About Company
A premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. They help IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community make fact-based decisions on technology purchases and business strategy. More than 1000 analysts provide global, regional, and local expertise on technology and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries worldwide. For more than 44 years, our client has provided strategic insights to help our clients achieve their key business objectives.
They offer its customers integrated, content-driven marketing solutions supporting customers’ go-to-market activities from awareness creation and market education through to lead-generation and lead-nurturing. A key aspect of our company\’s Go-To-Market Services is its event business; we are now looking for a strong product/project manager for this area in EMEA.
The successful candidate will
- Possess a detailed understanding of international marketing principles.
- Graduate, or equivalent, with appropriate degree and proven experience of international event management experience, ideally within an agency environment.
- Exhibit excellent communication skills, with fluent English (other languages are beneficial).
- Have strong interpersonal skills and comfortable advising clients about effective delivery of marketing programmes.
- Be extremely organised with great attention to detail.
- Possess demonstrable experience of juggling multiple international projects incorporating stakeholders from all layers of the business.
- Flexible and comfortable working under pressure.
The role
The product/project manager has overall responsibility for the following:
- Project- and Engagement Management for pan-EMEA event roadshows. (60%)
- Bid Management: working with the local teams develop the Event solution for relevant GMS proposals. (20%)
- Work with Consulting Manager to formalise Event Services within the overall GMS product suite for EMEA – incl. product development, pricing, positioning and development of testimonials and sales support materials. (10%)
- Train conferences, consulting teams and sales on the portfolio – and conferences and consulting/analysts on delivery processes and expectations. (10%)
Project Management – Custom Events*
- Provide the primary interaction with the central client for all matters relating to the event roadshow, including formal weekly updates on progress v project plan.
- Organise and chair the project kick-off meeting.
- Working with the client and lead analyst to develop the umbrella project messaging that will drive delegate acquisition at a local level.
- Create and follow the project plan to ensure timely execution of all deliverables (centrally and locally).
- Engage with local teams to train them on the project and client expectations then hand-over to them to fulfil the project locally.
- Creation of centrally provided collateral/delegate material (in conjunction with internal publishing team) e.g. templates for evaluation forms, badges, banners etc.
- Engage appropriate external partners/suppliers that may be required to deliver successfully on the project (example: engage an online media partner to support the lead-generation activity)
- On a weekly basis provide a detailed project update to the client.
- Work with the central client team to offer advice about how to maximise their ROI from the project and ensure local teams are offering comparable advice.
- Raise red-flags to the client appropriately.
- Ensure local teams are delivering required quality and quantity of delegates and developing mutually agreed contingency plans where problems may arise.
- Share best practices and where appropriate question the status quo and look to improve processes and results centrally and locally.
- Handling client objections and concerns in conjunction with local teams.
- Develop final consolidated reports for the client de-brief review.
Project Management – Multi-country Conference Sponsorship
- Development of detailed project plan, outlining key milestones, responsibilities and deadlines at both a local and central level.
- Organisation of kick-off meeting with lead analyst.
- Raise red-flags to the client appropriately.
- Reviewing final results of each event with client.
- Handling client objections and concerns in conjunction with local teams.
- Develop final consolidated reports for the client de-brief review.
*NB some projects are sold through third party channels and co-ordination with the agency client directors will also be necessary.
Bid Management*
- Upon receipt of the client brief, working with account directors and Conference Business Development Directors to develop an appropriate and innovative proposition that will meet the client’s objectives – taking into account local market capabilities.
- Gathering information from local teams to support the recommended proposition including: delegate guarantees, pricing, timelines, audience profile etc.
- Creating positioning materials to support the sales activity that accurately reflect deliverables.
- Participation in client presentations.
- Provide support during client negotiations, ensuring that projects remain profitable and keeping local teams updated regarding progress.
- Development and review of Ts and Cs and appropriate Service Level Agreements.