| Event Strategy and Portfolio Management - Lead the development and implementation of the firm's annual events strategy, ensuring alignment with marketing, business development, practice, sector, client engagement and brand priorities.
- Own the firmwide events portfolio and events calendar, ensuring that event activity is commercially relevant, appropriately prioritised, adequately resourced and linked to clear business objectives.
- Work closely with Directors, Practice Heads, Business Development and Marketing to identify event opportunities that support market visibility, thought leadership, client relationship development and revenue-generating conversations.
- Define event objectives, target audiences, success measures and planning standards, while translating market themes, client issues and sponsorship opportunities into high-impact event concepts.
Stakeholder, Sponsorship and Business Development Alignment - Act as the senior events business partner to internal stakeholders, providing strategic guidance on event approach, format, messaging, audience positioning, stakeholder engagement and return on investment.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with Directors, Practice Heads fee earners, Business Development, Marketing, Finance, Procurement, suppliers, venues, sponsors and external stakeholders.
- Evaluate, recommend and manage sponsorships, partnerships, exhibitions and hosted opportunities, ensuring that objectives, deliverables, benefits, branding requirements and reporting obligations are clearly defined.
- Ensure that event activity supports client satisfaction, sponsorship fulfilment, cross-selling opportunities, sector positioning, thought leadership and post-event business development follow-up.
Event Delivery and Client Experience - Accountable for the successful delivery of the full event lifecycle across conferences, exhibitions, seminars, webinars, launches, activations, golf days, cocktail functions, internal functions, client hospitality engagements and firmwide corporate events.
- Direct the planning and execution of events through the Events team, external suppliers and cross-functional contributors, ensuring that logistics, delegate experience, brand presentation and service delivery meet the firm's standards.
- Develop and maintain event delivery standards, templates, checklists and quality assurance controls to ensure consistent, professional and brand-aligned event delivery.
Budget, Procurement and Supplier Governance - Own the events budget and ensure that event spend is planned, approved, monitored and reported in line with the firm's financial governance requirements and delegated authority.
- Prepare and review event budgets, financial forecasts, supplier quotations, cost comparisons, expenditure reports and reconciliations to ensure effective cost control and value for money.
- Lead the sourcing, evaluation, appointment, negotiation and performance management of venues, suppliers, production teams, entertainers, speakers, exhibitors, subcontractors and specialist event service providers.
Vendor, Venue and Supplier Management - Source, evaluate, appoint, and manage venues, suppliers, entertainers, speakers and subcontractors required for the successful delivery of events.
- Manage supplier relationships, contracts, service levels, quotations, cost comparisons, briefing documents, and delivery expectations to ensure high-quality execution.
- Ensure vendors and venues understand the firm's standards, brand requirements, confidentiality obligations, health and safety expectations, and client service requirements.
Team Leadership, Decision-Making and Success Measures - Lead, mentor and develop the Events team, fostering a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, innovation, service excellence, commercial awareness and attention to detail.
- Set team priorities, allocate work, monitor delivery, manage performance expectations and balance team capacity, external support requirements and competing priorities.
- Make or recommend decisions relating to event concepts, resource allocation, supplier appointments, venue selections, sponsorship opportunities, budget allocations, delivery approach, issue resolution and risk mitigation within approved budgets, policies and delegated authority.
- Success will be measured through delivery of a strategically aligned events portfolio, agreed attendance and satisfaction outcomes, sponsorship fulfilment, budget performance, governance compliance, quality reporting, effective team leadership and contribution to brand, client engagement and commercial objectives.
Client Liaison - Act as a key point of contact for client inquiries, ensuring these are received, triaged and responded to promptly, professionally and in a manner consistent with the firm's brand and service standards.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, coordinating with Directors, Practice Heads and Business Development to identify client engagement opportunities and address client needs arising from events and other firm interactions.
- Monitor client satisfaction and feedback relating to events and client engagements, escalating issues appropriately and ensuring timely follow-up and resolution.
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure a seamless and consistent client experience across events, client functions and other touchpoints.
Alumni Programme - Own and manage the firm's alumni programme, including maintaining the alumni database, developing engagement initiatives and organising alumni events and communications.
- Build and sustain relationships with alumni to support the firm's business development, brand and talent objectives, identifying opportunities for referrals, collaboration and reputational benefit.
- Coordinate with Business Development, Marketing and Human Resources to align the alumni programme with the firm's broader stakeholder engagement and brand strategies.
- Track and report on alumni programme activity, engagement levels and outcomes, recommending improvements where appropriate.
Qualifications/Experience - Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Business Management, Public Relations, Event Management, Commerce or a related field.
- Postgraduate qualification in Marketing, Business Administration, Communications, Management, Event Management or a related field would be advantageous.
- 8 or more years’ experience in a law firm business development and marketing.
Skills & Competencies - Strong understanding of event strategy, event portfolio management, integrated event marketing, client engagement, sponsorship management and brand-led event delivery in a corporate or professional services environment.
- Knowledge of procurement, supplier governance, contract principles, budget control, B-BBEE, POPIA, health and safety, event governance requirements and the delivery of conferences, seminars, webinars, exhibitions, sponsorships, launches, activations and client engagement platforms.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, CRM software, event registration platforms, RSVP management tools, webinar technology, event websites, database management.
- Ability to prepare event strategies, budgets, portfolio reports, presentations, stakeholder communications, supplier briefs, post-event insights and improvement recommendations.
- Ability to analyse event data, attendance information, client feedback, budget performance, supplier performance and return on investment indicators to support informed decision-making.
- Strong project management, budget management, contract negotiation, supplier governance, risk management and stakeholder management skills.
- Commercially minded, with a genuine interest in clients, markets, brand positioning and the creation of commercial opportunities through events.
- Ability to take ownership, manage competing priorities and deliver consistently in a deadline-driven environment.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work confidently and collaboratively with individuals at all levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders.
- Client Focus, Leadership, Team Management, Strategic Thinking, Commercial Acumen, Logical and Analytical Skills, Critical Reasoning, Problem-Solving, Focus on Results, Agility and Adaptability.
- Strong leadership presence, sound judgement, planning discipline, organisational ability and follow-through.
- Creative, proactive and commercially aware, with the ability to translate strategic priorities into high-impact event concepts and client engagement platforms.
- Professional, confident, presentable, calm and decisive under pressure, with the ability to manage escalations, competing priorities and live-event risks effectively.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining quality, accuracy, confidentiality and professionalism.
- Strong client liaison skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships, handle client inquiries professionally and coordinate cross-functionally to ensure a consistent, high-quality client experience.
- Understanding of alumni programme management, including relationship-building, database management and engagement strategies that support business development, brand and talent objectives.
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