| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Hospitality |
| Level | Senior management |
| Reports to | Managing Director |
| Direct reports | Event Manager, Wedding Planner, Event Planner |
| Experience | 10+ years in events with 4 years leading teams |
Head of Events job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Head of Events
Department: Hospitality
Reports to: Managing Director
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Head of Events runs the events business of a company, owning growth, delivery and profit. They win clients, build the vendor network, set service standards and lead event managers who deliver weddings, corporate events and shows. The role reports to the Managing Director or Chief Operating Officer. A good Head of Events keeps a full calendar, delivers events that clients rave about, protects margins on every booking and builds a team that can run large events without a hitch.
Key responsibilities
- Set the events business plan, targets and pricing and drive the calendar of bookings.
- Win new clients and repeat business through proposals, pitches and referrals.
- Build and manage the network of venues, caterers, decorators and other vendors.
- Set service standards and delivery processes for every type of event.
- Review event budgets and protect margins on each booking before it is confirmed.
- Lead event managers and planners and assign them to events by scale.
- Handle escalations during large or high profile events personally.
- Review post event feedback and financials and improve the next one.
- Negotiate annual rate contracts with key vendors, caterers and venues.
- Build the events team, hire for peak season and plan cover.
Requirements
- MBA or degree in event management or hospitality
- Strong record in event delivery and sales
- Wide vendor and venue network
- 10+ years in events with 4 years leading teams
KRAs and KPIs for a Head of Events
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Revenue | Events revenue meets or beats the annual target |
| Event margin | Average margin per event held at or above the approved level |
| Client satisfaction | Post event client rating held above the agreed score |
| Delivery quality | Events delivered with no major service failure during the year |
| Repeat business | Repeat and referral bookings held above the target share |
| Team readiness | Enough trained managers and staff for the peak season calendar |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Event management software, CRM, MS Excel, Project planning tools, Budgeting sheets.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Business Head Events, Chief Operating Officer, Managing Director
Interview questions for a Head of Events
- How do you protect margin on a wedding when the client keeps adding items?
- How do you build a vendor network you can rely on in peak season?
- Walk me through how you recovered a large event that went wrong.
- How do you set pricing for different types of events?
- How do you win repeat and referral business?
- How do you staff and train for a heavy wedding season?
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What does a Head of Events do?
A Head of Events runs the events business, owning growth, delivery and profit. They win clients, build the vendor network, set service standards and lead event managers who deliver weddings, corporate events and shows. They protect margins on each booking and build a team that can run large events, reporting to the MD or COO.
What skills make a good Head of Events?
A good Head of Events combines sales and client skills with strong delivery and financial control. They build vendor networks, price events to protect margin, keep a full calendar and handle pressure on event day. Leadership matters too, since events succeed on a trained, well coordinated team.
What qualifications does a Head of Events need?
Most Head of Events roles ask for an MBA or a degree in event management or hospitality with a strong record in event delivery and sales. Ten or more years of experience, several leading teams, and a wide vendor and venue network are expected for the role.