Position Details Universitas 21 Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,636 to £46,049 with potential progression once in post to £48,822 Grade: 7 Full time, but can be adapted to 0.8 FTE to accommodate flexible working requirements Permanent Closing date: 23rd March 2026 Interviews: Week commencing 13th April 2026 UK and International travel may be required for this role This role is employed by the University of Birmingham but dedicated exclusively to Universitas 21 (U21), a global network of 31 research-intensive universities spanning six continents. Our offer to you People are at the heart of what we are and do. The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success. We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University. We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work. Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries. The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens. Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/jobs/staff-benefits] Background Since its founding in 1997, U21 has championed knowledge sharing and partnership among its members. Through a diverse portfolio of initiatives, the network advances global education, enables impactful research, and strengthens leadership in higher education. By fostering trusted collaborations and innovative programs, U21 helps institutions and individuals co-create solutions to global challenges, enrich student and staff experiences, and develop culturally informed perspectives that transcend borders. Full time but can be adapted to 0.8 FTE to accommodate flexible working requirements. Role Summary The U21 Events Manager plays a pivotal role in strengthening U21’s global engagement, reputation and impact through the strategic design and delivery of innovative, high-quality international events. In addition to independently managing a high-quality and diverse event portfolio, the post holder will actively enhance U21’s profile and capture content that amplifies the network’s global story. Working closely with colleagues across the U21 team and senior stakeholders from member institutions, the post holder will lead the planning, logistics and execution of events and face-to-face programmes that foster collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge exchange, while contributing to the network’s long-term goals. The role also involves representing the network at major international education conferences such as APAIE and EAIE and supporting U21’s presence at non-U21 events and external gatherings to enhance the network’s visibility and public profile. The successful candidate will be an experienced events professional with strong organisational, administrative and project management skills and the confidence to engage with senior stakeholders. They will demonstrate the ability to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure and maintain excellent attention to detail. Key responsibilities include managing event data and evaluation processes to inform continuous improvement, ensuring a strong return on investment and a consistently high standard of member experience. The Events Manager will champion innovative formats and technologies to broaden accessibility and global reach while contributing to long-term event strategy aligned with organisational priorities. They will also develop and document consistent processes and templates to ensure efficiency and quality across all events. Main Duties * Event Management - Lead the planning, logistics, and delivery of U21’s international events portfolio in partnership with host member institutions. * Project Management - Project manage all operational elements including event programme scheduling, registration, delegate communications, accessibility requirements, and on-site delivery. * Strategic Content Development - Shape high-quality, strategically aligned event content in collaboration with the Provost and Heads of Global Engagement ensuring all content is designed to increase stakeholder engagement and enhance the participant experience. * Event Programme Design - Design agendas, briefing materials, session formats, and speaker coordination to ensure value for senior academic and professional stakeholders. * Process & Standards Development – Establish and maintain consistent event planning processes, templates, and best practice guidelines to drive efficiency, quality assurance, and alignment across all events. * Communications and Reputation - Ensure all events align with and contribute to U21’s reputation-building campaigns and strategic communications goals. * Collaborative Planning - Co-create communications and event plans with member institutions and collaborate internally across the Secretariat on in-person beneficiary programmes to ensure consistency of approach and delivery, while also supporting post-event content creation for social, web, and newsletters. * Content Development - Capture on-site event content (e.g., video, photography, quotes) to extend visibility and showcase the U21 community and story * Data Management - Manage event data and workflows in HubSpot, ensuring accurate records, feedback analysis, and compliance with data protection standards. * Continuous Improvement - Champion innovation and continuous improvement, incorporating new formats, digital tools, evaluation frameworks, and sector best practice. * Stakeholder Engagement - Build strong relationships with member institutions and partners, representing U21 internationally and supporting its presence at key sector events. * Promotes equality and values diversity, acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture. * Supports the University’s sustainability agenda through resource efficient working. * Any other duties commensurate with the grade. Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience * Educated to Degree level (or equivalent qualifications) plus relevant practical experience - where no equivalent qualification is held significant practical relevant experience and expertise in a series of progressively more demanding roles will be required. * Evidence of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to write clearly, and to produce and analyse information and data. * Significant hands-on experience managing and delivering events on the ground within complex organisations, including in externally managed venues. * Experience of delivering international events including co-creating and coordinating with colleagues and partners across different locations and time zones, is highly desirable. * Strong communication, client-facing, and presentation skills, with the ability to listen to colleagues, understand their event needs, and propose innovative, creative solutions. * Ability to capture high-quality digital content (video, soundbites, photography) and apply strong storytelling instincts to identify and elevate engaging, people-centred insights from events. * Experience of contributing to multi-channel marketing and communications campaigns * Excellent organisational, communication and relationship buildings skills with the ability to deal confidently with a range of internal and external stakeholders including senior management, academics and staff at all levels of the organisation and community. * Awareness of global HE sector priorities and the role of events in influencing and strengthening international partnerships. * Confidence using digital engagement tools, interactive platforms or hybrid technology. * Proven project management and budgetary skills are essential. * Demonstrably strong time and people management skills.  * Ability to work across functional boundaries to negotiate, influence and gain commitment from colleagues. * Willing to work unsociable hours as required by the nature of the work. * Ability to resolve issues and exercise sound judgment in making day-to-day decisions across the full range of duties. * An understanding of HubSpot or a similar Event Management System is desirable, but not essential. * Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly. Informal enquiries to Chloe Brough, email: c.l.ainslie@bham.ac.uk [c.l.ainslie@bham.ac.uk] View our staff values and behaviours here [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/our-strategy/our-values] Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview. We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website [https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/university/about/equality/index.aspx].

Responsibilities

The Events Manager will strategically design and deliver innovative, high-quality international events for Universitas 21, leading planning, logistics, and execution to foster collaboration and enhance the network's global profile. Key duties include shaping strategic content, managing event data, developing consistent processes, and representing the network at major international education conferences.