Project Director

CastleBell Recruitment Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Event Lead for a flagship EMEA conference for a global tech client. The ideal candidate will manage a £4m budget, oversee a seasoned team, and ensure seamless event delivery. Experience in the tech sector and strong leadership skills are essential. The role is for immediate availability in late January 2026, with a possibility for a repeat contract in 2027. This can be a fixed-term contract or day rate scenario.

Qualifications

• Prior experience delivering large-scale projects for a major tech client.
• Proven track record of managing budgets over £4m.
• Advanced budget management skills and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary client interface, managing expectations.
• Accountable for a budget exceeding £4m, ensuring cost accuracy.
• Oversee a team of Senior Producers with effective leadership.

Skills

Client Management

Financial Oversight

Team Leadership

Venue & Vendor Management

Project Integration

Job description

Our client is open to a four month FTC or a perm role....

The Opportunity

A leading creative agency is seeking a high-calibre Senior Event Lead to spearhead the end-to-end delivery of a flagship EMEA conference for a global tech giant. This is a medium-sized yet high-impact event, bringing together 2,000 of the brand’s key customers and partners for a high-level two-day programme focused on marketing, knowledge sharing, and networking.

The Role

Acting as the primary day-to-day lead, the successful candidate will provide overarching management of a large-scale main venue and a high-profile evening event on Day One. This is a "herding" role for a seasoned professional who can maintain a bird’s-eye view of a complex production while remaining the central point of contact for the client.

The project features a heavy production schedule, including large-scale keynotes across both days, multiple content tracks, breakouts, roundtables, and an exhibition hall. While a dedicated Producer and Senior Production team will manage the technical delivery of those specific areas, the Senior Event Lead will ensure all tracks remain aligned and that the agency’s best practices are upheld.

Key Responsibilities

• Client Management: Serve as the primary interface for the client, managing expectations and maintaining a senior-level relationship with their EMEA marketing teams.
• Financial Oversight: Total accountability for a budget exceeding £4m. Candidates must be exceptionally "switched on" financially, ensuring all budgeted costs are accurate, tracked, and optimised.
• Team Leadership: Overseeing a highly experienced team of Senior Producers who are already well-versed in the client’s workflows and historical best practices.
• Venue & Vendor Management: Managing key relationships with major venues and third-party suppliers to ensure seamless delivery.
• Project Integration: Ensuring the main conference and the evening social programme are delivered as a cohesive, premium brand experience.

Requirements

• Tech Sector Experience: Ideally, the candidate will have prior experience delivering large-scale projects for one of the tech giants, with an intimate understanding of their brand tone and operational requirements.
• Seniority: A proven track record of leading £4m+ budgets and complex, multi-track conferences for 2,000+ attendees.
• Financial Rigour: Advanced budget management skills are essential; must be comfortable navigating complex spreadsheets and high-level financial reporting.
• Collaborative Style: The ability to lead an established team with a light but firm touch, respecting the expertise of senior producers while ensuring total project alignment.
• Immediate Availability: Must be ready to hit the ground running in late January 2026, possibly Feb. Would be a repeat contract of the same nature in 2027.
• This could be a FTC on a pro rata salary or a day rate scenario.